Process for the safe and environmentally sound production of highly pure alkylene oxide adducts
AssigneeBuss AG
InventorGunter M. Leuteritz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An alkylene oxide is reacted in a loop reactor with an organic compound having a reactive hydrogen atom, a gas circulation and a liquid circulation around the reactor being provided and being coupled with one another via an ejector mixing nozzle. To ensure completeness of the reaction and suppression of the formation of by-products such as dioxane, it is essential to reduce the temperature of the entire alkylene oxide gas phase to a temperature below that of the liquid phase, and this is effected by feeding and evaporating liquid alkylene oxide and by cooling of the gas phase on the unit walls.
Claims13
A process for the safe and environmentally sound production of highly pure alkylene oxide adducts having a residual ethylene oxide content of below 1 ppm and a residual dioxane content below 10 ppm without any after-treatment, which comprises reacting an alkylene oxide with an organic compound having at least onereactive hydrogen atom in a loop reactor with gas and liquid circulations coupled via an ejector mixing nozzle, wherein
- firstly, the temperature of the entire gas phase in the head space of the reactor, consisting of alkylene oxide, or alkylene oxide and inert gas, is maintained at a temperature at least 1.degree. C. lower, throughout the entire course of the reaction, than the liquid phase temperature anywhere in the reactor any time of the reaction, and
- secondly, enforcing a vigorous gas-phase turbulence and intermixing of gas and liquid phases by employing the ejector mixing nozzle driven by the circulating reaction liquid itself.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.