ATBS (2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropane Sulfonic Acid)
The specialty sulfonic-acid acrylamido monomer supplied by Chelora Chemicals — known in the trade as ATBS, prized for the permanent, hydrolysis-resistant anionic charge it gives to oilfield, water-treatment and personal-care polymers — exported from Indonesia as crystalline solid or liquid solution with full batch documentation.
What ATBS (2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropane Sulfonic Acid) is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its role as a reactive sulfonic-acid acrylamido monomer, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
ATBS combines an acrylamide-type vinyl amide with a strongly acidic, fully ionised sulfonic-acid group held on a quaternary carbon two atoms from the amide nitrogen. That quaternary-carbon placement makes the sulfonate group essentially impervious to hydrolysis, unlike the carboxylate groups on acrylic-acid-based polymers, which is the key property specialty-polymer formulators are buying when they choose ATBS.
At room temperature it is a white crystalline solid, fully soluble in water and commonly supplied as a 50% aqueous solution for ease of handling; the free acid is strongly acidic and is often supplied or used as its sodium salt. Like other acrylamido monomers it is shipped with a polymerisation inhibitor and requires temperature-controlled storage to remain stable.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
ATBS's largest use is as a comonomer, typically at 10–30% loading, with acrylamide and acrylic acid in water-soluble polymers used as enhanced oil recovery (EOR) viscosifiers, oilfield fracturing-fluid friction reducers, and high-temperature, high-salinity drilling fluid additives, where its hydrolysis-stable sulfonate charge keeps the polymer performing under conditions that would degrade an acrylic-acid-only copolymer. It is synthesised from acrylonitrile and isobutylene via a Ritter-type reaction with concentrated sulfuric acid.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers ATBS as a 99%+ crystalline free-acid solid and as a 50% aqueous solution (free-acid or sodium-salt form on request), suitable for EOR, oilfield, water-treatment and personal-care polymer manufacture, supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How ATBS (2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropane Sulfonic Acid) is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
ATBS is manufactured by reacting acrylonitrile with isobutylene in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid, a Ritter-type reaction in which the nitrile is hydrolysed to an amide while the sulfuric acid sulfonates the tertiary carbon of the isobutylene fragment in the same step: acrylonitrile + isobutylene + H₂SO₃ + H₂O → ATBS. The crude product is then neutralised, purified and crystallised or formulated as an aqueous solution.
Why the Ritter-type route is the standard process
Combining the amide-forming Ritter reaction with in-situ sulfonation in one step, starting from two widely available petrochemical building blocks, gives a direct, scalable route to a sulfonic-acid monomer that would otherwise require several separate synthetic steps, which is why it is the process used almost universally for commercial ATBS production.
Industries and processes that use it
ATBS is consumed primarily in oilfield and water-treatment polymer manufacture, where its hydrolysis-resistant sulfonate charge is the main draw, with a smaller but growing role in personal-care formulation. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Polymers
Copolymerised with acrylamide into high-molecular-weight viscosifiers used to improve sweep efficiency in waterflood and polymer-flood EOR operations.
Oilfield Fracturing & Drilling Additives
Used in friction-reducer and high-temperature, high-salinity drilling-fluid copolymers where hydrolysis-resistant charge is essential for downhole stability.
Water Treatment Copolymers
Copolymerised into scale-inhibiting and dispersant polymers used in boiler water, cooling water and municipal treatment applications.
Personal Care & Specialty Polymers
Used as a comonomer in hair-fixative and rheology-modifying polymers valued for their stability across a wide pH range.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The combination of a radical-reactive acrylamide group and a permanently ionised sulfonate group governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways ATBS is converted into a finished product.
Free-Radical Copolymerisation
The acrylamide vinyl group copolymerises readily with acrylamide and acrylic acid under radical initiation, building the water-soluble copolymer backbones used across EOR and water treatment.
Ritter-Type Amidation (Upstream)
Acrylonitrile and isobutylene react under strongly acidic conditions to form the amide linkage at the heart of the ATBS molecule.
In-Situ Sulfonation (Upstream)
Concentrated sulfuric acid sulfonates the tertiary carbon of the isobutylene-derived fragment in the same reaction step, installing the hydrolysis-stable sulfonate group.
Neutralisation
The strongly acidic free acid is neutralised, typically with sodium hydroxide or ammonia, to the sodium or ammonium salt form favoured in many finished polymer formulations.
ATBS (2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropane Sulfonic Acid) against other amines we supply
Buyers sourcing ATBS for oilfield, water-treatment or personal-care polymer manufacture often need a related vinyl monomer. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATBS | 5165-97-9 | Specialty sulfonic-acid acrylamido monomer | The product on this page — a hydrolysis-stable comonomer for EOR, oilfield and water-treatment polymers. |
| Acrylic Acid | 79-10-7 | Vinyl carboxylic acid monomer | The parent acrylic-chemistry monomer used alongside ATBS — see its product page. |
| Acrylonitrile | 107-13-1 | Vinyl nitrile monomer | The starting material for ATBS synthesis — see its product page. |
| Maleic Anhydride | 108-31-6 | Unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydride | Another reactive acid-chemistry intermediate used in specialty copolymers — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than ATBS (2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropane Sulfonic Acid).
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Causes serious eye damage.
Causes skin irritation.
Harmful if swallowed.
May cause respiratory irritation (dust).
Chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles and dust protection (solid grade) are mandatory for routine handling.
The free-acid form is strongly acidic in solution; avoid skin and eye contact and handle solid-grade dust with care.
Keep inhibited solution and solid grades dry and away from strong oxidizers and bases.
Warning — GHS05 corrosive (eye) and GHS07 irritant pictograms apply.
This compound causes serious eye damage and skin irritation, is harmful if swallowed, and may cause respiratory irritation as a dust. It must be handled only with chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof eye protection, and dust protection for the solid grade. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and must be read in full and followed without exception before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a dry area below about 30 °C, away from moisture for the solid grade and away from strong oxidizing agents and bases, in tightly closed original packaging. The aqueous solution grade should be kept inhibited and within its recommended temperature range to avoid premature polymerisation. Only trained personnel using proper PPE should handle this material. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay and moisture before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of ATBS (2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropane Sulfonic Acid) leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by titration/GC), colour and relevant physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade of ATBS (2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropane Sulfonic Acid) shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is ATBS used for?+
02What is the CAS number of ATBS?+
03How is ATBS made?+
04What grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Why is ATBS preferred over acrylic acid in EOR polymers?+
06Is ATBS hazardous?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply Acrylic Acid and Acrylonitrile as well?+
Need ATBS (2-Acrylamido-2-Methylpropane Sulfonic Acid) on spec, on time?
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