Continuous process for the preparation of polytrimethylene ether glycol
AssigneeE. I. du Pont Nemours and Company
InventorsHari B. Sunkara, Ernest Keith Andrew Marchildon, Howard Chung-Ho Ng, Leo E. Manzer
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Abstract
The invention is a continuous process for the preparation of polytrimethylene ether glycol from 1,3-propanediol reactant. In addition, the invention is directed to a continuous multi-stage process comprising reacting at least one reactant in a liquid phase in an up-flow column reactor, and forming a gas or vapor phase by-product wherein the gas or vapor phase by-product is continuously removed at the top and at least one intermediate stage.
Claims39
A continuous process of making polytrimethylene ether glycol comprising:
- (a) continuously providing 1,3-propanediol reactant and polycondensation catalyst;
- and
- (b) continuously polycondensing the 1,3-propanediol reactant to polytrimethylene ether glycol in two or more reaction stages,
- wherein the polycondensation is carried out in a counter current vertical reactor and wherein the 1,3-propanediol reactant and polytrimethylene ether glycol flow in a manner counter-current to the flow of gases and vapors.
A continuous process of making polytrimethylene ether glycol comprising:
- (a) continuous providing 1,3-propanediol reactant and polycondensation catalyst;
- and
- (b) continuously polycondensing the 1,3-propanediol reactant to polytrimethylene ether dyed in two or more reaction stages,
- wherein the catalyst is heterogeneous.
A continuous process of making polytrimethylene ether glycol comprising:
- (a) continuously providing 1,3-propanediol reactant and polycondensation catalyst;
- and
- (b) continuously polycondensing the 1,3-propanediol reactant to polytrimethylene ether glycol in two or more reaction stages,
- wherein the polycondensation is carried out in an up-flow co-current column reactor and the 1,3-propanediol reactant and polytrimethylene ether glycol flow upward co-currently with the flow of gases and vapors.
The process of 24 wherein an inert gas is added to the reactor at one or more stages.
A continuous process of making polytrimethylene ether glycol comprising:
- (a) continuously providing 1,3-propanediol reactant and polycondensation catalyst;
- and
- (b) continuously polycondensing the 1,3-propanediol reactant to polytrimethylene ether glycol;
- wherein the polycondensation is first carried out in at least one prepolymerizer reactor and then continued in a column reactor, the 1,3-propanediol reactant comprises 90 weight % or more 1,3-propanediol, and in the prepolymerizer reactor the 1,3-propanediol is polymerized with the catalyst to a degree of polymerization of at least 5.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.