The first step, a hydrocarbonation reaction, involves distilling the composite gasoline to obtain a nonene fraction at 123-175 °C. The nonene reacts with naphthalene in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid as a catalyst to produce dinonylnaphthalene (simultaneously, monononylnaphthalene and nonane are also produced). The reaction formula is as follows:
The second step, a sulfonation reaction, involves the reaction of dinonylnaphthalene with fuming sulfuric acid to produce dinonylnaphthalenesulfonic acid. The reaction formula is as follows:
The third step, barium sulfonation, involves the reaction of dinonylnaphthalenesulfonic acid with barium hydroxide to produce barium dinonylnaphthalenesulfonate (including neutral and basic barium dinonylnaphthalenesulfonate). The reaction formula is as follows:
