Polycondensation of Epoxy Alcohols With Polyhdric Alcohols and Thermal Condensation to Form Polyethercyclicpolyols

This invention relates to polyethercyclicpolyols having high molecular weights and to the preparation thereof. In particular, the invention relates to the preparation of polyethercyclicpolyols which, due to improved molecular properties and characteristics, permit the preparation of improved drilling fluids which inhibit formation of gas hydrates, prevent shale dispersion, reduce swelling of the formation to improve wellbore stability, reduce fluid loss, and reduce filter cake thickness. Drilling muds incorporating the polyethercylicpolyols of this invention are excellent substitutes for oil base muds in many applications.

Water-based drilling fluids comprise water, clays or polymers, and various treating agents which control the physical, chemical and/or rheological properties of drilling fluids in wellbores. In order to perform their function as drilling fluid additives, it is theorized, although the invention is not limited to this theory, that the polyethercyclicpolyol mixtures contain large water soluble molecules and have relatively limited crosslinking in view of their high molecular weight. It is difficult to produce polymeric molecules of this type of high molecular weight which do not have extensive crosslinking. Accordingly, the present invention provides a process which overcomes these and other problems in the art as more particularly disclosed hereinafter, and which produces polyethercyclicpolyols of significantly improved characteristics as drilling mud additives.

The purpose of the present invention is to form polyethercyclicpolyols by a thermal condensation reaction and copolymerization. This purpose is achieved by heating a reaction mixture comprising a reactant selected from the group consisting of (a) a polyol having at least three hydroxyl groups of which at least two of the hydroxyl groups are vicinal; (b) precursors of the polyol, (c) cyclic derivatives of the polyol, and (d) mixtures thereof, said heating initiating the thermal condensation; removing water formed during the thermal condensation; continuing the thermal condensation until a predetermined quantity of moles of water per mole of reactant are removed, wherein the condensation goes to completion without undergoing degeneration, including extensive crosslinking to gel-like structures and carbonization, and prior to the condensation going to completion, admixing an epoxy alcohol with the reaction mixture. In another embodiment, the purpose of the invention is carried out by heating a reaction mixture comprising a reactant selected from the group consisting of (a) a polyol having at least three hydroxyl groups of which at least two of the hydroxyl groups are vicinal, (b) precursors of the polyol, (c) cyclic derivatives of the polyol, and (d) mixtures thereof, said heating initiating the thermal condensation; removing water formed during the thermal condensation; and continuing the thermal condensation, which is initially endothermic, until the condensation becomes essentially thermally neutral, prior to the reaction becoming exothermic which would lead to substantial undesirable degeneration, that is crosslinking or carbonization, and prior to the condensation going to completion, admixing an epoxy alcohol with the reaction mixture. In yet another embodiment, the purpose of this invention is realized by heating a reaction mixture comprising a reactant selected from the group consisting of (a) a polyol having at least three hydroxyl groups of which at least two of the hydroxyl groups are vicinal, (b) precursors of the polyol, (c) cyclic derivatives of the polyol, and (d) mixtures thereof, said heating initiating the thermal condensation; removing water formed during the thermal condensation; continuing the thermal condensation to completion while controlling the temperature and pressure of the reaction within predetermined ranges to avoid substantial undesirable degeneration and to maximize molecular weight, and prior to the condensation going to completion, admixing an epoxy alcohol with the reaction mixture. Another embodiment of the invention achieves the purpose thereof by heating a reaction mixture comprising a reactant selected from the group consisting of (a) a polyol having at least three hydroxyl groups of which at least two of the hydroxyl groups are vicinal, (b) precursors of the polyol, (c) cyclic derivatives of the polyol, and (d) mixtures thereof, said heating initiating the thermal condensation; removing water formed during the thermal condensation; continuing the thermal condensation while adding additional reactant in such a manner that the reaction proceeds to completion at a rate faster than the additional reactant is being incorporated, thereby maximizing molecular weight of the polyethercyclicpolyol, and prior to the condensation going to completion, admixing an epoxy alcohol with the reaction mixture. An additional embodiment of the invention achieves its purpose by heating a reaction mixture comprising a basic catalyst and a reactant selected from the group consisting of (a) a polyol having at least three hydroxyl groups of which at least two of the hydroxyl groups are vicinal, (b) precursors of the polyol, (c) cyclic derivatives of the polyol, and (d) mixtures thereof, said heating initiating the thermal condensation; removing water formed during the thermal condensation; continuing the thermal condensation to completion while controlling the temperature and pressure of the reaction within predetermined ranges to avoid substantial undesirable degeneration and to maximize molecular weight, and prior to the condensation going to completion, admixing an epoxy alcohol with the reaction mixture. The above stated purpose of the invention may also be realized by heating a reaction mixture comprising a reactant selected from the group consisting of (a) a polyol having at least three hydroxyl groups of which at least two of the hydroxyl groups are vicinal, (b) precursors of the polyol, (c) cyclic derivatives of the polyol, and (d) mixtures thereof, said heating initiating the thermal condensation; removing water formed during the thermal condensation; continuing the thermal condensation and adding a final quantity of additional reactant to the reaction mixture when the thermal condensation is within a preselected degree of completion, thereby buffering the condensation and preventing undesirable degeneration, and prior to the condensation going to completion, admixing an epoxy alcohol with the reaction mixture.

