Provided is an industrially advantageous method for producing an alkanedisulfonic acid compound easily and inexpensively with a high yield. The present invention is a method for producing an alkanedisulfonic acid compound, comprising reacting at least one alkanesulfonic acid compound having a specific structure and sulfur trioxide in the presence of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a sulfoxide compound and sulfone compound having a specific structure to thereby obtain an alkanedisulfonic acid compound.

There is disclosed a cyclic process for producing taurine from monoethanolamine comprising the steps of: (a) recovering monoethanolamine sulfate from an aqueous mother liquor solution; (b) reacting the monoethanolamine sulfate with sulfuric acid to form an aqueous solution comprised of monoethanolamine bisulfate; (c) heating the aqueous solution comprised of the monoethanolamine sulfate and optionally added monoethanolamine sulfate to yield 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester; and (d) reacting the ester with ammonium sulfite or an alkali sulfite to yield taurine.

Processes for the preparation of 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid salts of formula (I) and a crystalline form of potassium 2,5 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid are provided. ##STR00001##

Processes for the preparation of 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid salts of formula (I) and a crystalline form of potassium 2,5 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid are provided. ##STR00001##

There is disclosed a cyclic process for producing taurine from monoethanolamine comprising the steps of: (a) recovering monoethanolamine sulfate from an aqueous mother liquor solution; (b) reacting the monoethanolamine sulfate with sulfuric acid to form an aqueous solution comprised of monoethanolamine bisulfate; (c) heating the aqueous solution comprised of the monoethanolamine sulfate and optionally added monoethanolamine sulfate to yield 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester; (d) reacting the ester with ammonium sulfite or an alkali sulfite to yield taurine and ammonium or alkali sulfate; (e) separating taurine and ammonium or alkali sulfate to give an aqueous mother liquor solution; and (f) recovering the monoethanolamine sulfate from the aqueous mother liquor solution and recycling to the monoethanolamine sulfate to step (b).

A method for the manufacture of a sulfonated phenol for use as a cumene hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst can comprise: combining phenol and a sulfonating agent at a first temperature that is 1° C. to 15° C. higher than a melting temperature of the phenol, to form a reaction mixture at the first temperature; reducing the first temperature of the reaction mixture to a second temperature that is 10 to 40° C. lower than the first temperature; and forming the sulfonated phenol at the second temperature.

A method for the manufacture of a sulfonated phenol for use as a cumene hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst can comprise: combining phenol and a sulfonating agent at a first temperature that is 1° C. to 15° C. higher than a melting temperature of the phenol, to form a reaction mixture at the first temperature; reducing the first temperature of the reaction mixture to a second temperature that is 10 to 40° C. lower than the first temperature; and forming the sulfonated phenol at the second temperature.

A method for the manufacture of a sulfonated phenol for use as a cumene hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst can comprise: combining phenol and a sulfonating agent at a first temperature that is 1° C. to 15° C. higher than a melting temperature of the phenol, to form a reaction mixture at the first temperature; reducing the first temperature of the reaction mixture to a second temperature that is 10 to 40° C. lower than the first temperature; and forming the sulfonated phenol at the second temperature.

The present invention relates to the use of cations or compounds forming stable cations in the production of alkane sulfonic acids as well as methods to produce methane sulfonic acids employing the cations as catalyst.

The present invention relates to the use of cations or compounds forming stable cations in the production of alkane sulfonic acids as well as methods to produce methane sulfonic acids employing the cations as catalyst.