(143b) An Experimental Study of Multiple-Phase, High-Temperature, High-Pressure Reactions between Hydrocarbons and Sulfur

Sulfurized hydrocarbon compounds have many applications as anti-wear additives and are typically produced in industry in batch reactors. In order to allow manufacturers to make sulfurized hydrocarbons in small continuous tubular reactors rather than large batch reactors, the reaction time must be substantially reduced by changing the reaction conditions.

A novel, high-temperature, high-pressure, three-vessel system was developed and used to run the reactions at temperatures up to 300 C and pressures to 10,000 psi. The hydrocarbon, which was retained liquid under pressure, was held in one variable-volume vessel at the desired temperature. The sulfur was held in a windowed, variable-volume, stirred reaction vessel and was heated to the desired temperature. A third, quench vessel, at room temperature, was connected to the reaction vessel. Once the temperature and pressure were stable, the hydrocarbon was moved to the reaction vessel to begin the reaction. Once the desired reaction time was reached, the contents of the reactor were moved into the cold quench vessel to rapidly stop the reaction. The reaction products were analyzed and the conversion was determined. The results and findings of this experimental study indicate that a batch to continuous transition is possible. A summary of the results will be presented.