SO₃ Sulfonation Plant Complete Production Line

Industry-leading SO₃ falling film sulfonation reactor technology for continuous, high-efficiency production of LABSA, SLES, SLS, AOS, MES, and specialty surfactants. Proven in 80+ installations across 30 countries.

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Advanced SO₃ Falling Film Sulfonation Technology

Our SO₃ sulfonation production line utilizes gaseous SO₃ generated from sulfur combustion, processed through a multi-tube falling film reactor for continuous sulfonation and sulfation of organic substrates. This technology represents the global standard for manufacturing anionic surfactants including LABSA (Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid), SLES (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate), SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate / K12), AOS (Alpha Olefin Sulfonate), and MES (Methyl Ester Sulfonates).

Founded in 1999, Beijing Xinrui Baili has continuously refined the SO₃ sulfonation process, achieving industry-leading conversion rates exceeding 98%, minimal color development, and ultra-low unreacted oil content. Every plant is engineered to meet both GMP and environmental compliance standards.

  • ≥98%

    Sulfonation Efficiency

  • ≤0.8%

    Ultra-low unreacted

Integrated Sulfonation Production Line

Our integrated production process ensures consistent quality through every step, from raw material intake to finished product dispatch.

Su l f o n a t io n R a w M a t e r ia l E x h a u s t G a s Ne u t r a l i z a t io n D r y i n g U n i t T e r t i a r y O i l R ec o v e r y (E O R) F o r O i l fi e l d s H y d r o ly si s 9 7 .5% L A B S A H A S W P S U l t r a- l o w D i o x a n e S L ES S L S M ES A OS SO₃

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  • Sulfur Melting & Filtration
  • SO₂ Combustion Furnace
  • SO₃ Catalytic Converter
  • Falling Film Reactor
  • Product Output (LABSA SLES AOS)

SO₃ Falling Film Sulfonation Reactor: How It Works

The SO₃ falling film sulfonation reactor is the heart of every modern sulfonation production line. It operates on the principle of co-current gas-liquid contact within a bundle of precision-machined vertical tubes. This design enables extremely rapid heat and mass transfer, resulting in high-quality surfactant products with minimal by-product formation.

Raw organic material (such as LAB for LABSA production, fatty alcohol for SLES/SLS production, alpha olefin for AOS production, or methyl ester for MES production) is distributed evenly across the top of each reactor tube, forming a thin descending film along the inner wall. Simultaneously, diluted gaseous SO₃ is introduced co-currently, reacting with the organic film as both flow downward.

  • Multi-tube design — 37 to 169 reactor tubes per unit,each precisely bored to ensure uniform film distribution and consistent product quality across all tubes
  • Jacket cooling system — Chilled water circulates through the reactor jacket, maintaining reaction temperature below 50C to prevent over-sulfonation
  • Gas-liquid separator — Cyclone separator at reactor exit efficiently separates exhaust gas from product,with tail gas scrubbing to meet emission standards s50 mg/m3 SO2

Key Technical Advantages

Our SO₃ sulfonation technology delivers measurable advantages in product quality, operational efficiency, and total cost of ownership compared to conventional systems.

  • High Active Matter Content

    Achieve active matter content of ≥96% for LABSA and ≥70% for SLES with ultra-low dioxane levels (as low as 5 ppm). Our proprietary reactor design minimizes.

  • Flexible Multi-Product Capability

    A single SO₃ sulfonation production line can manufacture LABSA, SLES, SLS, AOS, and MES products by simply switching feedstocks and adjusting process parameters.

  • Comprehensive Safety Systems

    Every installation includes a Safety Interlock System (SIS) and Emergency Shutdown Device (ESD) per IEC 61511, and SO₃ leak detection for multi-layer protection.

  • Energy-Efficient Design

    Heat recovery systems capture waste heat from the sulfur burner and reactor cooling circuits, reducing total energy consumption by 15-25%. Combined with optimized

Products & Industry Applications

Our SO₃ sulfonation technology serves diverse industries, producing essential surfactants for household cleaning, personal care, industrial applications, and enhanced oil recovery.

