A method for producing a polyurethane polymer comprises the steps of: (a) providing a polyol composition, the polyol composition comprising (i) a polyol, (ii) a polyethylenimine compound; and (iii) a bisulfite compound, (b) providing an isocyanate compound; (c) providing a catalyst; (d) combining and reacting the polyol composition, the isocyanate compound, and the catalyst to produce a polyurethane polymer.

A method for producing a polyurethane polymer comprises the steps of: (a) providing a polyol composition, the polyol composition comprising (i) a polyol, (ii) a polyethylenimine compound; and (iii) a bisulfite compound, (b) providing an isocyanate compound; (c) providing a catalyst; (d) combining and reacting the polyol composition, the isocyanate compound, and the catalyst to produce a polyurethane polymer.

A fluorine-containing ether compound according to the present invention is a fluorine-containing ether compound represented by the following General Formula (1). ##STR00001##

Invert emulsions may be used in downhole operations to delay the swelling of water-swellable polymers. For example, a treatment fluid may be introduced into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the treatment fluid comprising an emulsion with an continuous oil phase and a discontinuous aqueous phase, an emulsifier, and a water-swellable polymer suspended in the continuous oil phase, wherein the aqueous discontinuous phase has a pH of about 0 to about 11; the emulsion may be broken while the treatment fluid in a portion of the subterranean formation; and the water-swellable polymer may be swollen into a swollen polymer, thereby reducing fluid flow through the portion of the subterranean formation. In some instances, for carbonate subterranean formation, the aqueous discontinuous phase may have a pH of about 7 to about 11.

This fluorine-containing ether compound is represented by Formula (1).

R.sup.1—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3—CH.sub.2—R.sup.4—R.sup.5  (1) (in Formula (1), R.sup.1 is an aryl group or an aralkyl group, R.sup.2 is a divalent linking group having 0 or 1 polar group, R.sup.3 is a perfluoropolyether chain, R.sup.4 is a divalent linking group having 2 or 3 polar groups, and R.sup.5 is an aryl group or an aralkyl group.)

This fluorine-containing ether compound is represented by formula (1) shown below.

R.sup.1—CH.sub.2—R.sup.2—CH.sub.2—R.sup.3  (1)

In formula (1), R.sup.2 is a perfluoropolyether chain represented by a formula (2) shown below. R.sup.1 is a terminal group that is bonded to R.sup.2 via a CH.sub.2 group, and is represented by a formula (3) shown below. R.sup.3 is bonded to R.sup.2 via a CH.sub.2 group, is a terminal group having at least one hydroxyl group, and may be the same as, or different from, R.sup.1.

—(CF.sub.2).sub.p-1—O—((CF.sub.2).sub.pO).sub.q—(CF.sub.2).sub.p-1—  (2)

In formula (2), p represents an integer of 2 to 3, and q indicates the average polymerization degree and is a number within a range from 1 to 20.

—O(CH.sub.2—CH(OH)—CH.sub.2—O).sub.2—CH.sub.2—(CH.sub.2).sub.n,—OH  (3)

In formula (3), n represents an integer of 1 to 8.

The present invention provides a co-surfactant which, when used in combination with a surfactant, can reduce the size of the surfactant micelle and can enhance the functions of the surfactant, such as the expression of microemulsion formation performance. This co-surfactant contains at least one compound represented by chemical formula (1). ##STR00001##
(In the formula, R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.33 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.33 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, the total number of carbons of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is 6-34, X is a single bond or a C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, and one of A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 is —OH and the other is —O—CH.sub.2—CH(OH)—CH.sub.2OH or —O—CH(—CH.sub.2—OH).sub.2.)

The present invention provides a co-surfactant which, when used in combination with a surfactant, can reduce the size of the surfactant micelle and can enhance the functions of the surfactant, such as the expression of microemulsion formation performance. This co-surfactant contains at least one compound represented by chemical formula (1). ##STR00001##
(In the formula, R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.33 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.33 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, the total number of carbons of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is 6-34, X is a single bond or a C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, and one of A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 is —OH and the other is —O—CH.sub.2—CH(OH)—CH.sub.2OH or —O—CH(—CH.sub.2—OH).sub.2.)

A process can be used for recovering 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 2-methoxy-1-propanol from an aqueous effluent stream by liquid-liquid-extraction, followed by extractive distillation, distillation of methoxypropanols from the extraction solvent, and distillative separation of the methoxypropanol isomers. Recovered extraction solvent is recycled to the extraction and extractive distillation. Heat transfer from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation reduces energy demand of the process. A facility for this process contains a countercurrent extraction column, an extractive distillation column, a solvent recovery distillation column, an isomer separation distillation column, and a heat exchanger for transferring heat from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation.

A process can be used for recovering 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 2-methoxy-1-propanol from an aqueous effluent stream by liquid-liquid-extraction, followed by extractive distillation, distillation of methoxypropanols from the extraction solvent, and distillative separation of the methoxypropanol isomers. Recovered extraction solvent is recycled to the extraction and extractive distillation. Heat transfer from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation reduces energy demand of the process. A facility for this process contains a countercurrent extraction column, an extractive distillation column, a solvent recovery distillation column, an isomer separation distillation column, and a heat exchanger for transferring heat from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation.