Phosphazenium Salt Catalyst for Metal-Free Polyalkylene Glycol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catalysts for producing polyalkylene oxide by ring-opening polymerization either contain metal components that contaminate the product, require complex removal processes, or result in polymerization inefficiencies and odor issues, and existing non-metallic catalysts are economically cumbersome to produce.
Innovation Solution
A catalyst composed of a phosphazenium salt and an active hydrogen compound, specifically formed through heat treatment, which does not contain metals and avoids odor issues, enabling efficient and economical production of polyalkylene glycol by ring-opening polymerization of alkylene oxide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If metal-containing catalysts are used for ring-opening polymerization, then polymerization activity is improved, but metal contamination occurs in the product requiring cumbersome removal steps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the metal component from the catalyst system, using only organic compounds (ammonium salt and carboxylic acid) to achieve polymerization without metal contamination, thereby removing the need for cumbersome metal removal steps while maintaining polymerization activity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs easily removable or decomposable organic catalyst components that can be simply separated from the product through basic purification methods, avoiding the need for complex metal removal processes and making the overall process more economical
2Manufacturing precision
If non-metallic catalysts are used to avoid metal contamination, then product purity is improved, but polymerization efficiency decreases and odor problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the parameters of the organic catalyst system by selecting specific ammonium salts and carboxylic acids with appropriate molecular structures and functional groups, achieving both high polymerization efficiency and complete avoidance of metal contamination and odor issues
3Manufacturing precision
If existing non-metallic catalyst systems are used, then metal contamination is avoided, but the production process becomes economically cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses inexpensive organic catalyst components (ammonium salt and carboxylic acid) that can be easily obtained and disposed of, simplifying the production process economically while maintaining metal-free production
Solution Approach 2:
The organic catalyst system is designed to be self-contained and easily separable from the product, allowing the catalyst to serve its function and then be simply removed through basic purification methods without requiring complex additional processing steps
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The catalyst allows for easy temperature control during reaction, producing polyalkylene oxide with narrow molecular weight distribution, high molecular weight, and low total unsaturation without metal contamination or odor, making the process industrially useful.
Implementation Method 1
a catalyst composed of a phosphazenium salt and an active hydrogen compound, specifically formed through heat treatment
Implementation Method 2
ring-opening polymerization of an alkylene oxide
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a catalyst composed of a salt of a phosphazenium cation and an active hydrogen compound anion, which can be easily synthesized, does not contain metal components at all, and does not leave any odor on a resulting product; a method for its production; and an economical and efficient method for producing a polyalkylene oxide by means thereof. A salt of a phosphazenium cation and an active hydrogen compound anion, represented by the following formula (2): [in the above formula (2), each of R1 and R2 which are independent of each other, is a C1-10 alkyl group, an unsubstituted or substituted C6-10 phenyl group, or an unsubstituted or substituted C6-10 phenylalkyl group, provided that R1 and R2, or R2's, may be bonded to each other to form a ring structure, n is a real number of from 1 to 8, and Yn- is an anion of an active hydrogen compound which is obtained by removing n protons from an active hydrogen compound Y] is used as a polyalkylene glycol producing catalyst.