DRS Dioxane Removal System

As an alternative to minimizing the formation of 1,4-dioxane, Chemithon recommends the

production of 70% AI sodium lauryl ether sulfate followed by stripping of the 1,4-dioxane from the
70% active paste in the Dioxane Removal System (DRS). The DRS enables a sulfation plant to
operate the sulfonation plant at a higher capacity (higher gas concentration) without the usual
increase in 1,4-dioxane levels in the final product.
The Dioxane Removal System (DRS) is designed to reduce, by a factor of 8 (1-stage maximum), the
1,4
The DRS is a compact, low energy consumption drying apparatus. It removes volatile components
from a detergent slurry under carefully controlled conditions of temperature and pressure. This
ensures that the product quality of heat sensitive surfactants is not compromised during the 1-4dioxane removal process.
The sodium lauryl ether sulfate (detergent paste) is fed directly to the DRS from the neutralizer
system as shown below. The detergent paste is injected into the top of the single-stage stripper.
Steam is also carefully injected into the top of the stripper at a rate proportional to the amount of
1,4-dioxane being stripped from the paste. Approximately 0.5 pounds of steam are required per
pound of neutral paste (as-is) to achieve an 8 to 1 reduction. At a 2-to-1 reduction ratio, the steam
consumption drops to around 0.1 pounds per pound of neutral paste.
The steam and 1,4-dioxane leave the separation tank through the vacuum system where the
condensate and 1,4-dioxane are recovered. The temperature of the jacket and the operating
pressure are carefully controlled to avoid either concentrating or diluting the paste. Tempered
water is also added to the stripper shell when stripping 1,4-dioxane.

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Colin Gregg