Abstract:
The present invention provides an improved process for preparing a narrow molecular weight distributed polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG). The product polytetramethylene ether glycol has an increased number average molecular weight, a lowered polydispersity and a reduced molecular weight ratio when compared to the polytetramethylene ether glycol in the corresponding feedstock.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an improved process and apparatus for alkanolysis of polytetramethylene ether diacetate to polytetraalkylene ether glycol in the presence of a C1 to C4 alkanol and an alkali or alkaline earth metal catalyst wherein the catalyst component of the product mixture comprising polytetraalkylene ether glycol, alkanol and catalyst, essentially free of the alkanol acetate by-product, e.g., methyl acetate is removed by contacting the mixture in the absence of added water with certain ion exchange resin at specified contact conditions. The invention further provides a highly efficient method for removing the catalyst component of a mixture comprising polytetraalkylene ether glycol, alkanol and alkali or alkaline earth metal catalyst by contacting the mixture in the absence of added water with certain ion exchange resin at specified contact conditions,
Abstract:
The present invention provides an improved process for converting a diester of polyether polyol, e.g., PTMEA, to the corresponding dihydroxy product, e.g., polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) continuously in a reaction zone, such as, for example, a reactive distillation system, for achieving virtually complete conversion of PTMEA to PTMEG, and recovery of PTMEG free of unreacted or unconverted PTMEA and alkanol ester by-product.