65% Oleum

The initial product was in the range of 20-25 % Oleum which meant 20-25 % free SO3 dissolved in Sulphuric Acid. 

The basic reaction carried out in the Oleum Tower is absorption of SO3 in the Sulphuric Acid to form an adduct H2SO4 + SO3 = H2S2O7 

This would correspond to 45 % free SO3 dissolved in Sulphuric Acid. Since the freezing point of 40-45 % oleum is in the range of 90-95 °F (35-40 °C), there is always a possibility of solidification and consequent choking of equipment and pipelines at ambient temperatures, especially in the cold season (See Fig. 3.1). 

the industrial preference for manufacturing for fuming Sulphuric Acid was in the range of 20-25 % free SO3. This needs removal of exothermic heat of dilution together with heat of absorption of SO3 by specially designed coolers. Some plants have a gas heated oleum boiler for boiling the 25 % oleum to produce pure SO3 vapour. 

The strength of the Oleum is automatically controlled by an indicator-cum-controller to control the flow of Sulphuric Acid for dilution. This addition is done through an Absorption Tower so as to prevent any fumes of SO3 gases from the Oleum Tower System. The level is controlled through a Level Controller allowing oleum to be pumped to the storage for cooling. 

Composition sulfuric acid containing free sulfur trioxide, SO3 in concentrations within range of 10-80% 

Synonyms fuming sulfuric acid pyrosulfu-ric acid dithionic acid 

Oleum is an extremely corrosive substance. It emits suffocating fumes of sulfur trioxide that can cause severe lung damage. Skin contact can cause severe burns. 

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Anthraquinone can be brominated, chlorinated directly to the tetrachloro (I, 4, 5, 8-) stage, nitrated easily in the 1-position, but gives the 1,5-and 1,8-dinitro-derivalives on prolonged nitration the nitro groups in these compounds are easily displaced by neutral solutions of alkali sulphites yielding the corresponding sulphonic acids. Sulphonation with 20-30 % oleum gives the 2- 2,6- and 2,7-derivatives in the presence of Hg the 1- 1,5- and 1,8- derivatives are formed. 

The sulphonic acids are usually prepared by the action of sulphuric acid upon a compound. The concentration of the acid and the temperature of reaction are varied according to the reactivity of the compound. Often oleum is used or even chiorosulphonic acid. Alternatively sulphur trioxide complexed to pyridine or dioxan can be used with reactive substrates. Aminosulphonic acids such as sulphanilic and naphthionic acids are most conveniently prepared by heating the sulphate of the amine at ISO C. 

M.p. 255-257 C. Prepared by the direct chlorination of phlhalic anhydride in 50-60% oleum in the presence of iodine, the temperature being raised from 50-200 C as the reaction proceeds. 

The mechanism of aromatic sulphonation is complex and may vary, e.g. with the concentration of water or oleum in the acid, the temperature, and the hydrocarbon. One active agent is SO3, and one simplified route may be ... 

Sulphuric acid. Ordinary concentrated acid, sp. gr. 1-84, is a constant boiling point mixture, b.p. 338°/760 mm., and contains 98 per cent. H2SO4. The 100 per cent, acid may be prepared by the addition of the calculated quantity of oleum it is also available commercially. 

Oleum is marketed in all strengths up to ca. 70 per cent. SO3. From 0 to 40 per cent, free SO3, it is a liquid from 40 to 60 per cent, free SO3, it is a solid from 60 to 70 per cent, free SO3, it is liquid above 70 per cent, free SO3, it is a solid. The acid must be kept in ground glass stoppered, thick-walled bottles. If it is required to melt the acid, the stopper is removed, a watch glass placed on the mouth of the bottle, and the bottle placed in a layer of sand in an air bath which is warmed with a small flame. The bottle is fitted with a wash bottle attachment, and any desired quantity of acid is forced out by gentle air pressure from a hand or foot bellows (the mouth must not be used) this procedure is far more satisfactory than that of pouring the liquid acid from the bottle. 

A method for determining the SO, content of oleum is described in the author s Text Book 0/ Quantitative Inorganic Analysis Theory and Practice, Second Edition, 1951, p. 263 (Longmans, Green and Co. Ltd.). 

Twenty per cent, oleum may be substituted for the concentrated sulphuric acid for compounds which are difficult to nitrate. 

SULPHONATION OF AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS Aromatic hydrocarbons may be mono-sulphonated by heating with a slight excess of concentrated sulphuric acid for benzene, oleum (7-8 per cent. SOj) gives somewhat better results. The reaction is usually complete when all the hydrocarbon has dissolved. Examples are ... 

If 40 ml. of 10 per cent, oleum be cautiously added to the aniline sulphate mixture, sulphonation proceeds much more rapidly and the time of heating is reduced from 5 hours to 1 hour. 

