The importance of childhood socio-economic group for adult health

Alkylaromatic sulfonates, containing a C9-C18 linear alkyl group, are prepared by sulfonating the corresponding alkylbenzene in admixture with a C9-C18 n-paraffin and neutralizing the resultant alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, in admixture with the same paraffin, to produce a relatively colorless neutralized alkylbenzene sulfonate. This process is particularly adaptable where a C9-C18 n-paraffin stream is first converted to an alkylatable compound such as a monohalogen and such compound is not readily separable from the n-paraffin. Thus, the alkylation, sulfonation and neutralization are all performed in admixture with the unreacted n-paraffin whereby the paraffin is readily separable from the final product, for recycle purposes.