Patent ID: 9035105
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: C08G

Abstract:
1. A process for the in situ production of a polyether from a hydroxyl group-containing vegetable oil, at least one alkylene oxide and a low molecular weight polyol having at least 2 hydroxyl groups in the presence of a catalyst comprising: (a) introducing the hydroxyl group-containing vegetable oil, catalyst and alkylene oxide into a reactor, (b) initiating reaction of hydroxyl group-containing vegetable oil and the alkylene oxide, (c) after the reaction in (b) has begun but before the reaction has been 20% completed, continuously introducing the low molecular weight polyol having at least 2 hydroxyl groups and a molecular weight of less than 250 Da into the reactor, and (d) after the in situ made polyether polyol product having the desired molecular weight has been formed, removing that in situ made polyether polyol from the reactor, wherein the low molecular weight polyol having at least 2 hydroxyl groups is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerin, sorbitol, sucrose, diglycerol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol and mixtures thereof, and wherein the amount of low molecular weight polyol having at least 2 hydroxyl groups is about 1.2% to 3%, based on the final in situ made polyether product weight.