FIG. 1 shows temperature-time plot of a glycerol condensation reaction.

Polyethercyclicpolyols are those having at least 6 carbon atoms, at least 2 hydroxyl groups, and at least 2 ether linkages, but no more than 1800 carbon atoms, 450 hydroxyl groups, and 600 ether linkages. More preferably, polyethercyclicpolyols are those having at least 15 carbon atoms, 5 ether linkages, and at least 5 hydroxyl groups, or at least 15 carbon atoms, at least 7 ether linkages, and at least 3 hydroxyl groups. Most preferably, polyethercyclicpolyols are those having at least 18 carbon atoms, at least 6 hydroxyl groups, and at least 6 ether linkages but preferably no more than 1200 carbon atoms, 300 hydroxyl groups, and 400 ether linkages. Weight average molecular weights, M.sub.w, [defined infra] preferably range from 50,000 to 200,000. Hereinafter "poly" is used to mean two or more, "mono" is used to mean one, "cyclic" is used to mean one or more rings, "ether" is used to mean one or more ether linkages, and polyethercyclicpolyol may also be called PECP or polycyclicpolyetherpolyol.

Polyethercyclicpolyols may be prepared by polycondensation of compounds such as (A) through (E) in VIII (infra) in chemical processes which are accompanied by significant expulsion of water molecules from the polymerizing compounds. The number of ether linkages equals the number of water molecules expelled. Taking (C) or (D) (infra) as the building unit, the lowest molecular weight structure containing two such units is Structure (I), containing two terminal hydroxyl groups, and five ether linkages. Structure I is formed by condensation from glycerol molecules with the expulsion of five water molecules. ##STR1## This structure is a dicyclicpoly (or penta) etherdiol, and can be called di-bis(hydroxymethy)-1,4-p-dioxane.

Polyethercyclicpolyols also can be formed by further condensation or polycondensation of Structure (I) with itself, or with itself and with polyhydric, at least trihydric, monomers, e.g., glycerol monomers. Dimerization of structure (I) with expulsion of one mole or water yields: ##STR2## Copolycondensation of four structure (X) (infra) units with itself and with one polyhydric (at least trihydric) molecule, e.g., a glycerol molecule, can yield structure (III) and its isomeric equivalents: ##STR3## Analogous structures can be obtained from structures (X) (J), (X) (K), and (X) (N) (infra) by polycondensation. Structures based on (N) (infra) will have 5-membered rings. Spectroscopic techniques cannot conveniently distinguish between the 5- or 6-membered rings.

