Preparation of Dibutoxymethane

A dibutoxymethane formed by the process of:

• providing a 30-50% formaldehyde and a butanol;
• reacting said 30-50% formaldehyde and said butanol in a condensation reaction without the use of a co-solvent for the removal of water;
• and
• segregating said dibutoxymethane.

A method for the production of dibutoxymethane, without a recycled butanol discharge, the method comprising the steps of:

• charging water, methanol, paraformaldehyde, and a condensation reaction catalyst together to create a mixture;
• heating said mixture to a temperature at which a clear solution is obtained;
• charging virgin butanol to said mixture;
• heating said mixture;
• collecting water and butanol distillate in a distillation trap;
• cooling said mixture when the accumulation of said water distillate ceases;
• returning said butanol to said mixture;
• charging a neutralization agent to said mixture;
• charging water to said mixture;
• re-heating said mixture to initiate distillation;
• continuing said distillation until a predetermined amount of water has been collected;
• separating a top and a bottom phase of a distillate;
• and
• cooling a mixture residue.

A method for the production of dibutoxymethane, with a recycled butanol discharge, the method comprising the steps of:

• charging water, methanol, paraformaldehyde, and a condensation reaction catalyst together to create a mixture;
• heating said mixture to a temperature at which a clear solution is obtained;
• charging a top layer of a distillate trap from a previous batch and calculating an amount of butanol therein;
• charging a top layer from a receiver distillate from a previous batch and calculating an amount of butanol therein;
• calculating an amount of virgin butanol to be charged;
• charging the amount of said virgin butanol calculated in said step of calculating an amount of virgin butanol to be charged;
• heating said mixture;
• collecting water and butanol distillate in a distillation trap;
• cooling said mixture when the accumulation of said water distillate ceases;
• returning said butanol to said mixture;
• charging a neutralization agent to said mixture;
• charging water to said mixture;
• re-heating said mixture to initiate distillation;
• continuing said distillation until a predetermined amount water has been collected;
• separating a top and a bottom phase of a distillate;
• and
• cooling a mixture residue.