In a 500 ml. bolt-head flask, provided with a mechanical stirrer, place 70 ml. of oleum (20 per cent. SO3) and heat it in an oil bath to 70°. By means of a separatory funnel, supported so that the stem is just above the surface of the acid, introduce 41 g. (34 ml.) of nitrobenzene slowly and at such a rate that the temperature of the well-stirred mixture does not rise above 100-105°. When all the nitrobenzene has been introduced, continue the heating at 110-115° for 30 minutes. Remove a test portion and add it to the excess of water. If the odour of nitrobenzene is still apparent, add a further 10 ml. of fuming sulphuric acid, and heat at 110-115° for 15 minutes the reaction mixture should then be free from nitrobenzene. Allow the mixture to cool and pour it with good mechanical stirring on to 200 g. of finely-crushed ice contained in a beaker. AU the nitrobenzenesulphonic acid passes into solution if a little sulphone is present, remove this by filtration. Stir the solution mechanically and add 70 g. of sodium chloride in small portions the sodium salt of m-nitro-benzenesulphonic acid separates as a pasty mass. Continue the stirring for about 30 minutes, allow to stand overnight, filter and press the cake well. The latter will retain sufficient acid to render unnecessary the addition of acid in the subsequent reduction with iron. Spread upon filter paper to dry partially. 

If the approximate water content of commercial glycerol is known, the above dehydration may be avoided by adding sufficient SO, in the form of oleum to the concentrated sulphuric acid employed in the Skraup reaction to combine with all the water present. 

Dinitroaniline from 3 5-dinItrobenzoic acid. Place a solution of 50 g. of 3 5-dinitrobenzoic acid (Section IV, 168) in 90 ml. of 10 per cent, oleum and 20 ml. of concentrated sulphuric acid in a 1-litre three necked flask equipped with a reflux condenser, mechanical stirrer, adropping funnel, and thermometer (FUME CUPBOARD ). Add 100 ml. of clJoroform and raise the temperature to 45°. Stir rapidly and add 17 -5g. of sodium azide in small portions whilst maintaining the temperature at 35-45°. The reaction is accompanied hy foaming, which usually commences after about 3 g. of sodium azide has been introduced. After all the sodium azide has been added raise the temperature so that the chloroform refluxes vigorously and maintain this temperature for 3 hours. Then cool the reaction mixture, pour it cautiously on to 500 g. of crushed ice, and dilute with 3 litres of water. After 1 hour, separate the yellow solid by filtration at the pump, wash well with water and dry at 100°. The yield of 3 5-dinitroaniline, m.p. 162-163°, is 39 g. The m.p. is unaffected by recrystallisation from dilute alcohol. 

Note. Oleum with 0-30 per cent, free SO, is liquid at 15°. ... 

The two absorption bands, at 1050 and 1400 cm , which appear in the Raman spectra of solutions of nitric acid in concentrated sulphuric acid are not attributable to either of the acid molecules. In oleum the lower band appears at 1075-1095 cm. That these bands seemed to correspond to those in the spectra of anhydrous nitric acid and solid dinitrogen pentoxide caused some confusion in the assignment of the spectrum. The situation was resolved by examining the Raman spectra of solutions of nitric acid in perchloric or selenic acids , in which the strong absorption at 1400 cm is not accompanied by absorption at about 1050 cm . Thus, the band at 1400 cm arises from the nitronium ion, and the band at about 1050 cm can be attributed in the cases of nitric acid and solid dinitrogen pentoxide to the nitrate ion formed according to the following schemes ... 

The most recent work indicates that in anhydrous sulphuric acid the above conversion is complete. The slightly modified absorption band in oleum arises from the hydrogen pyrosulphate ion formed in the following way ... 

Solutions of nitric acid in 100% sulphuric acid have a high electrical conductivity. If nitric acid is converted into a cation in these solutions, then the migration of nitric acid to the cathode should be observed in electrolysis. This has been demonstrated to occur in oleum and, less conclusively, in concentrated acid, observations consistent with the formation of the nitronium ion, or the mono- or di-protonated forms of nitric acid. Conductimetric measurements confirm the quantitative conversion of nitric acid into nitronium ion in sulphuric acid. ... 

A similar study of the nitration of 2,5-dichloro- and 2,5-dibromo-nitrobenxene under a variety of conditions has been made. At the very high acidities in oleum the o /)-ratio for nitration was less than unity. It increased with decreasing acidity of the medium and became greater than unity at roughly the acidity represented by 89-90 % sulphuric acid. The results were interpreted in terms of the interaction between the nitronium ion and the nitro group, but the results are complicated and the interpretation not compelling. 

In fuming sulfuric acid (20% oleum) 2 aminothiazole (16. 27. 375. 389) and 2-amino-4-methylthiazole (374. 390) are sulfonated in the 5-position. When this position is substituted as in 2-amino-5-methyl-thiazole (27, 391) very small amounts of 4-sulfonation occur. 

Attempts to prepare the diprOpylamino-5-sulfonic acid by sulfonation in oleum failed (385). With 2-piperidino-4-methylthiazole Ochiai reports cleavage of the 2-piperidino ring (391). 

Sulfonation by oleum occurs as expected on C-5 (598). The same position is reactive toward bromination, thiocyanation, and nitration... 

Action of HSO3CI on 2-substituted thiazoles affords the 5-chlorosulfonyl derivatives (337, 338). Addition of 6-phenylthiazolo[2,3-e]tetra2ole to oleum opens the tetrazole ring to form 2-azido-4-phenyI-thiazolyl-5-sulfonic acid, isolated as its salt (339). 5-Chloro-sulphonyl derivative is obtained similarly by action of HSO,Cl. 

The word petroleum is de rived from the Latin words for rock (petra) and oil (oleum)... 

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