E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Melvin Charles Baker

James Arnold Schultz

Suriyanarayan Dorai

A process for polymerizing tetrahydrofuran to produce polytetramethylene ether glycol or ester-capped polytetramethylene ether glycol is disclosed. The reaction mass is carried out at 10.degree. to 80.degree. C. and preferably 20.degree. to 60.degree. C. In a preferred aspect of the invention, a mixture of acetic anhydride and acetic acid is present in the reaction mixture.

Preparation of polytetramethylene ether glycol using an acidic zirconia

The level of yellow color sometimes associated with poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol can be reduced by bringing the poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol into contact with hypochlorite ions.

Method for reducing color of poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol with

Color formation in a polyester formed of a saturated acid, a glycol and 1,4-butanediol can be reduced if, during preparation of the polyester, a reaction mass is first formed of the acid and the glycol and the butanediol is then added to the reaction mass after the acid-glycol reaction is practically complete.

Method for reducing color formation in polyesters

A process for removing poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol from dilute aqueous acidic effluent streams thereof comprising the steps of (1) maintaining the stream in the liquid phase at a temperature above about 150.degree. C for a period of at least about 15 minutes and (2) removing tetrahydrofuran therefrom.

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Youngstown, NY, United States of America

Melvin Charles Baker