Continuous process and system of producing polyether polyols

Abstract

A continuous process and system for producing polyether polyols that allows for continuously adding an unreacted oxide to a loop reactor while adding at least one thermally deactivating catalyst capable of thermally deactivating prior to decomposition of polyether polyol which can allow for greater concentrations of unreacted oxides and/or a rate of reaction in the loop reactor is at a rate at least two times faster than a rate of reaction in a loop reactor containing less than 14 weight percent unreacted oxide. In a preferred embodiment, the catalyst is a double metal cyanide catalyst and a plug flow reactor is formed in series with the loop reactor wherein neither reactor contains a vapor space.

1 . A system for the continuous process of producing polyether polyol comprising:
 a loop reactor containing at least one thermally deactivating catalyst; and   a plug flow reactor following the loop reactor;   
       wherein the loop reactor and the plug flow reactor do not contain a vapor space. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pump in the loop reactor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one heat exchanger in the loop reactor. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a recycling loop capable of returning a portion of the unreacted oxide from the plug flow reactor to the loop reactor.