A method for forming poly(dimethoxymethane) includes a step of separating a formaldehyde-containing blend into a first bottom stream and a first top stream. The first formaldehyde-containing blend includes methanol, formaldehyde, and water while the first bottom stream includes water. The first top stream includes dimethoxymethane that is produced from the reaction between methanol and formaldehyde. The first top stream is separated into a second bottom stream and a second top stream. The second bottom stream includes poly(dimethoxymethane) while the second top stream includes dimethoxymethane, methanol, and ethanol. The second top stream is separated into a third bottom stream and a third top stream. Third bottom stream includes methanol and ethanol while the third top stream includes dimethoxymethane. The third top steam can be recycled to form additional poly(dimethoxymethane). A system that implements the method is also provided.

The present invention provides, among others, compounds of Formula (I) or a salt thereof, methods for making these compounds, degradable polymers and reinforced composites made therefrom, and methods for degrading and/or recycling the degradable polymers and reinforced composites. ##STR00001##

A method for forming poly(dimethoxymethane) includes a step of separating a formaldehyde-containing blend into a first bottom stream and a first top stream. The first formaldehyde-containing blend includes methanol, formaldehyde, and water while the first bottom stream includes water. The first top stream includes dimethoxymethane that is produced from the reaction between methanol and formaldehyde. The first top stream is separated into a second bottom stream and a second top stream. The second bottom stream includes poly(dimethoxymethane) while the second top stream includes dimethoxymethane, methanol, and ethanol. The second top stream is separated into a third bottom stream and a third top stream. Third bottom stream includes methanol and ethanol while the third top stream includes dimethoxymethane. The third top steam can be recycled to form additional poly(dimethoxymethane). A system that implements the method is also provided.

A method for forming poly(dimethoxymethane) includes a step of separating a formaldehyde-containing blend into a first bottom stream and a first top stream. The first formaldehyde-containing blend includes methanol, formaldehyde, and water while the first bottom stream includes water. The first top stream includes dimethoxymethane that is produced from the reaction between methanol and formaldehyde. The first top stream is separated into a second bottom stream and a second top stream. The second bottom stream includes poly(dimethoxymethane) while the second top stream includes dimethoxymethane, methanol, and ethanol. The second top stream is separated into a third bottom stream and a third top stream. Third bottom stream includes methanol and ethanol while the third top stream includes dimethoxymethane. The third top steam can be recycled to form additional poly(dimethoxymethane). A system that implements the method is also provided.

The present invention relates to a 6-hydroxy-3-hexenyl alkoxymethyl ether compound of the following general formula (1): HOCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH=CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2OCH.sub.2R.sup.1 (1), R.sup.1 representing a hydrogen atom, an n-alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group; and also relates to a process for preparing a 3,13-octadecadien-1-ol compound of the following formula (6): CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.8CH?CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH (6) from the 6-hydroxy-3-hexenyl alkoxymethyl ether compound (1).

The present invention relates to a 6-hydroxy-3-hexenyl alkoxymethyl ether compound of the following general formula (1): HOCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH=CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OCH.sub.2OCH.sub.2R.sup.1 (1), R.sup.1 representing a hydrogen atom, an n-alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group; and also relates to a process for preparing a 3,13-octadecadien-1-ol compound of the following formula (6): CH.sub.3(CH.sub.2).sub.3CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.8CH?CHCH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH (6) from the 6-hydroxy-3-hexenyl alkoxymethyl ether compound (1).

A process by which the raw material, a gas comprising mainly hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, is introduced into a first reactor together with a catalyst, in which one or more reactions take place that produce methanol or dimethyl ether or both, which are then introduced into a second reactor adding oxygen and a catalyst and producing formaldehyde and a minority of dimethyl ether, and where there may be an excess of water, such water being extracted from the process and the remaining products being introduced into the third reactor with, optionally, an additive, and such raw material is exposed to catalysts and under an atmosphere at medium temperature and pressure, in order to produce three or four groups of chemical reactions that, after extracting most of the water that is generated as a residue during the process, produces as a result a liquid multifunctional product that can be used as a solvent, a foaming agent or an oxygenated fuel; said product, normally a fluid, comprises polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers with molecular formula CH3O(CH2O)nCH3 wherein n has a value between 1 and 7.

A process by which the raw material, a gas comprising mainly hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, is introduced into a first reactor together with a catalyst, in which one or more reactions take place that produce methanol or dimethyl ether or both, which are then introduced into a second reactor adding oxygen and a catalyst and producing formaldehyde and a minority of dimethyl ether, and where there may be an excess of water, such water being extracted from the process and the remaining products being introduced into the third reactor with, optionally, an additive, and such raw material is exposed to catalysts and under an atmosphere at medium temperature and pressure, in order to produce three or four groups of chemical reactions that, after extracting most of the water that is generated as a residue during the process, produces as a result a liquid multifunctional product that can be used as a solvent, a foaming agent or an oxygenated fuel; said product, normally a fluid, comprises polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers with molecular formula CH3O(CH2O)nCH3 wherein n has a value between 1 and 7.

Process for preparing polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers having 3 oxymethylene units (OME.sub.n3), comprising the steps:

(i) introduction of formaldehyde, methanol and water into a reactor R and reaction to give a reaction mixture containing formaldehyde, water, methylene glycol, polyoxymethylene glycols, methanol, hemiformals, methylal (OME.sub.n=1) and polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OME.sub.n>1);
(ii) introduction of the reaction mixture into a reactive distillation column K1 and separation into a low boiler fraction F1 containing formaldehyde, water, methylene glycol, polyoxymethylene glycols, methanol, hemiformals, methylal (OME.sub.n=1) and polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers having from 2 to 3 oxymethylene units (OME.sub.n=2-3) and a high boiler fraction F2 containing polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers having more than two oxymethylene units (OME.sub.n3).

Process for preparing polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers having 3 oxymethylene units (OME.sub.n3), comprising the steps:

(i) introduction of formaldehyde, methanol and water into a reactor R and reaction to give a reaction mixture containing formaldehyde, water, methylene glycol, polyoxymethylene glycols, methanol, hemiformals, methylal (OME.sub.n=1) and polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OME.sub.n>1);
(ii) introduction of the reaction mixture into a reactive distillation column K1 and separation into a low boiler fraction F1 containing formaldehyde, water, methylene glycol, polyoxymethylene glycols, methanol, hemiformals, methylal (OME.sub.n=1) and polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers having from 2 to 3 oxymethylene units (OME.sub.n=2-3) and a high boiler fraction F2 containing polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers having more than two oxymethylene units (OME.sub.n3).