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).

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).

Complexation of metal ions using chelating agents within a subterranean formation can often be desirable, such as to temper the formation of metal-containing precipitates. However, many chelating agents are produced commercially in an alkali metal salt form that may not be entirely suitable for use downhole, particularly in subterranean formations containing a siliceous material. The working pH range of some types of chelating agents may also be limiting. Treatment fluids comprising an aqueous carrier fluid having an acidic pH, a sulfonated iminodialkanoic acid, and ammonium ions may at least partially address downhole precipitation issues, while providing further advantages as well. Methods for forming sulfonated iminodialkanoic acids can comprise reacting an iminodialkylnitrile with a sultone under acidic conditions to form a fluid comprising a sulfonated iminodialkanoic acid and ammonium ions.

Complexation of metal ions using chelating agents within a subterranean formation can often be desirable, such as to temper the formation of metal-containing precipitates. However, many chelating agents are produced commercially in an alkali metal salt form that may not be entirely suitable for use downhole, particularly in subterranean formations containing a siliceous material. The working pH range of some types of chelating agents may also be limiting. Treatment fluids comprising an aqueous carrier fluid having an acidic pH, a sulfonated iminodialkanoic acid, and ammonium ions may at least partially address downhole precipitation issues, while providing further advantages as well. Methods for forming sulfonated iminodialkanoic acids can comprise reacting an iminodialkylnitrile with a sultone under acidic conditions to form a fluid comprising a sulfonated iminodialkanoic acid and ammonium ions.

Complexation of metal ions using chelating agents within a subterranean formation can often be desirable, such as to temper the formation of metal-containing precipitates. However, many chelating agents are produced commercially in an alkali metal salt form that may not be entirely suitable for use downhole, particularly in subterranean formations containing a siliceous material. The working pH range of some types of chelating agents may also be limiting. Treatment fluids comprising an aqueous carrier fluid having an acidic pH, a sulfonated iminodialkanoic acid, and ammonium ions may at least partially address downhole precipitation issues, while providing further advantages as well. Methods for forming sulfonated iminodialkanoic acids can comprise reacting an iminodialkylnitrile with a sultone under acidic conditions to form a fluid comprising a sulfonated iminodialkanoic acid and ammonium ions.

There is disclosed a process for producing taurine from ammonium isethionate by the ammonolysis of alkali isethionate in the presence of alkali ditaurinate or alkali tritaurinate, or their mixture, to inhibit the formation of byproducts and to continuously convert the byproducts of the ammonolysis reaction to alkali taurinate. Alkali taurinate is reacted with ammonium isethionate to obtain taurine and to regenerate alkali isethionate. The production yield is increased to from 90% to nearly quantitative. The ammonolysis reaction is catalyzed by alkali salts of hydroxide, sulfate, sulfite, phosphate, or carbonate.

There is disclosed a process for producing taurine from ammonium isethionate by the ammonolysis of alkali isethionate in the presence of alkali ditaurinate or alkali tritaurinate, or their mixture, to inhibit the formation of byproducts and to continuously convert the byproducts of the ammonolysis reaction to alkali taurinate. Alkali taurinate is reacted with ammonium isethionate to obtain taurine and to regenerate alkali isethionate. The production yield is increased to from 90% to nearly quantitative. The ammonolysis reaction is catalyzed by alkali salts of hydroxide, sulfate, sulfite, phosphate, or carbonate.

There is disclosed a process for producing taurine from ammonium isethionate by the ammonolysis of alkali isethionate in the presence of alkali ditaurinate or alkali tritaurinate, or their mixture, to inhibit the formation of byproducts and to continuously convert the byproducts of the ammonolysis reaction to alkali taurinate. Alkali taurinate is reacted with ammonium isethionate to obtain taurine and to regenerate alkali isethionate. The production yield is increased to from 90% to nearly quantitative. The ammonolysis reaction is catalyzed by alkali salts of hydroxide, sulfate, sulfite, phosphate, or carbonate.

The preparation is described of a compound of formula (I) comprising an —SO.sub.2F function by reacting a compound of formula (II) with a fluorinating agent selected from hydrofluoric acid and an ionic fluoride of a monovalent or divalent cation:
R—SO.sub.2F  (I)
R′—SO.sub.2X  (II)
where R is selected from the groups R1, R2 and R3: R1=—C.sub.nH.sub.aF.sub.b with n=1-10, a+b=2n+1, b≧1; R2=—C.sub.xH.sub.yF.sub.z—SO.sub.2F with x=1-10, y+z=2x and z≧1; R3=φ-C.sub.cH.sub.hF.sub.f with c=1-10; h+f=2c and f≧1;
where R′ is selected from the following groups R′1, R′2 and R′3: R′1=—C.sub.nH.sub.aX.sub.b with n=1-10, a+b=2n+1, b≧1; R′2=—C.sub.xH.sub.yX.sub.z—SO.sub.2X with x=1-10, y+z=2x and z≧1; R′3=φ-C.sub.cH.sub.hX.sub.f with c=1-10; h+f=2c and f≧1; φ denoting a phenyl group; X═Cl, Br.

The preparation is described of a compound of formula (I) comprising an —SO.sub.2F function by reacting a compound of formula (II) with a fluorinating agent selected from hydrofluoric acid and an ionic fluoride of a monovalent or divalent cation:
R—SO.sub.2F  (I)
R′—SO.sub.2X  (II)
where R is selected from the groups R1, R2 and R3: R1=—C.sub.nH.sub.aF.sub.b with n=1-10, a+b=2n+1, b≧1; R2=—C.sub.xH.sub.yF.sub.z—SO.sub.2F with x=1-10, y+z=2x and z≧1; R3=φ-C.sub.cH.sub.hF.sub.f with c=1-10; h+f=2c and f≧1;
where R′ is selected from the following groups R′1, R′2 and R′3: R′1=—C.sub.nH.sub.aX.sub.b with n=1-10, a+b=2n+1, b≧1; R′2=—C.sub.xH.sub.yX.sub.z—SO.sub.2X with x=1-10, y+z=2x and z≧1; R′3=φ-C.sub.cH.sub.hX.sub.f with c=1-10; h+f=2c and f≧1; φ denoting a phenyl group; X═Cl, Br.