Process for the manufacture of glycol ether acetates

Claim 2

The process of claim 1 wherein the feed ether is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, ethylene glycol monoisopropyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monoisobutyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-secondary butyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-tertiary butyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monopropyl ether, diethylene glycol monoisopropyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monoisobutyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-secondary butyl ether and diethylene glycol mono-tertiary butyl ether.

Claim 3

The process of Claim 1 wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of aluminum isobutoxide, aluminum ethoxide, titanium tetraisobutoxide, and dibutyltin oxide.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein the ratio of alkyl acetate to glycol ether is from about 1.0 to about 3.0 moles of alkyl acetate per mole of glycol ether.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein the average resident time of the reactant in the reactor is from about 0.5 to about 4.0 hours.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein the average resident time of the reactants in the reactor is from about 0.5 to about 2.0 hours.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1 wherein the distillative separation of the product glycol ether acetate from the catalyst is performed at from about 130* C. to about 180* C.

Claim 8

A process for the continuous production of a glycol ether acetate which comprises: a. continuously introducing into a reaction vessel a feed stream which comprises a catalytic amount of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of aluminum alkoxides, titanium alkoxides, and dialkyl tin oxides, an alkyl acetate of the formula CH3CO2R'' and a glycol ether of the formula R(OCH2CH2)nOH in the ratio of from about 1.0 to about 3.0 moles of alkyl acetate per mole of glycol ether, wherein R and R'' are the same or different alkyl groups containing one to four carbon atoms and n is either 1 or 2; b. causing the alkyl acetate to react with the glycol ether to form a glycol ether acetate and an alcohol by maintaining the temperature in the reaction vessel at from about 150* C. to about 225* C. and the pressure therein at from about 25 psia to about 150 psia; c. influencing the equilibrium of the reaction mixture towards the production of the glycol ether acetate by continuous distillative removal of the alcohol; d. continuously withdrawing from the base of the reaction zone a stream comprising catalyst and glycol ether acetate; e. separating the glycol ether acetate from the catalyst by flash distillation at a temperature less than about 225* C.; and f. purifying the glycol ether acetate by distilling at a pressure which permits the distillation to occur with a base heater temperature of less than about 225* C.

Claim 9

The process of claim 9 wherein the alkyl acetate is isobutyl acetate and the glycol ether is selected from the group comprising ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoisobutyl ether and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether.