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 present invention relates to a hydrated crystalline form of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid having a 2-theta powder X-ray diffraction diagram comprising peaks at 10.58°, 11.2°, 12.65°, 13.66°, 16.28°, 18.45°, 20°, 20.4°, 22.5°, 25.5°, 25.88°, 26.47°, 28.52°, 30.28°, 30.8°, 34.09°, 38.19°, 40.69°, 41.82°, 43.74°, 46.04° degrees (+/− 0.1°. The present invention also relates to a production method for this form of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid and a preparation method for an aqueous solution A of a salt of this form of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, and the (co)polymer of this form of -acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid.

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.

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.

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.

Sulfonated reaction products formed from internal vinylidene olefins may display surfactant properties differing from those of the corresponding reaction products formed from sulfonation of alpha olefins and internal olefins having a like number of carbon atoms. Methods for sulfonating internal vinylidene olefins may comprise: providing an internal vinylidene olefin comprising a vinylidene group; exposing the internal vinylidene olefin to a sulfonating reagent; and reacting the sulfonating reagent with the internal vinylidene olefin to form a sulfonated reaction product comprising at least one sulfonated compound formed from the internal vinylidene olefin. Suitable sulfonation conditions may include sulfur trioxide as a sulfonating reagent under thin film or falling film conditions.

Sulfonated reaction products formed from internal vinylidene olefins may display surfactant properties differing from those of the corresponding reaction products formed from sulfonation of alpha olefins and internal olefins having a like number of carbon atoms. Methods for sulfonating internal vinylidene olefins may comprise: providing an internal vinylidene olefin comprising a vinylidene group; exposing the internal vinylidene olefin to a sulfonating reagent; and reacting the sulfonating reagent with the internal vinylidene olefin to form a sulfonated reaction product comprising at least one sulfonated compound formed from the internal vinylidene olefin. Suitable sulfonation conditions may include sulfur trioxide as a sulfonating reagent under thin film or falling film conditions.

There is disclosed a cyclic process for producing taurine from monoethanolamine comprising the steps of: (a) reacting monoethanolamine with ammonium sulfate in the recycling mother liquor to yield monoethanolamine sulfate; (b) reacting the monoethanolamine sulfate with sulfuric acid to form 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester; (c) subjecting the 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester to a sulfonation reaction with ammonium sulfite to yield taurine and ammonium sulfate; (d) separating the taurine and the ammonium sulfate by means of solid-liquid separation; (e) removing the excess ammonium sulfite from the mother liquor to obtain an aqueous solution comprised of ammonium sulfate and (f) returning the aqueous solution to step (a) to complete the cyclic process.

There is disclosed a cyclic process for producing taurine from monoethanolamine comprising the steps of: (a) reacting monoethanolamine with ammonium sulfate in the recycling mother liquor to yield monoethanolamine sulfate; (b) reacting the monoethanolamine sulfate with sulfuric acid to form 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester; (c) subjecting the 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester to a sulfonation reaction with ammonium sulfite to yield taurine and ammonium sulfate; (d) separating the taurine and the ammonium sulfate by means of solid-liquid separation; (e) removing the excess ammonium sulfite from the mother liquor to obtain an aqueous solution comprised of ammonium sulfate and (f) returning the aqueous solution to step (a) to complete the cyclic process.

There is disclosed a cyclic process for producing taurine from monoethanolamine comprising the steps of: (a) reacting monoethanolamine with ammonium sulfate in the recycling mother liquor to yield monoethanolamine sulfate; (b) reacting the monoethanolamine sulfate with sulfuric acid to form 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester; (c) subjecting the 2-aminoethyl hydrogen sulfate ester to a sulfonation reaction with ammonium sulfite to yield taurine and ammonium sulfate; (d) separating the taurine and the ammonium sulfate by means of solid-liquid separation; (e) removing the excess ammonium sulfite from the mother liquor to obtain an aqueous solution comprised of ammonium sulfate and (f) returning the aqueous solution to step (a) to complete the cyclic process.