  • Household Detergents

    LABSA and SLES are the primary active ingredients in liquid dish soap, laundry detergent, and all-purpose cleaners. Our high-purity sulfonation ensures excellent foaming, grease-cutting performance, and skin mildness.

  • Personal Care & Cosmetics

    SLS and SLES with ultra-low dioxane content (≤5 ppm) are essential for shampoos, body wash, toothpaste, and facial cleansers. Our AEO sulfation plant technology produces cosmetic-grade surfactants meeting global safety regulations.

  • Industrial & Institutional

    High-concentration LABSA and AOS products serve as raw materials for industrial cleaners, textile processing, leather treatment, and agricultural emulsifiers. Our scalable capacity (40–6,000 kg/h) meets any production volume requirement.

  • Industrial & Institutional

    High-concentration LABSA and AOS products serve as raw materials for industrial cleaners, textile processing, leather treatment, and agricultural emulsifiers. Our scalable capacity (40–6,000 kg/h) meets any production volume requirement.

Equipment Composition & Plant Layout

A complete SO₃ sulfonation production line consists of multiple integrated subsystems, each engineered and manufactured in-house to ensure seamless operation and long-term reliability.

Sulfur Melting & Combustion System

Stainless steel sulfur melter with temperature-controlled combustion furnace, producing clean SO₂ gas with >99.5% conversion efficiency from solid sulfur feedstock.

Sulfur Melting & Combustion System

Air Drying & Purification Unit

Stainless steel sulfur melter with temperature-controlled combustion furnace, producing clean SO₂ gas with >99.5% conversion efficiency from solid sulfur feedstock.

Air Drying & Purification Unit

Catalytic SO₃ Converter

Stainless steel sulfur melter with temperature-controlled combustion furnace, producing clean SO₂ gas with >99.5% conversion efficiency from solid sulfur feedstock.

Catalytic SO₃ Converter

Multi-Tube Falling Film Reactor

Stainless steel sulfur melter with temperature-controlled combustion furnace, producing clean SO₂ gas with >99.5% conversion efficiency from solid sulfur feedstock.

Multi-Tube Falling Film Reactor

Neutralization & Aging System

Stainless steel sulfur melter with temperature-controlled combustion furnace, producing clean SO₂ gas with >99.5% conversion efficiency from solid sulfur feedstock.

Neutralization & Aging System

Tail Gas Treatment System

Stainless steel sulfur melter with temperature-controlled combustion furnace, producing clean SO₂ gas with >99.5% conversion efficiency from solid sulfur feedstock.

Tail Gas Treatment System

Plant Specifications & Performance

Available in multiple capacity ranges to match your production requirements, from pilot-scale R&D units to full industrial production lines.

Parameter Pilot Plant Standard Plant Large-Scale Plant
Production Capacity 40 - 200 kg/h 500 - 2,000 kg/h 3,000 - 6,000 kg/h
Reactor Tubes 7 - 19 tubes 37 - 91 tubes 127-169 tubes
Products Supported LABSA, SLES, SLS LABSA, SLES, SLS, AOS, MES LABSA, SLES, SLS, AOS, MES
Active Matter (LABSA) ≥96% ≥96% ≥96%
Active Matter(SLES 70%) ≥70% ≥70% ≥70%
Dioxane Content (SLES) ≤10 ppm ≤5 ppm ≤5 ppm
SO₃ Conversion Rate ≥98% ≥98.5% ≥99%
Unreacted Oil ≤1.5% ≤0.8% ≤0.5%
Tail Gas SO₂ Emission ≤100 mg/m³ ≤50 mg/m³ ≤50 mg/m³
Control System PLC + HMI DCS + SIS DCS + SIS + ESD
Floor Space Required ~200 m² ~800 m² ~1,500 m²
Delivery Timeline 4-6 months 8-12 months 12-18 months