EPOXIDATION REACTION OF TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE WITH EPICHLOROHYDRIN - KINETIC-STUDY OF EPICHLOROHYDRIN FORMATION

The kinetics of the reaction between trimethylolpropane (TMP) and epic hlorohydrin (ECH) were studied. A mechanism is proposed which involves the synthesis of chlorohydrins, a previous stage which then leads to epoxy resin formation. From this mechanism a set of three coupled non- linear differential equations, (each equation corresponds to each chlo rohydrin) was derived and numerical solutions were obtained using a Mo nte-Carlo method. The concentrations of chlorohydrins determined by th is method (41.7, 35.7, and 22.5%) compare well with the experimental G PC results (42.7, 34.7, and 22.6%). The corresponding rate constants f or the formation of the chlorohydrins were obtained.