Structure (III) contains twelve ether linkages, three hydroxyl groups, and four six-membered cyclic diethers, and is formed by the polycondensation of nine glycerol molecules by the expulsion of twelve water molecules. The cyclic diether units and the polycondensed glycerol units, or other polyhydric (at least trihydric) units, occur randomly in the structure. Disregarding the order of occurrence, a general chemical composition formula representative of all of these structures is: ##STR4## where x.gtoreq.1 and y.gtoreq.0.

The above structures are illustrative and not limiting of the invention.

Feed compounds of certain characteristics have been found useful in the preparation of high molecular weight polyethercyclicpolyols. Polyols that are at least trihydric and have at least two hydroxy groups in a vicinal position are required. Nonlimiting examples include monomers, oligomers and telomers of polyhydric alcohols (or their precursors, or combinations thereof) such as glycerol (which is the preferred feedstock), telomers of glycerol such as diglycerols, triglycerols, tetraglycerols, pentaglycerols, and hexaglycerols, mixtures of glycerol and telomers of glycerol such as diglycerol and triglycerols, mixtures of telomers of glycerol, 1,5,6,9-decanetetrol, 1,2,4,5-cyclohexanetetramethanol, 1,2,4,7-heptanetetrol, 1,2,3,5-heptanetetrol, 4,4-dimethyl-1,2,3-pentanetriol, 1,3,4-cycloheptanetriol, 1,2,3-pentanetriol, 1,2,4-pentanetriol, 2,3,4-pentanetriol, 1,1-cyclopentanediol, 1,2,3-cyclopentanetriol, 1,2,3-hexanetriol, 1,2,4-hexanetriol, 1,2,3,4-hexanetetrol, 1,2,4-cyclohexanetriol, 1,2,5-cyclohexanetriol, 1,2,3,4-cyclohexanetetrol, 1,2,3,5-cyclohexanetetrol, sorbitol, mannitol and copolymers of ethylene glycol and propylene glycols with the preceding alcohols.

The monomeric units which can enter into the polycondensation reactions to yield desirable polyethercyclicpolyols are alcohols containing at least three hydroxyl groups per molecule of which at least two are vicinal. Thus, glycols of any molecular weight do not meet the requirements. On the other hand, triols are quite suitable. Examples are butanetriols, such as 1,2,4-butanetriol, pentanetriols, such as 1,2,3-pentanetriol, etc. An important class of polyhydric alcohols with straight carbon chains and four or more hydroxyl groups, called sugar alcohols, can also be used in preparing additive formulations containing cyclic polyethers. Sorbitol and mannitol are two such well known polyhydric alcohols.

A monomer of the structure: ##STR5## will yield several structures, one of which is illustrated by: ##STR6##

The R group may itself be a group containing hydroxymethyl groups, which would in turn increase the potential for intermolecular condensation by expulsion of additional moles of water, and would increase the facility with which high molecular weight cyclic ether structures are obtained.

Examples of polyethercyclicpolyols obtained from trihydric alcohols with more than three carbons include the following: ##STR7##

The following monocyclicdietherdiols of pentanetriol are obtained from Structure VII in accordance with the methods described supra: ##STR8## Both dimers (A) and (B) are obtained from Structure VII by reacting at carbons 1 and 2. ##STR9## Both dimers (C) and (D) are obtained by reacting Structure (VII) at carbons 2 and 3. ##STR10## Dimers (E) and (F) are obtained from (VII) by reacting at 1,2 and at 2,3 positions.

Further polycondensation of the cyclicetherdiols (supra) will yield polycyclicetherpolyols with structures which depend on which hydroxyl groups are involved in the condensation reaction. For instance, reaction between Structures (VIII) A (supra) and (VIII) F (supra) will yield (IX) (infra), a dicyclicpentaetherdiol of pentanetriol as follows. Obviously, a large number of possible polycondensed structures exist. ##STR11##

Precursors of trihydric polyols are suitable feeds. For example, glycidol, an epoxy alcohol which is a precursor of glycerol, reacts by simple addition not involving dehydration or requiring the presence of catalysts such as sodium hydroxide and sodium acetate. Another example is epichlorohydrin which, upon reaction with water and sodium hydroxide, hydrolyzes to give glycerol and sodium chloride. This latter mixture then can be thermally condensed to yield polyethercyclicpolyols.

