Peter A Bloxham

US Patent:

55960740, Jan 21, 1997

Filed:

Dec 22, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/577943

Inventors:

Peter A. Bloxham - Houston TX
Anne I. Breikss - Hockessin DE
Richard E. Ernst - Kennett Square PA
Leon S. Scott - Wilmington DE
John D. Super - Wilmington DE
James D. Verbsky - Seabrook TX

Assignee:

E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

C08G 5900
C08G 6534

US Classification:

528417

Abstract:

A process for removing precursors, such as low boiling alkyl glycols (e. g. , ethylene glycol and/or 1,2-propylene glycol), to undersirable color forming acetal impurities (e. g. , 1,3 -dioxolane and 4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane) from technical grade 1,4-butanediol/2-methyl-1,4-butanediol mixtures and the like by distillative topping of the diol mixture prior to ring closing cyclization to corresponding tetrahydrofuran/3-methyl tetrahydrofuran mixture and subsequent polymerization to polytetramethylene glycol ether polymers. Such a process is useful to produce THF and PTMEG having a APHA color index of nearly zero.