Systems and processes for thermolysis of polylactones to produce organic acids

• Main Authors: Sherry, Kyle Evan, Sookraj, Sadesh H
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.10.2019
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONSONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

Reactor systems and processes produce organic acids through thermolysis of polylactones. The reactor systems and processes introduce at least one epoxide reagent and carbon monoxide reagent to at least one reaction vessel through at least one feed stream inlet. The epoxide reagent and carbon monoxide reagent contact at least one carbonylation catalyst to produce at least one beta-lactone intermediate. The beta-lactone intermediate is polymerized with at least one initiator in the presence of a metal cation to produce at least one polylactone product. The polylactone product is heated under thermolysis conditions to produce at least one organic acid product. The processes control the presence of contaminates, impurities, catalytic materials, and/or reagents to provide for highly pure organic acid products.