The Dow Chemical Company

Walter L Wernli

Robert P Shirtum

Jeffrey D Birdwell

Philip J Carlberg

Frank H Murphy

Micheal L Chappell

David D McCoy

William E Fry

Steve F Janda

Disclosed is an apparatus and process for producing a tripropylene glycol in which alkylene oxide, water, an acid catalyst and a dipropylene glycol are contacted together under conditions suitable to form the tripropylene glycol. Water is present in the reaction mixture in the range of about 1 to about 50 weight percent of the reaction mixture. The ratio of water to alkylene oxide is less than about 9. The tripropylene glycol thus produced exhibits a higher primary hydroxyl group content generally exceeding 36 percent. Such tripropylene glycols find utility in the production of acrylics. Also disclosed is a process for making esters from such glycols.

Apparatus for producing alkylene glycols, alkylene glyocols having

Apparatus for producing alkylene glycols, alkyene glycols having higher

A vertical reactor system having a plurality of substantially vertically aligned reaction compartments one on top of the other, the reactant materials (and catalyst and solvent, if desired), flowable from a first top compartment through intermediate compartments, if any, to a bottom compartment from which a desired product of a reaction of the reactant materials is withdrawn, the compartments having inlets for the addition of additional reactants, catalysts, or solvents and outlets for withdrawing by-products, vapors, and water from any compartment, and processes for producing products using such a system. In one embodiment the product is a liquid epoxy resin. Stirring impellers may be provided in any compartment. A liquid seal may be provided on a shaft for the impellers and, in one embodiment the seals in each compartment may be elevated above the liquid in the compartments.

Vertical continuous reactor

Vertical continuous reactor and process for liquid epoxy resin

Epoxy resins containing aliphatic, non-hydrolyzable chlorine atoms are prepared by hydrochlorinating an epoxy resin thereby forming a chlorohydrin intermediate product; reacting this intermediate product with epichlorohydrin in the presence of a Lewis acid; and dehydrochlorinating the resultant product. CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Aliphatic, non-hydrolyzable chloride-containing epoxy resins and process

Epoxy resins low in aliphatic halogen are prepared by reacting a polyhydric phenol with an excess of an epihalohydrin in the presence of a secondary alcohol and an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide until from 45 to &lt;70 percent of the phenolic hydroxyl groups have reacted; removing unreacted polyhydric phenol therefrom until less than 4% total phenolic hydroxyl remains in the reaction product; dehydrohalogenating the resultant intermediate product and recovering the epoxy resin therefrom.

Process for preparing relatively high molecular weight epoxy resins

An improved process for preparing a silver catalyst which comprises impregnating a porous alumina support with a silver salt, preferably silver nitrate, by contacting a quantity of the support with an aqueous solution of the salt in sufficient amount to be completely absorbed by said support while under a vacuum. A dispersing agent is also employed in the aqueous silver salt solution. The support is dried by heating, e.g. 100.degree. C., under vacuum and then, while still under vacuum, impregnated with a reducing agent employing an amount sufficient to be completely absorbed by the support. Subsequent heating at a higher temperature, e.g. 250.degree. C., reduces the silver salt to silver metal. A catalyst is produced which, when employed for the oxidation of ethylene, permits the process to run 5.degree.-10.degree. C. cooler at the normal conversion and also gives an improved yield.

Method of making catalysts for the production of ethylene oxide

An improved method for the preparation of a silver catalyst in which a cyclic tetraamine is employed as a dispersing agent for the silver compound. Such catalysts are useful in the preparation of ethylene oxide by the direct oxidation of ethylene.

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Angleton, TX, United States of America

Walter L Wernli