In a process for producing polyoxymethylene-polyalkylene oxide block copolymers comprising the step of polymerizing an alkylene oxide in the presence of an OH-terminated polyoxymethylene polymer and a catalyst, the polyoxymethylene polymer has a number-average molecular weight Mn determined after derivatization with propylene oxide and gel permeation chromatography against polystyrene standards with tetrahydrofuran as the eluent of ≥1100 g/mol to ≤2300 g/mol and the ratio of alkylene oxide to polyoxymethylene polymer is ≥0.05 mol/g. The invention further relates to copolymers obtainable by the process, to a process for producing polyurethane polymers using these copolymers and to polyurethanes obtainable therefrom.

A method for separating a double metal cyanide catalyst (DMC catalyst) from polyol, comprising: A) initially charging a polyol comprising DMC catalyst, an alcohol, and optionally a filtration aid into a reactor, the mixture being heated, B) filtering the mixture from step A), and C) optionally separating the alcohol from the filtrate of step B), wherein in step A), as the alcohol, 4% by weight to 12% by weight of ethanol, based on 100% by weight of polyol, without a chelating agent is used.

A method of manufacturing a poly(ether-carbonate) polyol comprises a polymerization stage that includes polymerizing carbon dioxide and at least one alkylene oxide, with a starter, in the presence of a double metal cyanide polymerization catalyst and a catalyst promoter that is devoid of halide anions and cyanide. The catalyst promoter is separate from the double metal cyanide polymerization catalyst.

A composition comprising water and a polyalkylene glycol having an allyl content of less than 20 ueq/g, which composition has reduced foaming properties and preferably a biodegradability of at least 60% as determined using OECD 301F. The polyalkylene glycol can be made by forming a first intermediate comprising an oxypropylene block by reacting propylene oxide with a polyol initiator in the presence of a Double Metal Cyanide catalyst, and then reacting the first intermediate with ethylene oxide in the presence of a KOH catalyst.

Embodiments relate to a method of producing a modified double metal cyanide complex, a method of producing a monol or polyol that includes providing the modified double metal cyanide complex, an alkylene oxide polymerization process that includes providing the modified double metal cyanide complex, a batch, semi-batch, or continuous manufacturing process that includes providing the modified double metal cyanide complex, and a polyether polyol prepared using the batch, semi-batch, or continuous manufacturing process that includes providing the modified double metal cyanide complex.

The invention relates to a compound of following formula (I):

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a preparation process, uses thereof and compositions containing the same, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, represent, independently of one another, a linear, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon-based group comprising from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, where the sum of the carbon atoms of the groups R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 ranges from 2 to 7, and where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may also form, together and with the carbon atom bearing them, a 6-, 7-, or 8-membered ring; n is an integer of between 1 and 100, limits included; A represents a sequence of one or more units chosen from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide units and mixtures thereof; the group formed by R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and the carbon atom to which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are attached has a degree of branching equal to 0, 1 or 2.

Embodiments relate to a method of producing a modified double metal cyanide complex, a method of producing a monol or polyol that includes providing the modified double metal cyanide complex, an alkylene oxide polymerization process that includes providing the modified double metal cyanide complex, a batch, semi-batch, or continuous manufacturing process that includes providing the modified double metal cyanide complex, and a polyether polyol prepared using the batch, semi-batch, or continuous manufacturing process that includes providing the modified double metal cyanide complex.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a double metal cyanide catalyst (DMC) comprising the reaction of an aqueous solution of a cyanide-free metal salt, an aqueous solution of a metal cyanide salt, an organic complex ligand and a complex-forming component, to form a dispersion, wherein the reaction is effected using a mixing nozzle and wherein the process temperature of the dispersion during the reaction is between 26° C. and 49° C. The subject matter of the invention further encompasses double metal cyanide catalysts (DMC) obtained in accordance with the process according to the invention and also the use of the DMC catalysts for the preparation of polyoxyalkylene polyols.

The disclosure provides a double metal cyanide catalyst, a preparation method and a application method thereof. Besides impurities, there are only two metal elements consisted of zinc and cobalt in the catalyst. The catalyst is obtained by reacting water-soluble metal salts of zinc and cobalt in water-soluble solvents. The catalyst is modified by a mixed acid during synthesis of the catalyst, the mixed acid comprising at least one organic acid and at least one water-soluble inorganic acid. the water-soluble inorganic acid is selected from the group consisting of diluted sulfuric acid and diluted hydrochloric acid, with a pH value being in the range of 0 to 5; and the organic acid is any one or more selected from the group consisting of succinic acid, glutaric acid, phthalic acid, iminodiacetic acid, pyromellitic acid, and 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid.

A double metal cyanide [DMC] catalyst and a method for the synthesis thereof at room temperature is disclosed herein. Various Schiff bases are incorporated as organic complexing agents in the DMC catalysts. The catalysts of the present invention are highly active for the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of epoxides in the presence of different H-functional initiators to produce polyether polyols (PEPO) with a wide range of average molecular weight (M.sub.w) and polydispersity index (PDI).