6533b829fe1ef96bd128a67e

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Investigation of propoxylation and ethoxylation of 2-ethylhexanol in the presence of an alkaline and DMC type catalyst at initial stages of the syntheses

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This paper reports results from monopropoxylation and monoethoxylation of ethylhexyl alcohol performed in the presence of KOH and DMC type catalysts, respectively. The existing differences are discussed in terms of kinetic performance of the syntheses, as well as compositions of the obtained products. The investigated DMC type catalyst showed 60 to 70 times higher conversion rates, narrower homologue distributions and higher selectivity, as compared to KOH. Interpretation of the experimental results was performed using kinetic parameters of the Wejbul Nycander Gold model and the Natta Mantica relationships. In spite of any differences between the reactivity of the investigated catalysts and alkylene oxides, a significant contribution of polymerisation parallel to the target polyaddition was determined, absorbing a major part of the converted adducts, both, in the presence of DMC and KOH.