Representative structures of precursors of the polyols of interest as feeds in this invention are the epoxide structures (G) through (I) listed below. All of these structures satisfy the criterion of possessing at least one epoxide and one or more hydroxyl groups. ##STR12##

The preferred structure of polyol precursors is given by: ##STR13## where R=alkyl, aryl, H, or OH, X.gtoreq.1, and Y.gtoreq.0, with the condition that when Y=0, then R=H.

The above precursors of epoxy alcohols can be conveniently prepared from the corresponding unsaturated alcohols by selective oxidation as shown for the case of glycidol below: ##STR14##

Derivatives of polyols are also useful feeds. For example, derivatives of glycerol, including linear and cyclic dimers, such as cis-or trans-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-p-dioxane (J and K), cis- or trans-2,6-bis-(hydroxymethyl)-p-dioxane (L and M), and the glycerine acetal of hydracrylaldehyde (N) can separately, or in combination, dimerize or can react with glycerol to produce polyethercyclicpolyols. ##STR15## In structures J through M, CIS and TRANS refer to the stereoisomerism of the carbon atoms marked by an asterisk. Structures J through M can also be called bis(hydroxymethyl)-p-dioxanes, monocyclicdietherdiols or cyclic dimers of glycerol.

Known commercial mixtures of bis(hydroxymethyl)-p-dioxanes and polyols can react to produce polyethercyclicpolyols. Polyols, e.g., polyglycerols, of a degree of dehydration corresponding from 0.5 to 1.0 moles water per mole of polyol are suitable feedstock. Footstill bottoms (heavy ends from the manufacture of glycerol) are mixtures of glycerol, bis(hydroxymethyl)-p-dioxanes, linear polyglycerols, and small amounts of low molecular weight polyethercyclicpolyols, are useful feedstock.

Byproduct or effluent streams from other existing processes for which the principal products are resins, soaps, and the like, can be excellent feedstocks. Exemplary are process streams of glycerol/glycidol mixtures which may also contain other components, for example, mixtures of glycerol, glycidol, epichlorohydrin, dimethyl ketone, isopropyl alcohol, and/or sodium chloride made in the manufacture of resins. Such streams may first be processed to remove the nonglycerol-related material, for example, sodium chloride. Effluent streams from processes such as resin manufacture fit this category of feedstock. Such streams may contain predominantly water and salt (10 to 15 percent by weight) with also small amounts of glycerol, glycidol, bis(hydroxymethyl)-p-dioxanes, and polyethercyclicpolyols of low molecular weight (and therefore initially ineffective for the use in drilling fluids). For example, in an existing plant, the components of an effluent stream are 12 to 15 percent by weight sodium chloride, 0.3 to 2 percent by weight glycerol, 0.3 to 1.2 percent by weight glycidol, and less than 0.5 percent by weight polyglycerols, bis(hydroxymethyl)-dioxanes, and low molecular weight polyethercyclicpolyols, with the balance being water.

In a typical preparation in accordance with the invention, a polyol such as glycerol (which is the preferred feedstock) containing small amounts of catalyst such as sodium hydroxide, preferably along with small amounts of sodium acetate, are reacted in distillation apparatus under conditions which allow water to be removed overhead, but not substantial amounts of glycerol or its dimers and trimers. The catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, preferably sodium hydroxide, is in a preferred concentration of 0.5 to 1.5 percent by weight of the reaction mixture and alkali metal acetate, preferably sodium acetate, in like or smaller amounts. Other suitable catalysts include potassium, lithium or calcium hydroxide or other condensation catalysts, such as sodium tungstate or tin (IV) chloride.

The starting pH for the condensation reaction ranges from 5 to 13.5 and is preferably from 8 to 10. The pH gradually declines during the process to 5 to 9.5 and preferably to 6.5 to 9. The materials removed overhead in the distillation are acidic to neutral and have a pH ranging from 3 to 7.

