A method of reducing a content of a residual styrene monomer in a polyol

• Main Authors: BORST, JOSEPH P, HEYMAN, DUANE ALLAN, GUST, KARL, PLAUMANN, HEINZ P
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 17.05.2006
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVINGCARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS; MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONSONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS; METALLURGY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP

A method of reducing a content of a residual styrene monomer in a polyol utilizes a polyol, a peroxide, an adjustment of temperature, and an application of a vacuum to separate the residual styrene monomer from the polyol. The residual styrene monomer is classified as a volatile organic compound. The peroxide includes monoperoxycarbonates and peroxyketals. Peroxide radicals, present in the peroxide, react with and polymerize the residual styrene monomer to form a polymer having decreased volatility. Applying the vacuum physically separates the residual styrene monomer from the polyol by increasing a vapor pressure of the residual styrene monomer. Separating the residual styrene monomer from the polyol forms an improved polyol which includes less than 20 parts per million of the residual styrene monomer in the polyol.