⚗️ Overview: What Is Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid?
Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (CAS No. 68608-88-4), commonly referred to as DABS or dialkylbenzene sulfonic acid, is a high-strength anionic surfactant produced by sulfonating dialkylbenzene feedstocks with sulfur trioxide (SO₃) or oleum. Its defining structural feature - two alkyl chains (C₈–C₁₆) attached to the benzene sulfonate core - gives it fundamentally different performance characteristics from single-chain Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (LAS), making it the preferred choice for demanding oil-rich, high-temperature, and high-salinity industrial environments.
The dual alkyl chains dramatically increase the molecule's lipophilicity and oil solubility, enabling it to function effectively in mineral oil and synthetic oil systems where single-chain sulfonates would precipitate or lose activity. This unique property makes Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid the indispensable precursor acid for manufacturing overbased calcium sulfonate, magnesium sulfonate, and barium sulfonate lubricant detergent additives - the most important metallic detergent class in engine oil and industrial lubricant formulations.
💡 Sinolook is a professional China export trading company with long-term partnerships with leading DABS manufacturers. We supply premium-grade Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (active matter ≥ 97%) to global buyers in lubricant additives, oilfield chemicals, and industrial cleaning sectors - with competitive pricing, flexible MOQ, and comprehensive technical and formulation support.
Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (CAS 68608-88-4) - Precursor for Sulfonate Detergents & Industrial Surfactants
💡 Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid vs. Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (LAS)
Both are anionic sulfonates, but their dual vs. single alkyl chain structures lead to dramatically different application profiles. Selecting the right one depends on your system's polarity and temperature requirements.
| Property | Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (DABS) | Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (LAS) |
|---|---|---|
| Alkyl chain structure | Two alkyl chains (dialkyl) | One alkyl chain (monoalkyl) |
| Oil solubility | Excellent (fully oil-soluble) | Limited (water-preferring) |
| Water solubility | Limited (lipophilic) | Excellent (hydrophilic) |
| Primary application | Lubricant detergents, oilfield, industrial degreasers | Household detergents, textile, personal care |
| High-temp stability (to 120°C) | ✅ Excellent | ⚠️ Moderate |
| Salt resistance (EOR use) | ✅ High-salinity tolerant | ⚠️ Moderate |
| Active matter content | ≥ 97.0% | 96.0% – 98.0% |
| Biodegradability | Moderate (branched structure) | ≥ 90% (linear structure) |
✅ Key rule: Choose DABS when you need an oil-soluble sulfonate for lubricant detergent synthesis, heavy-duty industrial degreasing, or oilfield applications. Choose LAS when you need a water-soluble surfactant for detergent, textile, or personal care formulations.
🔬 Technical Specifications
Standard parameters provided by Sinolook's verified China manufacturing partners. Custom alkyl chain length distributions and active matter concentrations are available on request.
| Parameter | Standard Value | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Dark brown to reddish brown viscous liquid | Free of visible impurities or sediment |
| Active Matter Content | ≥ 97.0% | Core indicator of surfactant efficiency and detergency |
| Free Sulfuric Acid Content | ≤ 1.0% | Ensures low corrosivity and high purity |
| Neutralization Value | 280 – 310 mg KOH/g | Reflects reactivity with alkaline earth metal neutralizers |
| Water Content | ≤ 0.8% | Prevents hydrolysis; ensures storage stability |
| Oil Solubility | Completely soluble in mineral & synthetic oils | No stratification or precipitation in oil systems |
| Temperature Resistance | -10°C to 120°C (stable performance) | Suitable for high-temperature engine & industrial service |
| Shelf Life | 12 months (sealed, cool & dry storage) | Stable under recommended storage conditions |
✅ All specifications comply with international industrial standards. CoA, SDS/MSDS, and third-party inspection reports available upon request.
🏭 Key Application Fields
🔧 1. Lubricant Detergent Additives - Precursor for Overbased Sulfonates
This is the most technically significant application of Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid. It is the key precursor acid for manufacturing overbased calcium sulfonate, magnesium sulfonate, and barium sulfonate - the cornerstone metallic detergent additives in engine oils, marine diesel cylinder oils, and industrial lubricants. In the manufacturing process, DABS is reacted with calcium hydroxide or calcium carbonate in the presence of a promoter and CO₂ to produce overbased calcium sulfonate with TBN values of 150–500 mg KOH/g. These overbased sulfonates perform three critical functions in lubricants: (1) neutralization of acidic combustion by-products to prevent corrosive wear; (2) detergency - keeping piston ring zones, cylinder liners, and valve trains clean by dispersing carbonaceous deposits; and (3) rust and corrosion inhibition on metal surfaces.
