A process for the production of olefin sulfonates is presented. The process comprising generating olefins from normal alkanes through a dehydrogenation unit to produce a mixture of alkanes and alkenes. The mixture is sulfonated to react the olefins and generate olefin sulfonates. The olefin sulfonates are separated from the normal alkanes to produce a product stream, with the normal alkanes recycled to the dehydrogenation unit.