Method of preparing polyethers of mono and disaccharides

Claim 1

IN THE METHOD OF PREPARING A POLYETHER POLYOL BY THE REACTION OF A LOWER ALKYLENE OXIDE WITH A SACCHARIDE SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF MONO- AND DI-SACCHARIDES AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN OXYALKYLATION CATALYST, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES FORMING AN AQUEOUS MIXTURE OF SAID SACCHARIDE, ADDING SAID ALKYLENE OXIDE TO SAID AQUEOUS MIXTURE IN THE PRESENCE OF FROM ABOUT 0.15 PERCENT TO ABOUT 10 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF THE OXYALKYLATION CATALYST, BASED UPON THE WEIGHT OF THE SACCHARIDE COMPONENT OF SAID MIXTURE UNTIL THE SACCHARIDE-ALKYLENE OXIDE REACTION PRODUCT IS A LIQUID AT THE REACTION TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 70*F. TO ABOUT 270*F., DISCONTINUING ADDITION OF THE ALKYLENE OXIDE, REMOVING THE WATER FROM THE REACTION MIXTURE UNTIL THE WATER CONTENT OF THE ALKYLENE OXIDE-SACCHARIDE REACTION PRODUCT IS LESS THAN ABOUT 10 PERCENT BY WEIGHT AND THEN CONTINUING ADDITION OF SAID ALKYLENE OXIDE UNTIL THE POLYETHER POLYOL IS FORMED.