Compared to sulfonates made from petroleum sulfonic acid (a natural byproduct of base oil refining), synthetic dialkylbenzene sulfonate-derived detergents offer superior TBN consistency, color stability, and performance reliability because the precursor acid is manufactured to a controlled specification rather than being a refinery byproduct with variable composition. China suppliers offer DABS grades with customized alkyl chain lengths (C₁₀–C₁₄ dominant) to optimize the TBN yield and oil solubility of the finished sulfonate detergent.
🏭 2. Heavy-Duty Industrial Cleaning - High-Efficiency Degreaser for Metal Surfaces
In industrial maintenance and metalworking, Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid is formulated into heavy-duty degreasers and metal parts cleaners for removing tenacious mineral oil, grease, and carbon deposits from machinery components, engine blocks, gear housings, and industrial pipelines. Its excellent oil solubility and high active matter content (≥ 97%) allow it to penetrate and emulsify heavy mineral oil contamination that lighter surfactants like LAS cannot dissolve. It is compatible with nonionic surfactants (AEO series) and cationic surfactants for formulating multi-functional alkaline cleaning concentrates. Low free acid content (≤ 1.0%) minimizes corrosion risk to aluminum, zinc, and copper components during cleaning.
🛢️ 3. Oilfield Chemicals - Drilling Fluid Emulsifier & EOR Wettability Modifier
In oilfield applications, Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (and its calcium/sodium salts) performs two key roles. In oil-based drilling muds (OBM), it functions as a primary emulsifier, stabilizing water-in-oil emulsions at high temperatures and pressures downhole - preventing emulsion breakdown that could cause wellbore instability and stuck drill pipe. In enhanced oil recovery (EOR) surfactant flooding, its oil-solubility and dual alkyl chains give it excellent interfacial activity at oil-brine interfaces in high-salinity reservoir conditions (TDS > 50,000 ppm) where single-chain sulfonates like LAS lose effectiveness due to salting-out. China suppliers offer DABS grades specifically formulated for EOR applications with optimized HLB and interfacial tension reduction performance for specific reservoir chemistry conditions.
📦 Storage & Handling Guidelines
🏪 Storage Conditions
- Cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse; away from direct sunlight, heat sources & open flames
- Storage temperature: 5°C – 30°C; avoid prolonged exposure above 40°C (causes color darkening and viscosity increase)
- Use sealed HDPE drums or stainless steel containers; avoid uncoated carbon steel (DABS is corrosive to unprotected steel)
- Store separately from alkalis, oxidizing agents, reducing agents, and food chemicals
- Maximum stacking height: 2 layers to prevent drum deformation and leakage
⚠️ Handling Precautions
- DABS is a corrosive liquid - always wear acid-resistant gloves, face shield, safety goggles & acid-resistant protective clothing
- When diluting or reacting: add DABS slowly to solvent or alkali solution under stirring - never add water directly to neat DABS (exothermic splashing hazard)
- Avoid collision, dropping, or compression of drums during transport
- Spills: contain with sand or inert absorbent; neutralize with lime or sodium carbonate; dispose per local environmental regulations
- Skin contact: flush with copious water for ≥ 15 minutes. Eye contact: irrigate for ≥ 20 minutes; seek immediate medical attention
🌐 How to Choose a Reliable China DABS Supplier
For lubricant detergent manufacturers and oilfield chemical formulators, DABS quality directly determines the TBN yield, color, and performance consistency of the finished sulfonate additive. Evaluate suppliers on these five dimensions:
Continuous SO₃ falling-film sulfonation with tight temperature control (45–65°C) is essential for high active matter (≥ 97%) and low free acid (≤ 1.0%) - the two quality indicators most critical for overbased sulfonate synthesis yield.
The alkyl chain length distribution of the dialkylbenzene feedstock determines the neutralization value and oil solubility of the finished DABS. Confirm the supplier specifies and controls feedstock composition, not just finished product active matter.
ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 certifications confirm systematic quality management, environmental compliance, and occupational safety standards across the production facility.
