Abstract:
A sulfurized alkaline earth metal (e.g., calcium) dodecylphenate is prepared by reacting (i) dodecylphenol with (ii) calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide in an amount of about 0.3 to about 0.7 moles per mole of dodecylphenol charged and (iii) an alkylene glycol in an amount of about 0.13 to about 0.6 moles per mole of dodecylphenol charged; and reacting the product of the first step with sulfur in an amount of about 1.6 to about 3 moles per mole of dodecylphenol charged; and thereafter optionally reacting the product with additional calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide and with carbon dioxide so as to form an overbased phenate. The product thus prepared has reduced levels of monomeric dodecylphenol.