Provided herein are long circulating material free (LCMF) poloxamer compositions and uses thereof. In particular, provided are LCMF poloxamer 188 compositions and uses thereof. Also provided are supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) methods and high pressure (subcritical) methods for preparing poloxamer compositions, particularly the LCMF poloxamer compositions.

Processes for purifying polyether polyols via treatment with ion exchange resins. A mixture that includes the polyether polyol and alkali metal ions is passed through a first bed that includes a cation exchange resin comprising carboxylic acid and/or phosphonic acid groups to remove alkali metal ions from the mixture. Thereafter, the product is passed through a second bed comprising an anion exchange resin comprising quaternary ammonium groups and a cation exchange resin comprising carboxylic acid and/or phosphonic acid groups to thereby produce a purified polyether polyol.

The present invention relates to a method for selectively separating propylene carbonate by adding water to reaction products comprising a polyether carbonate polyol and propylene carbonate, which are generated from a polymerization reaction of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide under a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst, wherein an economical and effective separation of propylene carbonate can be achieved.

The present invention aims to provide a method of producing a polyether polyol having a low aldehyde content, the method including simpler steps; and a method of producing polyurethane foam having a reduced amount of aldehyde volatilization. The present invention provides a method of producing a polyether polyol (F) including step (1) of obtaining a crude polyether polyol composition (D2) having a pH higher than 5.0 by contact of a crude polyether polyol composition (D1) containing a polyether polyol (A) with an acid catalyst (B) in the presence of water, the polyether polyol (A) being obtainable by ring-opening polymerization of an alkylene oxide with an active hydrogen compound; and step (2) of removing a volatile component containing an aldehyde (C) after step (1).

The present invention aims to provide a method of producing a polyether polyol having a low aldehyde content, the method including simpler steps; and a method of producing polyurethane foam having a reduced amount of aldehyde volatilization. The present invention provides a method of producing a polyether polyol (F) including step (1) of obtaining a crude polyether polyol composition (D2) having a pH higher than 5.0 by contact of a crude polyether polyol composition (D1) containing a polyether polyol (A) with an acid catalyst (B) in the presence of water, the polyether polyol (A) being obtainable by ring-opening polymerization of an alkylene oxide with an active hydrogen compound; and step (2) of removing a volatile component containing an aldehyde (C) after step (1).

A hetero type monodispersed polyethylene glycol containing a compound represented by the following formula (1):
NH.sub.2(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.aCH.sub.2CH.sub.2COOH(1) (in the formula (1), a represents an integer from 6 to 40); wherein any of (A) a chromatogram detected by a differential refractometer when the hetero type monodispersed polyethylene glycol is separated using reverse phase chromatography, (B) a chromatogram detected by a differential refractometer when the hetero type monodispersed polyethylene glycol is separated using cation exchange chromatography, and (C) a chromatogram detected by a differential refractometer when the hetero type monodispersed polyethylene glycol containing a compound represented by the formula (1) shown above is derivatized and separated using anion exchange chromatography satisfy specific relational expressions, respectively.

A processes for purifying glycol ethers, comprises (a) providing a glycol ether to a first vessel, the glycol ether, the glycol ether having the following formula: R.sub.1O (CHR.sub.2CHR.sub.3) O).sub.nR.sub.4; wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms or a phenyl group; wherein R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each individually is hydrogen, a methyl group or an ethyl group, provided that when R.sub.3 is a methyl group or an ethyl group, R.sub.2 is hydrogen and provided that when R.sub.2 is a methyl group or an ethyl group, R.sub.3 is hydrogen; wherein R.sub.4 is hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an acetyl group, or a propionyl group; and wherein n is an integer of 1 to 3; (b) filling the first vessel with inert gas; (c) heating the glycol ether in the first vessel to a sub-boiling temperature, wherein the sub-boiling temperature is at least 15? C. less than the normal boiling point of the glycol ether; (d) cooling the vapor from the first vessel in a second vessel to provide a liquid; and (e) contacting the glycol ether with a mixed bed of ion exchange resins comprising cationic exchange resins and anionic ion exchange resins.

A Tris-Acetate-Phosphate-Pluronic (TAPP) medium that undergoes thermoreversible sol-gel transitions to efficiently culture and harvest microalgae without affecting productivity. After seeding microalgae in a TAPP medium in solution phase at 15 degrees C., the temperature is increased by 7 degrees C. to induce gelation. Within the gel, microalgae grow in large clusters rather than as isolated cells. Such clusters are easily harvested gravimetrically by decreasing the temperature to bring the medium to a solution phase. The settling velocity of the microalgal clusters is approximately ten times larger than that of individual cells cultured in typical solution media. Hence, microalgae can be cultured without constant mixing and about 90 percent of the biomass can be harvested in an energy efficient fashion.

This invention relates to an improved continuous process for the production of low molecular weight polyoxyalkylene polyether polyols. These polyoxyalkylene polyether polyols have a hydroxyl content of from about 3.4 to about 12.1% by weight, and may also be characterized as having an OH number of from about 112 to about 400. The process comprises establishing oxyalkylation conditions in a continuous reactor in the presence of a DMC catalyst; continuously introducing alkylene oxide and a low molecular weight starter into the continuous reactor; recovering a partially oxyalkylated polyether polyol from the reactor; and allowing the recovered partially oxyalkylated polyether polyol to further reactor until the unreacted alkylene oxide content of the mixture is reduced to 0.001% or less by weight.

This invention relates to an improved continuous process for the production of low molecular weight polyoxyalkylene polyether polyols. These polyoxyalkylene polyether polyols have a hydroxyl content of from about 3.4 to about 12.1% by weight, and may also be characterized as having an OH number of from about 112 to about 400. The process comprises establishing oxyalkylation conditions in a continuous reactor in the presence of a DMC catalyst; continuously introducing alkylene oxide and a low molecular weight starter into the continuous reactor; recovering a partially oxyalkylated polyether polyol from the reactor; and allowing the recovered partially oxyalkylated polyether polyol to further reactor until the unreacted alkylene oxide content of the mixture is reduced to 0.001% or less by weight.