The reaction mixture is heated under a pressure of at least 100 mm Hg, and preferably between 150 and 300 mm Hg. For glycerol, more preferably 160 to 230 mm Hg is used. Under these conditions, any free water, which is often present in very small amounts even in dry glycerol, will be distilled off. Moreover, water produced by the condensation reactions will be distilled off continuously, allowing the equilibrium-limited condensation reaction to proceed further and to completion. Water removal may be facilitated by bubbling an inert gas, such as nitrogen, through the mixture. Such bubbling will also ensure thorough mixing. The mixture may also be continuously stirred to ensure thermal equilibrium throughout. The dry glycerol will then begin to rise in temperature to about 210.degree. to 230.degree. C. at 150 to 300 mm Hg, at which temperature the mixture refluxes, indicating the onset of reactions which produce water by condensation of the glycerol. By maintaining a pressure of at least 160 mm Hg, the glycerol, which may volatilize along with the water, is condensed in an overhead condenser, which is preferably cooled by a coolant such as water/glycol mixtures. The glycerol and its linear and cyclic dimers, which form in the course of the volatilization process, are thus condensed and refluxed to the reacting mixture. Gradually the procedure results in an increase in the boiling point of the mixture, brought about by the continuous removal of water of condensation and by the increase of the molecular weight of the mixture.

As the degree of the polymerization increases, and the amount of water removed from the glycerol feed increases, the pressure over the mixture is gradually decreased externally, either in a continuous, preferably gradual, mode, or at selected reaction temperatures. For example, it is possible to reduce the pressure to 120 mm Hg when the mixture reaches 250.degree. C. at a pressure of 180 mm Hg. Or alternatively, it is possible to control the pressure to diminish gradually by known mechanical means. FIG. 1 discloses a stepwise pressure reduction: 180 mm Hg to 120 mm Hg to 80 mm Hg to 60 mm Hg.

The degree of dehydration during the procedure is monitored in terms of moles of water removed per mole of glycerol left in the product. As the ratio of moles of water removed per mole of glycerol in the product increases, the degree of polymerization of glycerol increases, and the number average molecular weight of the mixture increases. Particularly important is the discovery of the strong relationship between the weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) and the performance of the product as a drilling fluid additive.

The number average molecular weight M.sub.n is determined by the formula: ##EQU1## wherein i=all molecules in the sample,

n.sub.i =the number of molecules, and

M.sub.i =the molecular mass of each molecule.

This is the average molecular weight obtained when the total weight of the sample is divided by the number of molecules in the sample. This molecular weight determines the effect of the sample composition on the osmotic pressure and hence, the effect of the sample composition on the freezing point or other colligative properties of the total mixture.

The weight average molecular weight M.sub.w is determined by the formula: ##EQU2## This molecular weight number weighs molecules proportionally to their molecular weight in the averaging process; that is, the molecular weight M.sub.i, is multiplied by the weight n.sub.i M.sub.i of material of that molecular weight rather than by the number of molecules. This type of average reflects the effect of the sample composition on those properties which depend on the size of the individual molecules, such as effectiveness in light scattering, or ability of the molecule to penetrate into small openings or plug or cover such openings. Thus, a high M.sub.w would be beneficial if penetration of the molecules into the interplanar structure of layered clays in the formulation is to be avoided. While the invention is not limited by this theory, it is believed that when polyethercyclicpolyols of this invention are used in drilling fluids, the presence of molecules possessing large volumes minimizes the swelling of clay components in the wellbore, thereby improving wellbore stability.

The centrifuge molecular weight is determined by the formula: ##EQU3##

The ratios M.sub.w /M.sub.n and M.sub.z /M.sub.w are also an indication of the spread or polydispersity in the molecular weight of molecules present in the sample, and by definition M.sub.w .gtoreq.M.sub.n. The ratio M.sub.w /M.sub.n ranges from 50 to 500, and most preferably, in the best formulations of polyethercyclicpolyol, it ranges from 100 to 300. The ratio of M.sub.z /M.sub.w ranges from 1 to 100, and in the most preferred formulations it ranges from 2 to 20. The polydispersity of molecular weights is underscored by the appearance of a characteristic binodal molecular weight distribution in virtually all thermal polyethercyclicpolyol samples.

