Preparation of tetrahydrofuran polymers having a narrow molecular weight distribution using an amorphous silica-alumina catalyst
AssigneeArco Chemical Technology, L.P.
InventorsAndrew P. Kahn, Robert G. Gastinger, Rangasamy Pitchai
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Abstract
A process for producing tetrahydrofuran polymers having a narrow molecular weight distribution is disclosed. Tetrahydrofuran is polymerized in the presence of a carboxylic acid anhydride and amorphous silica-alumina. The process overcomes the need for costly post-treatment techniques such as distillation and selective solvent extraction.
Claims7
A process for producing a tetrahydrofuran polymer having a narrow molecular weight distribution, said process comprising polymerizing tetrahydrofuran in the presence of a carboxylic acid anhydride and an effective amount of an amorphous silica-alumina catalyst, wherein the amorphous silica-alumina catalyst has an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 content within the range of about 10 to about 30 weight percent, and wherein the resulting tetrahydrofuran polymer has a number average molecular weight within the range of about 200 to about 5,000, and a molecular weight distribution (M.sub.w /M.sub.n) less than about 3.
A process for producing a tetrahydrofuran polymer having a narrow molecular weight distribution, said process comprising polymerizing tetrahydrofuran in the presence of acetic anhydride and an effective amount of an amorphous silica-alumina catalyst, wherein the amorphous silica-alumina catalyst has an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 content within the range of about 10 to about 30 weight percent, and wherein the resulting tetrahydrofuran polymer has a number average molecular weight within the range of about 200 to about 5,000, and a molecular weight distribution (M.sub.w /M.sub.n) less than about 3.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.