Patent ID: 6380367
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: B01J,C08G

Abstract:
A continuous process for the production of sucrose based polyols, said continuous process comprising the steps of:a) forming an aqueous sucrose solution; b) continuously flowing said aqueous sucrose solution, a catalyst and an alkylene oxide through a first spiral shaped reaction tube in a turbulent flow, said alkylene oxide substantially completely reacting with said aqueous sucrose solution to form a pre-polymer reaction product having from 2 to 10 moles of alkylene oxide added to each mole of sucrose in said first spiral shaped reaction tube; c) continuously flowing said pre-polymer reaction product from said first reaction tube and removing unreacted water from said pre-polymer reaction product; and d) continuously flowing said pre-polymer reaction product from step c) through a second spiral shaped reaction tube in a turbulent flow and continuously adding additional alkylene oxide to said second spiral shaped reaction tube, said alkylene oxide substantially completely reacting with said pre-polymer reaction product from step c) in said second spiral shaped reaction tube to form a polyol, wherein said alkylene oxide in said first and said second spiral shaped reaction tubes are pressurized at a pressure that is sufficiently above the vapor pressure of the alkylene oxide to maintain the alkylene oxide in a liquid state in said first and said second spiral shaped reaction tubes.