Continuous process and system of producing polyether polyols

A continuous process of producing polyether polyol which comprises the steps of:

• (a) continuously adding an unreacted oxide to a loop reactor, while adding at least one thermally deactivating catalyst and at least one initiator to the loop reactor;
• and
• (b) reacting at least a portion of the unreacted oxide to form polyether polyol;
• wherein the thermally deactivating catalyst is capable of thermally deactivating prior to decomposition of the polyether polyol;
• and
• wherein the catalyst in the loop reactor is less than about 150 ppm.

A continuous process of producing polyether polyol which comprises the steps of:

• (a) continuously adding an unreacted oxide to a loop reactor, while adding at least one thermally deactivating catalyst and at least one initiator to the loop reactor;
• and
• (b) reacting at least a portion of the unreacted oxide in a reaction to form polyether polyol;
• wherein the thermally deactivating catalyst is capable of thermally deactivating prior to decomposition of polyether polyol;
• and
• wherein a rate of reaction in the loop reactor is at a rate at least two times faster than a rate of reaction in a loop reactor containing less than 14 weight percent unreacted oxide.

A system for the continuous process of producing polyether polyol comprising:

• a loop reactor containing at least one thermally deactivating catalyst;
• and
• a plug flow reactor following the loop reactor;
• wherein the loop reactor and the plug flow reactor do not contain a vapor space.