The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 13, 2001
Filed:
May. 26, 2000
Carolyn Supplee, Corpus Christi, TX (US);
Jerry A. Broussard, Corpus Christi, TX (US);
Tobin J. Marks, Evanston, TX (US);
William E. Slinkard, Corpus Christi, TX (US);
Edwards G. Zey, Corpus Christi, TX (US);
Celanese International Corporation, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A process for treating a composition containing a substantial proportion of trimethyflolpropane bis-monolinear formal (TMP-BMLF) or trimethylolethane bis-monolinear formal (TME-BMLF), e.g., a heavy ends residue obtained from the purification of a crude trimethylolpropane (TMP) or trimethylolethane (TME) product, wherein the composition is contacted at an elevated temperature with a strong acid catalyst, e.g., methanesulfonic acid, to produce a composition containing significantly increased amounts of TMP and trimethylolpropane monocyclic formal (TMP-MCF) or TME and trimethylolethane monocyclic formal (TME-MCF) respectively. Also disclosed is a process for reacting TMP-MCF or TME-MCF, either in substantially pure form or as present in the light ends overhead stream obtained in a finishing treatment of crude TMP or TME, with a monohydric or dihydric alcohol, e.g., ethylene glycol, in the presence of a strong acid catalyst to obtain additional TMP or TME and an acetal by-product, e.g., 1,3-dioxolane; and a process for directly reacting the TMP-BMLF or TME-BMLF present in a composition, e.g., the heavy ends residue obtained in the purification of TMP or TME, with a monohydric or dihydric alcohol, e.g., ethylene glycol, in the presence of a strong acid to obtain additional TMP or TME and an acetal by-product, e.g., 1,3-dioxolane.