Production of propylene glycol monoalkyl ether
US9187392B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 17, 2008 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC07C41/44
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention is a process for producing a propylene glycol monoalkyl ether which comprises first reacting propylene oxide and an alcohol in the presence of an alkali or alkaline earth metal alkoxide catalyst to produce an alkoxylation mixture comprising propylene glycol monoalkyl ether; distilling the alkoxylation mixture to produce a first overhead stream comprising propylene oxide and alcohol and a first bottoms stream comprising propylene glycol monoalkyl ether; and then distilling the first bottoms stream to produce purified propylene glycol monoalkyl ether as a second overhead stream. The reaction and/or one or more of the distillation steps occur in the presence of an alkali metal borohydride. The process produces propylene glycol monoalkyl ether with low UV absorbance and reduced carbonyl impurities.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.