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.
Preparation
n-Dodecylbenzene was prepared by lauroyl chloridation, Friedel-Crafts acylation and Huang Minglong deoxidization, followed by purification with vacuum distillation and recrystallization procedures.
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.
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, 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.
