The Production Process of Neopentyl glycol diglycidyl ether

Neopentyl glycol diglycidyl ether (NPGE) is a widely used reactant in the production of polyurethane polymers.
The production process of NPGE involves several steps, including the reaction of neopentyl glycol with a diglycidyl ether and the subsequent hydrolysis of the resulting mixture.
This process can be broken down into several stages, including the preparation of the reactants, the reaction itself, and the purification and recovery of the product.

The preparation of the reactants involves the production of neopentyl glycol and the synthesis of the diglycidyl ether.
Neopentyl glycol is typically produced through the reaction of propylene oxide with water, which results in the formation of a mixture of glycols.
This mixture is then separated and distilled to obtain pure neopentyl glycol.
The diglycidyl ether, on the other hand, is typically produced by the reaction of epichlorohydrin with a glycol, such as propylene glycol or ethylene glycol.
This reaction results in the formation of a mixture of diglycidyl ethers, which are then separated and purified to obtain pure diglycidyl ether.

The reaction of neopentyl glycol with the diglycidyl ether is the main step in the production of NPGE.
This reaction is typically carried out in the presence of a solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), and a catalyst, such as a strong acid, such as sulfuric acid.
The reaction results in the formation of a mixture of products, including NPGE, which can then be separated from the unreacted reactants and the side products.

After the reaction is complete, the mixture is typically hydrolyzed to remove any remaining diglycidyl ether groups.
This hydrolysis is typically carried out in the presence of water and a base, such as sodium hydroxide, to catalyze the reaction.
The resulting mixture is then purified to obtain pure NPGE.

Finally, the purified NPGE is typically converted to polyurethane polymers through a process known as polyuretion.
This process involves the reaction of NPGE with a polyisocyanate and a chain extender, which results in the formation of a prepolymer.
This prepolymer is then reacted with a curing agent to form the final polyurethane polymer.
The properties of the polyurethane polymer can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of the reactants and the conditions of the reaction.

In conclusion, the production process of NPGE involves several steps, including the preparation of the reactants, the reaction of neopentyl glycol with the diglycidyl ether, the hydrolysis of the mixture, and the purification and conversion of the product to polyurethane polymers.
This process is a crucial step in the production of polyurethane polymers and is widely used in the chemical industry.