Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation

Huntsman Corporation

Huntsman Ici Chemicals LLC

Timothy L Lambert

John F Knifton

Edward T Marquis

Wei-Yang Su

William K Culbreth, Iii

Peter Stephen Morford

Mike W McKinney

A process for the alkoxylation of a polyetheramine to form an etheramine alkoxylate. In the process, a polyetheramine is reacted with an alkylene oxide in the presence of an alcohol to form the etheramine alkoxylate. The alcohol serves as a catalyst to allow the reaction proceed at a heightened temperature as compared to the reaction in the absence of alcohol, while at the same time limiting the amount of glycol by-product production which would otherwise typically form when higher polyetheramines are to be alkoxylated. The alcohol may be, for instance, ethanol or methanol.

Process for the production of etheramine alkoxylates

Oxygenate impurities are removed from an organic chemical feed or stream by treatment with an aqueous reducing agent and aqueous base, accompanied by separation. An aqueous solution of reducing agent and an aqueous solution of base are typically introduced sequentially into the organic chemical stream, where they may react with any oxygenate impurities present. The reaction products of the oxygenate impurities and aqueous reducing agent and aqueous base are water soluble, and are typically removed in sequential fashion via any suitable separation means. For example, oxygenate impurities such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and methyl formate may be removed from a propylene stream by treating the stream sequentially with aqueous sodium bisulfite and aqueous sodium hydroxide, accompanied by separation of the oxygenate impurity reaction products in coalescers.

Method for removal of oxygenate impurities from organic chemical streams

Polyether polyols having reduced terminal unsaturation are prepared in a process comprising a first step comprising reacting propylene oxide with an initiator having at least two hydroxyl groups in the presence of a basic catalyst, a second step of contacting the polyether product of the first step having allyl terminal unsaturation with an isomerization catalyst whereby the allyl terminal unsaturation of the polyether is reduced by at least 90% conversion to propenyl terminal unsaturation in one step and, in a final step, the resulting polyether product of the first step is contacted with an acid catalyst whereby a substantial amount of the propenyl terminal unsaturation of the polyether is removed and the corresponding polyether having an additional hydroxyl group is obtained.

Process for preparing low unsaturation polyether polyols

Polyether polyols having reduced terminal unsaturation are prepared in a process comprising a first step of contacting a polyether having allyl terminal unsaturation with an isomerization catalyst whereby the allyl terminal unsaturation of the polyether is reduced by at least 90% conversion to propenyl terminal unsaturation in one step and, in a final step, the resulting polyether product of the first step is contacted with an acid catalyst whereby a substantial amount of the propenyl terminal unsaturation of the polyether is removed and the corresponding polyether having an additional hydroxyl group is obtained.

Disclosed is an improved process for polymerization of tetrahydrofuran to prepare poly(tetrahydrofuran) products with a MW range of 200 to 5000 and a dispersity of &lt;2, which comprises premixing a carboxylic anhydride, such as, for example acetic anhydride and a dealuminated Y-zeolite and subsequently adding tetrahydrofuran at a temperature below 100.degree. C., wherein the order of addition of reactants is critical and the yield is improved by premixing the acetic anhydride and zeolite and then adding tetrahydrofuran.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Timothy L Lambert