For lubricant detergent manufacturers, the ability to provide overbasing process guidance - CO₂ insertion parameters, calcium hydroxide stoichiometry, promoter selection - is highly valuable for optimizing TBN yield from DABS.
China's dominant position in dialkylbenzene feedstock and SO₃ sulfonation capacity delivers unmatched supply reliability and cost competitiveness. Established manufacturers offer dedicated export documentation for all major markets.
DABS is typically shipped in 200 L HDPE drums or IBC totes (1,000 L); bulk liquid tanker options are available for large-volume orders. When evaluating price, compare on an active matter equivalent basis (price per kg of active sulfonate) rather than drum price - a nominally cheaper product with lower active content may deliver higher cost per kg of active. For lubricant detergent manufacturers, always verify neutralization value (mg KOH/g) batch-to-batch, as variation directly impacts TBN yield and finished additive quality. Long-term supply agreements with fixed-volume commitments unlock the best unit economics and ensure allocation priority.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the CAS number for Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid?
The CAS number is 68608-88-4 for Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid. It is also referred to as DABS, dialkylbenzene sulfonate precursor acid, or synthetic alkylbenzene sulfonic acid in trade and technical literature. Please specify your intended application (lubricant detergent synthesis, industrial cleaning, EOR) and required neutralization value range when requesting a quotation, so we can recommend the optimal alkyl chain distribution grade.
Q2: Why is Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid preferred over petroleum sulfonic acid for lubricant detergent synthesis?
Petroleum sulfonic acid (PSA) is a natural byproduct of lubricant base oil refining with highly variable molecular weight, composition, and activity from batch to batch - making it difficult to control finished detergent TBN and performance consistently. Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid is manufactured to precise specifications (active matter ≥ 97%, neutralization value 280–310 mg KOH/g), delivering reproducible TBN yield, consistent oil solubility, and superior color stability in the finished calcium or magnesium sulfonate detergent. Most modern high-performance lubricant detergent formulations targeting API, ACEA, and OEM specifications use synthetic sulfonic acid precursors for this reason.
Q3: How is Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid converted to overbased calcium sulfonate?
The overbasing process involves: (1) neutralizing DABS with calcium hydroxide or calcium carbonate in a diluent oil with an alcohol promoter (methanol or 2-ethylhexanol) at 50–80°C to form the neutral calcium salt; (2) introducing excess Ca(OH)₂ and CO₂ gas to form colloidal calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) micelles stabilized by the calcium sulfonate soap shell; and (3) removing promoter and water by distillation under vacuum to yield the finished overbased product at TBN 150–500 mg KOH/g. Our technical team provides detailed process guidance and Ca(OH)₂ stoichiometry calculations for customers scaling up from DABS to finished sulfonate detergent production.
Q4: Can DABS be used directly in lubricant formulations without overbasing?
DABS itself (the sulfonic acid form) is not typically added directly to finished lubricants, as its strongly acidic nature would corrode engine metals and degrade other additive components. It must first be neutralized to the calcium, magnesium, or sodium salt form - either as a neutral sulfonate or overbased sulfonate - before incorporation into lubricant additive packages. The neutral calcium sulfonate salt can also be used directly as an emulsifier and rust inhibitor in metalworking fluids without further overbasing.
Q5: What documentation is provided with each shipment?
Every Sinolook shipment includes: Certificate of Analysis (CoA), Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS), commercial invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading, and Certificate of Origin. Technical data sheets including active matter, neutralization value, and free acid analysis are standard. Third-party inspection reports (SGS, Intertek, BV) are available upon request for large orders.
📩 Contact Sinolook – Your Trusted Partner for Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid
Sinolook is a professional China export trading company connecting global lubricant additive manufacturers, oilfield chemical formulators, and industrial cleaning companies with China's leading DABS producers. Our Synthetic Dialkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (CAS 68608-88-4) - active matter ≥ 97%, free acid ≤ 1.0% - is the premium-grade precursor for overbased calcium and magnesium sulfonate detergent synthesis. We provide complete one-stop procurement support: grade matching, overbasing process guidance, quality inspection, customs documentation, and international logistics.
| 📧 | sales@sinolookchem.com | |
| 📱 | +86 181 5036 2095 | |
| 💬 | WeChat / Tel | +86 134 0071 5622 |
| 🌐 | Website | www.sinolookchem.com |
| 🏢 | Address | 38th Floor, Zhongmin Building, No. 72 North Hubin Road, Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian, China |
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