We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGeek

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

What is Sulfolane?

By C. Martin
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGeek is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGeek, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Sulfolane is a type of liquid chemical solvent. It is also called tetramethylene sulfone. It is a colorless, clear liquid that is soluble in water. Sulfolane solvent was first developed in the 1960s by the Shell Oil Company, who used it to purify natural gas.

One of the key properties of this chemical is its solubility in water. The reason for this chemical characteristic is that the molecule is strongly polar. A polar molecule is one that has a distinct positive charge at one side and negative charge at the other. This is similar to a battery, which has one positive end, or pole, and one negative pole.

The systemic name of the sulfolane molecule is 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide, and it has a molecular structure of C4H8O2S. It belongs to a group of organosulfar molecules called sulfones. These types of molecules are characterized by possessing a sulfonyl group, which is a sulfur atom tightly bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is this sulfonyl group that makes the sulfolane molecule polar.

In its initial commercial usage by the Shell Oil Company, sulfolane was used to remove substances such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and other contaminants from acidic natural gas. The process used was called the sulfinol process. Since it was first discovered, further commercial uses for the chemical have been discovered.

Two of the main modern uses of the chemical are the sulfinol process, which is still used by Shell Oil, and the sulfolane extraction process. This extraction process is a method of producing aromatic hydrocarbons, substances that may be used in the development of some explosives, lubricants, preservatives, and plastics. Both the sulfinol process and the sulfolane extraction process are licensed processes that belong to the Shell Oil Company. The chemical is permitted to be used by other companies for alternate processes, and it is now widely utilized by many organizations in the petrochemical industry.

Sulfolane is generally a very stable chemical, and therefore can be reused multiple times in many of the various processes in which it is utilized. It is a poisonous substance to humans, and should not be ingested or inhaled. Due to its stable nature, it is generally considered safe if it is stored appropriately, and it is not explosive. It can, however, be hazardous if stored incorrectly. It can interact with various other chemicals to form hazardous products, and may also form explosive vapor mixtures with air.

WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

By everetra — On Sep 18, 2011

@Charred - I think the article makes clear that sulfolane is safe and can easily be stored without exploding or anything like that.

As for alternatives, like you I don’t know much about the oil industry itself to make recommendations. Perhaps there are more bio friendly methods to purify gas, like bacterial cultures or something like that.

At any rate, as long as the chemical is safe, I don’t personally have a problem with it until we make a complete transition to a green economy.

By Charred — On Sep 17, 2011

Sulfolane’s usage in ridding carbon dioxide from natural gas introduces a paradox, in my opinion.

In pushing companies to reduce their CO2 emissions, we may in fact be forcing them to use harmful chemicals in the process. In other words, we are fighting fire with fire, aren’t we?

I am not an expert in the oil industry so I don’t know if this is the only way to purify natural gas or if there are other, more environmentally friendly methods.

I just think that when we hand down regulations to reduce CO2 emissions, it should be done with the understanding that it’s done with safe processes.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.