Process for preparing choline hydroxide from trimethylamine and ethylene oxide

US9353045B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• DOW AGROSCIENCES LLC · US

Inventors

• Ruokang Li · Pearland, US
• Ravindra S. Dixit · Lake Jackson, US
• Avani M. Patel · Midland, US
• Xiaoyun Chen · Midland, US
• Randy J. Pell · Midland, US
• John G. Pendergast, Jr. · Lake Jackson, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 17, 2013
• Grant date: May 31, 2016
• Expiry date: Jan 17, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/582
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Processes for preparing N,N,N-trimethylethanolammonium hydroxide (choline hydroxide) and the choline hydroxide produced are described. These processes minimize the production of byproduct mono-ethoxylated and di-ethyoxylated choline in the product choline hydroxide. The processes generally include feeding ethylene oxide, trimethylamine, and water into a first reactor to create a first reactor product under temperature controlled conditions. The product of the first reactor is fed into a second reactor to form a second reactor product under uncontrolled, adiabatic, conditions. Finally, any unreacted trimethylamine in the second reactor product is removed to form a final product comprising choline hydroxide. Additional reactors can be used for the ethylene oxide and trimethylamine reaction.