Water → Propylene Oxide

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Thereafter, 1,2-epoxyoctadecane (385 parts) is added to the vessel with stirring and heating at 125° C. to 135° C. continued for another three hours or until at least 95% of the 1,2-epoxyoctadecane has reacted. The resulting product is treated with magnesium silicate (5% by weight) and water (1% by weight), heated at 120° C. for two hours, and filtered to remove residual potassium catalyst. Residual volatiles are removed by steam vacuum distillation (200°-205° C., 10 mm Hg vacuum, 3 parts water per part alkoxylated alcohol) to yield an alkoxylated alcohol containing an average of about 5 equivalents of reacted propylene oxide and 3 equivalents of reacted 1,2-epoxyoctadecane per equivalent of glycerin.

Provenance & Evidence