Process for purification of crude polyether and adsorbent

Abstract

A process for purifying a crude polyether, comprising contacting a crude polyether obtained by addition polymerizing an active hydrogen-containing compound with an alkylene oxide compound in the presence of an alkali metal-containing basic catalyst to an adsorbent comprising a synthesized hydrous magnesium silicate compound which satisfies the following requirements (1) to (5) in order to reduce the alkali metal content of the crude polyether: (1) it is represented by the following formula I: (CaO)x.(MgO)y.(Al2O3)z.SiO2.mH2OI wherein x, y, z and m satisfy the following ranges: x<y, z<y, 0≦x≦0.1, 0.6≦y≦0.6, 0≦z≦0.1 and 0.1≦m≦1.5, (2) it is amorphous according to the analysis of its powder method X-ray diffraction diagram, (3) it has a BET specific surface area of 100 to 400 m2/g, (4) it has an alkali metal content of 0.1 wt % or less, and (5) it has an average particle diameter of 2 to 60 μm. According to the present invention, a purified polyether having an extremely low content of an alkali metal can be obtained effectively.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.