Chemical Properties
Colorless, odorless liquid. Insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents.
Uses
n-Dodecylbenzene, is a precursor to sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, a surfactant that is a key ingredient of household laundry detergents, such as Tide. It is a widely used cleaner, dyeing assistant in textile industrial, degrease agent in electroplate, leather, de- inking agent in papering, rubber and plastic, break emulsion agent in oil industry, artesian well foaming agent in oil well.
Application
Dodecylbenzene is used as a raw material for synthetic laundry detergents and production of biodegradable detergents.
1-Phenyldodecane acts as a pseudo-stationary phase (PSP) marker in the preparation of microemulsion.
Preparation
n-Dodecylbenzene was prepared by lauroyl chloridation, Friedel-Crafts acylation and Huang Minglong deoxidization, followed by purification with vacuum distillation and recrystallization procedures.
General Description
Dodecylbenzene is a colorless liquid with a weak oily odor. Floats on water. (USCG, 1999)
Air & Water Reactions
Insoluble in water.
Reactivity Profile
Vigorous reactions, sometimes amounting to explosions, can result from the contact between aromatic hydrocarbons, such as Dodecylbenzene(123-01-3), and strong oxidizing agents. They can react exothermically with bases and with diazo compounds. Substitution at the benzene nucleus occurs by halogenation (acid catalyst), nitration, sulfonation, and the Friedel-Crafts reaction.
Health Hazard
Liquid causes mild irritation of eyes and may cause allergenic responses on repeated contact with skin. Ingestion causes nausea.
Fire Hazard
DODECYLBENZENE is combustible.
Biochem/physiol Actions
1-Phenyldodecane was degraded to phenylacetic acid by an oil-degrading bacterium.
