PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF ODOUR-LEAN POLYETHER POLYOLS

摘要

A process for the preparation of odor-lean polyether polyols from polyether polyol product stream obtained by reacting a starting compound having a plurality of active hydrogen atoms with one or more alkylene oxides, which process comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the polyether polyol product with an excess of acid having a pKa of less than 5 under hydrolysis conditions, (b) contacting the reaction mixture with excessive amount of water to form a two-phase system under hydrolysis conditions by adding an amount of water to form an organic phase and a water phase to reduce the amount of cyclic-ether compounds present in the polyether polyol product, and (c) recovering the odor-lean polyether polyol.