Apparatus for producing alkylene glycols, alkylene glyocols having higher primary hydroxyl content, method of producing glycols having higher primary hydroxyl content, method of producing acrylate esters

US5939591A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Jeffrey D. Birdwell · Lake Jackson, US
• Micheal L. Chappell · Lake Jackson, US
• Philip J. Carlberg · Lake Jackson, US
• Frank H. Murphy · Town of West Hartford, US
• Robert P. Shirtum · Freeport, US
• Walter L. Wernli · Angleton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 1, 1997
• Grant date: Aug 17, 1999
• Expiry date: Dec 1, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08G65/2696
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and process for producing a tripropylene glycol in which alkylene oxide, water, an acid catalyst and a dipropylene glycol are contacted together under conditions suitable to form the tripropylene glycol. Water is present in the reaction mixture in the range of about 1 to about 50 weight percent of the reaction mixture. The ratio of water to alkylene oxide is less than about 9. The tripropylene glycol thus produced exhibits a higher primary hydroxyl group content generally exceeding 36 percent. Such tripropylene glycols find utility in the production of acrylics. Also disclosed is a process for making esters from such glycols.