In order to attain high M.sub.w values it is necessary to carry out dehydration as far as possible. By dehydration under gradually decreasing pressure it is possible to achieve a degree of dehydration which approaches and exceeds 1 mole of water per mole of glycerol. At this point, theoretically the glycerol feed could have polymerized to yield a single molecule of infinitely high molecular weight. However, in the course of distillation of glycerol from a basic medium, extensive cyclization takes place, which yields compounds such as cis- or trans-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-p-dioxane, cis- or trans-2,6-bis(hydroxymethyl)-p-dioxane and the glycerine acetal of hydracrylaldehyde, or other 5-, 6-, or 7-membered ring structures of which the first two are predominant. The polycondensation of such cyclic structures with linear or branched polyglycerols yields polyethercyclicpolyols. Excellent polyethercyclicpolyols for drilling fluid applications can be obtained by dehydrating to the extent of 1.15 to 1.2 moles of water per mole of glycerol in the product.

Polyethercyclicpolyols are characterized by the presence of at least one and usually more than one 5- to 7-membered ring structures per individual molecule in at least 80 percent of the molecular mass. Moreover, a minimum of 20 percent, preferably 30 percent, and most preferably 40 percent, of all molecules of reactant participating in the formation of polyethercyclicpolyols are involved in cyclic structures.

The preferred way to achieve such extensive dehydration without undesirable degeneration and gelation of the polyethercyclicpolyols is by the addition of small amounts of polyol, e.g., glycerol, at a later stage of the reaction, for example, when the reaction medium temperature has reached 270.degree. to 280.degree. C. at a pressure of 50 to 100 mm Hg, preferably 60 to 90 mm Hg. At least 3 percent by weight of polyol should be added to that effect, although more typically larger aliquots are added not once but several times. Upon addition of 2 to 6 percent by weight of polyol, e.g., glycerol, (basis final weight of polyol added) at a point after removal, for example, of 0.8 moles of water per mole of polyol, a drop in the temperature of the reacting mixture occurs, the drop being several degrees Centigrade or Fahrenheit. The drop is caused by the lower temperature of the polyol being added, but more importantly indicates the endothermic nature of the reaction between polyol molecules, or preferably between added polyol molecules and reactive sites in the prepolymerized mixture. For better effectiveness, the added polyol, e.g., glycerol, may be pre-saturated with alkali metal hydroxide, e.g., sodium hydroxide. FIG. 1 shows stepwise addition of polyol with corresponding temperature changes. In general the stepwise addition of glycerol should be initiated when the reaction is at least 40 percent complete (basis the amount of reactant present at the end of the reaction).

Upon continued input of heat from an external source, the temperature of the reacting mixtures rises to the previous highest level, or to a higher level, or to a somewhat lower level than the first high temperature, depending upon the molecular weight distribution of polyethercyclicpolyols in the mixture. This results in at least some of the polymerized polyol compounds achieving higher and higher molecular weights. Since the M.sub.w values are very sensitive to the presence of even small amounts of large molecules, this procedure results in increasing M.sub.w values which, generally results in improved performance in drilling mud formulations. This procedure of incremental polyol addition can be repeated any number of times, three being a convenient number. With three additions of polyol the experimental reaction time usually takes 6.5 to 7 hours, and when optimally performed, excellent polyethercyclic polyols are obtained.

The final M.sub.w values obtained are a strong function of the maximum temperature used in the polymerization reaction. Typical maximum temperatures range from 250.degree. C. to 295.degree. C. at a pressure 40 to 80 mm Hg, preferably 270.degree. C. to 295.degree. C., and most preferably 275.degree. C. to 285.degree. C.

As the reaction approaches 85 percent completion, it is suitable to combine polyol additions with further reductions of pressure, going down to 30 mm Hg, or even lower. This results in deeper dehydration at a given temperature and therefore in higher M.sub.w and M.sub.n values.

