Abstract:
A process for preparing saturated straight chain aliphatic and cycloaliphatic sulfonic acids is disclosed by reacting the corresponding hydrocarbons with sulfur dioxide and oxygen by initiating the reaction by means of high energy radiation, or by addition of ozone or peroxy compounds and then continuing the reaction with or without further supply of the starting means while applying a special extraction method to separate dry hydrocarbons from the sulfonic acids and to keep down the content of disulfonic acids.