Decomposition of a polyol in supercritical water

摘要

We carried out the decomposition reaction of a polyol [poly(propylene glycol), PPG] in supercritical water (380-430 degreesC, 10-90 min) to understand the reactivity of polyols at high temperature and pressure. The main products, hydroxyacetone and diols (propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol and tripropylene glycol), were identified and characterized by mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The yield of hydroxyacetone was 33.0 wt.% at 430 degreesC for 10 min and the total yield of hydroxyacetone and diols was 56.7 wt.% at 380 degreesC for 60 min. The effect of reaction conditions (temperature, time and pressure) on yields was examined. The investigation of PPG decomposition pathway demonstrated that hydroxyacetone was the end product and resulted from propylene glycol only. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [References: 15]