E. Clark
Dec 4, 2000
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Abstract
Sulfolane is a colorless, polar, water-soluble, 4-carbon, cyclic sulfone having exceptional chemical and thermal stability. Applications for sulfolane derive mainly from its polar solvent characteristics. It is used as a solvent or solvent component for aromatics extraction, gas treating, and extractive distillation processes, as well as a solvent for polymerizations and chemical reactions. It is also useful in plasticizer, electronic, and textile-related specialty applications. Sulfolane is relatively chemically inert and exhibits low toxicity by all modes of administration. The chemical is available commercially in the anhydrous form or containing 3 wt % deionized water as a freezing point depressant. Other sulfones of commercial significance are also discussed. These include sulfolene, dimethyl sulfone, diiodomethyl p-tolylsulfone, 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone, and bis(p-chlorophenyl) sulfone. Keywords: Sulfolane; Sulfones; Solvents; Gas treating; Extraction; Distillation; Hydrauli fluids