As the reaction of the present invention approaches completion, it turns from being highly endothermic to being more thermally neutral, and at a dehydration approaching and exceeding 1.2 moles of water per mole of polyol it can become exothermic. This is a reflection of the propensity of the mixture to undergo rapid degeneration of the complex polyethercyclicpolyol structures. In order to avoid the occurrence of such an undesirable degeneration, it is preferred to buffer the reaction by adding a small amount of monomeric polyol such as glycerol, for example, 0.2 to 2 percent, and preferably 0.3 to 0.9 percent by weight total. Preferably, there is added 0.5 percent by weight of polyol at a selected time such as when reaction is at least 90 percent complete, or preferably at a point where the reaction is 95 percent complete, i.e., after removal of 1.12 to 1.15 moles of water per mole of polyol in the reaction medium. FIG. 1 shows reaction end point control. The dotted line shows what could happen to temperature without a final addition of polyol, as the reaction becomes exothermic, leading to substantial degeneration and the formation of sludge. After reaction is terminated the polyethercyclicpolyol is removed from the reaction kettle by dilution with at least 20% w water.

With glycerol as the primary reaction medium, it is preferable to remove at least 1.05 and more preferably at least approximately 1.12 moles of water per mole of glycerol. Most preferably 1.15 to 1.25 moles of water per mole of glycerol in the product should be removed. If the feed contains an appreciable amount of predehydrated glycerol polymers, then the remaining dehydration will be less than 1.2 moles per mole of glycerol. As an example, for a known commercial product which typically contains 15 percent by weight of bis(hydroxymethyl)-dioxanes, and 85 percent by weight of glycerol the dehydration can be calculated as follows. For approximately 100 grams of feed there are 85 grams of glycerol (0.99 moles) and 15 grams of bis(hydroxymethyl)-dioxane (0.1014 moles). The glycerol component will have to lose 0.92.times.1.2=1.104 moles of water. The 0.1014 moles of bis(hydroxymethyl)-dioxane is derived from 0.2028 moles of glycerol by removal of 0.2028 moles of water; 1.2 total moles water per mole of glycerol should be removed, i.e., 0.2028.times.1.2=0.2434 moles. Thus, it is necessary to remove 0.2434-0.2028=0.0406 moles of water. The total to be removed is 1.104 moles from the glycerol +0.0406 moles from the bis(hydroxymethyl)-dioxane=1.1496 moles water (or approximately 1.145 moles) from the 100 grams of the known commercial product.

Therefore it is necessary to remove close to 1.2 moles of water for each mole of glycerol which enters into the condensation of an initially partially dehydrated glycerol feed stream. Alternatively, in most cases involving complex feed streams, it would be appropriate to carry out the reaction and select a final maximum reaction temperature at set pressure conditions, such as is known from previous experience to yield satisfactory polyethercyclicpolyol preparations.

Certain prehydrated glycerol feeds are not preferred for preparation of good quality polyethercyclicpolyol. An example is an extensively degenerated footstill bottoms (heavy ends from glycerol manufacture). In such cases, an acceptable feed may still be recovered from such materials by proper separation/purification. For example, extraction of the lower molecular weight fraction of a footstill bottom product by use of a low molecular weight alcohol, followed by recovery and reuse of the extracting alcohol. Alternatively, however, small amounts of extensively dehydrated polyglycerols can be used as additive components of the glycerol-rich feed, provided they are not unduly degenerated to yield essentially gel-like compositions.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that post-treatment of the polyethercyclicpolyols with an epoxy alcohol is beneficial. The post-treatment with epoxy alcohol results in the formation of higher molecular weight polyethercyclicpolyols with substantially improved properties in connection with drilling fluid performance. The post-treatment with epoxy alcohol has a similar effect to that of post-treating with epihalohydrin/alkali metal hydroxide as described in Case T-2387. Unlike the post-treatment with epihalohydrin/alkali metal hydroxide, however, the epoxy alcohol post-treatment is ultimately carried out under the usual thermal polycondensation conditions, with an initial heating period of 110.degree. C. for 30 minutes to two hours after the epoxy alcohol addition is made, followed by heating to 250.degree. to 295.degree. C. at a pressure of 40 to 80 mm Hg over a two to seven-hour period. An advantage of this process is that there are no byproducts of the post-treatment with epoxy alcohol, such as alkali metal halide, and therefore the sometimes elaborate procedures required for the removal of byproducts are unnecessary.

