Process for preparing polymethylols

US8933277B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Stephan Schlitter · Schifferstadt, DE
• Michael Steiniger · Neustadt, DE
• Stefan Rittinger · Mannheim, DE
• Tilman Sirch · Schifferstadt, DE
• Steffen Maas · Bubenheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 7, 2010
• Grant date: Jan 13, 2015
• Expiry date: Nov 25, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C45/82
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process is provided for recovering components from a low boiler mixture which is obtained in the distillation of hydrogenation effluents from the preparation of polymethylols, by multistage distillation of the low boiler mixture having a tertiary amine, water, methanol, a polymethylol, a methylolalkanal, an alcohol and an alkanal with a methylene group in the alpha position to the carbonyl group. A first distillation stage involves separating the low boiler mixture into a higher-boiling, predominantly water-rich fraction and into a lower-boiling aqueous organic fraction having the tertiary amine. A second distillation stage involves separating the aqueous organic fraction from the first distillation stage into a predominantly amine-containing fraction and a further amine-depleted fraction. The tertiary amine is trimethylamine or triethylamine and the bottom temperature in the second distillation stage is at least 110° C.