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PRODUCT COMPOSITION

The product composition for the six methyl ester sulfonate examples are presented in Table 2.
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The MES products were analyzed principally based on the methods described by Battaglini.
Analysis of the sodium methyl sulfate content using the prescribed method yielded incorrect
results for the lower molecular weight examples of MES in this study. The phenol red
titration does not quantitatively determine the di-salt content. For the coconut and palm
kernel based MES examples the results in Table 2 for the di-salt are presented as determined
and the results for the sodium methyl sulfate are calculated by difference from 100 percent.
The residual methanol content in the MES product was determined using a headspace
sampling - gas chromatography technique utilizing internal standard and standard additions.
The water content was determined by Karl Fischer potentiometric autotitration. The Klett
color was determined using a Klett colorimeter with a #42 filter and a 40 mm path length at
5% active concentration. Note that in Table 2 the pure component - sodium methyl ester
sulfonate- is designated as α-Mes, as opposed to the composite MES.

Table 2: Methyl Ester Sulfonates

Coconut Palm Palm Palm Tallow Soya
Wt%
C 12-C 14 Kernel C 16 Stearin C 16-C 18 C 18
C 8 -C 18 C 16 -C 18
Sodium methyl ester sulfonate (α-Mes) 71.5 69.4 83.6 83.0 77.5 75.7
Disodium carboxy sulfonate (di-salt) 2.1 1.8 5.4 3.5 5.2 6.3
Methanol (CH 3 OH) 0.48 0.60 0.02 0.07 0.00 0.03
Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) 0.10 0.04 0.10 0.13 0.15 0.05

Water (H 2O) 14.0 15.2 1.3 2.3 2.9 1.4
Petroleum ether extractables (PEX) 2.6 2.7 2.1 2.4 4.8 7.2
Sodium carboxylate (RCOONa) 0.2 0.2 0.28 0.3 0.3 0.5
Sodium sulfate (Na 2 SO 4 ) 1.2 1.8 1.6 1.5 2.3 2.4
Sodium methyl sulfate (CH 3 OSO 3 Na) 8.0 8.4 5.6 7.2 7.7 2.5
10% pH 5.0 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.4 5.8

Klett color, 5% active (α-Mes + di-salt) 30 310 18 45 180 410

The coconut and palm kernel products were once-through steam stripped to a low level of
methanol in pilot plant equipment. Typical desired level of residual methanol is 0.5 wt% or
less. The steam to MES ratio is the primary factor in controlling the final methanol
concentration in the stripped MES. Stripping MES versus drying leaves most of the water in
the product, which results in a paste unless cooled to crystallization temperature. Drying low
molecular weight (C12-14) MES produces a viscous paste that is difficult to crystallize and is
not easily flaked or needled in the pure form. Typically, C12-14 MES is used in light duty
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liquid detergent products. The stripped product of the coconut MES made in this study is of
sufficiently low moisture for most formulation needs and can be diluted to a clear, low
viscosity solution if necessary. Coconut MES bleaches effectively at a relatively low

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