Epoxy alcohols are compounds which contain both an epoxy group and an alcohol group. This is represented by the structure (I) (supra, p. 11).

The preferred epoxy alcohol is glycidol. The amount of epoxy alcohol used is 5 to 35 weight percent of the total reaction mixture.

In polyethercyclicpolyol preparations with an epoxy alcohol post-treatment, the glycerol thermal polycondensation may be stopped before complete dehydration of 1.2 moles of water per mole of glycerol left in the product is actually achieved. In such a case, however, in order to ensure substantial formation of cyclic structures in the polyethercyclicpolyols it is appropriate to dehydrate at least to the level of 1.04 to 1.1 moles of water per mole of glycerol. Such a preparation would typically have M.sub.w values of 20,000 to 40,000. The epoxy alcohol post-treatment raises the M.sub.w by connecting lower molecular weight polyethercyclicpolyols together into larger units. This also results in the vast majority of molecules (i.e., over 80 percent of the individual molecules) containing at least one and preferably several cyclic structures bis(hydroxymethyl)-p-dioxane or 5-, 6- or 7-membered rings, predominantly bis(hydroxymethyl)-p-dioxane rings). The resulting M.sub.w could then be raised to the desired range of 80,000 to 160,000.

54.5 polyethercyclicpolyol, which is prepared by heating 750 g of glycerol, 5.4 g sodium hydroxide, and 3.6 g sodium acetate to a final temperature of 260.degree. C. at 80 mm Hg to remove 1.08 moles of water per mole of glycerol left in the product, achieving a polyethercyclicpolyol with an M.sub.w value expected to be 30,000 by calculation, as analyzed in a 3-column (Ultrahydrogel) gel permeation chromatograph, is added to a flask fitted with an overhead stirrer and a condenser. The mixture is heated to 110.degree. C. and 10.3 g glycidol (0.14 moles, 20 percent weight of the starting polyethercyclicpolyol), is added dropwise such that the reaction temperature is maintained between 110.degree. and 115.degree. C. The mixture is maintained at 110.degree. C. for two hours after the glycidol addition is complete. The mixture is then heated to 270.degree. C. under a N.sub.2 pressure gradually decreasing from 180 mm Hg to 40 mm Hg over a five-hour period. The M.sub.w value of the polyethercyclicpolyol product is expected to be 80,000 by calculation.

52 g polyethercyclicpolyol, which is prepared by thermal polycondensation of glycerol as described in Example 1, is added to a flask fitted with an overhead stirrer and a condenser. The mixture is heated to 110.degree. C. and 14 g of a 60% glycidol/40% glycerol mixture is added dropwise such that the reaction temperature is maintained between 110.degree. and 115.degree. C. The mixture is maintained at 110.degree. C. for two hours after the glycidol/glycerol addition is complete. The mixture is then heated to 270.degree. C. under a N.sub.2 pressure gradually decreasing from 180 mm Hg to 40 mm Hg over a five-hour period. The M.sub.w value of the polyethercyclicpolyol product is expected to be 82,000 by calculation.

Molecular weights referred to herein have been determined using a three-column gel permeation chromatographic technique using three Ultra-hydrogel columns: a Linear column, a 250 angstrom column, and a 120 angstrom column in series, using a water solvent at 30.degree. C. Using this technique, polyethercyclicpolyols produced by the methods described herein range from M.sub.w values of 20,000 to 300,000. Preferred polyethercyclicpolyols have M.sub.w values in the range of 50,000 to 200,000.