A process for producing a bio-based surfactant comprising an alkyl disulphate salt comprises the steps of methanolysis of medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (mcl-PHA) to provide hydroxy fatty acid methyl ester monomers (HFAME's), reduction of the HFAME's to provide 1,3 alkyl diols, sulphation of the 1,3 alkyl diols to provide 1,3 alkyl disulphates, and neutralisation of the alkyl disulphates to provide a bio-based surfactant comprising 1,3 alkyl disulphate salt. A bio-based surfactant comprising a mixture of medium chain length 1,3 alkyl disulphate salts is also described.

There is described a method of reducing polymer tar build-up in the production of methyl methacrylate and/or methacrylic acid by the acetone cyanohydrin process. In the method a stabiliser is contacted with the amide stage reaction medium. The stabiliser includes a hydrocarbon moiety capable of donating a labile hydrogen atom to a methacrylamide derivative capable of reaction with said labile hydrogen atom under the conditions in the said medium. The method herein is especially useful for the continuous production of methyl methacrylate and/or methacrylic acid.

There is described a method of reducing polymer tar build-up in the production of methyl methacrylate and/or methacrylic acid by the acetone cyanohydrin process. In the method a stabiliser is contacted with the amide stage reaction medium. The stabiliser includes a hydrocarbon moiety capable of donating a labile hydrogen atom to a methacrylamide derivative capable of reaction with said labile hydrogen atom under the conditions in the said medium. The method herein is especially useful for the continuous production of methyl methacrylate and/or methacrylic acid.

The surfactants of the general formula (I), in which R represents hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, alkylaryl or alkenylaryl group having 5 to 25 C atoms, n represents a number from 1 to 21 and m represents a number from 0 to 20, the sum of n and m being less than 22, and X+ represents a charge-balancing cation. The surfactants can be easily incorporated into washing or cleaning agents, have outstanding practical properties and can be produced on the basis of renewable raw materials.

The surfactants of the general formula (I), in which R represents hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, alkylaryl or alkenylaryl group having 5 to 25 C atoms, n represents a number from 1 to 21 and m represents a number from 0 to 20, the sum of n and m being less than 22, and X+ represents a charge-balancing cation. The surfactants can be easily incorporated into washing or cleaning agents, have outstanding practical properties and can be produced on the basis of renewable raw materials.

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.

A process for producing a bio-based surfactant comprising an alkyl disulphate salt comprises the steps of methanolysis of medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (mcl-PHA) to provide hydroxy fatty acid methyl ester monomers (HFAME's), reduction of the HFAME's to provide 1,3 alkyl diols, sulphation of the 1,3 alkyl diols to provide 1,3 alkyl disulphates, and neutralisation of the alkyl disulphates to provide a bio-based surfactant comprising 1,3 alkyl disulphate salt. A bio-based surfactant comprising a mixture of medium chain length 1,3 alkyl disulphate salts is also described.

A process for producing a bio-based surfactant comprising an alkyl disulphate salt comprises the steps of methanolysis of medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (mcl-PHA) to provide hydroxy fatty acid methyl ester monomers (HFAME's), reduction of the HFAME's to provide 1,3 alkyl diols, sulphation of the 1,3 alkyl diols to provide 1,3 alkyl disulphates, and neutralisation of the alkyl disulphates to provide a bio-based surfactant comprising 1,3 alkyl disulphate salt. A bio-based surfactant comprising a mixture of medium chain length 1,3 alkyl disulphate salts is also described.