The propagation kinetics of the ring opening polymerization of ethylene oxide with octanol ("octanol ethoxylation") was studied in a continuous microstructured reactor. Temperature was varied from 130 degrees C to 240 degrees C, and application of elevated pressure ensured a homogeneous liquid phase process. The activation energy was found to be E-A = 72.2 0.9 kJ mol(-1). A numerical model was developed which was able to predict ethylene oxide consumption as function of residence time. The new kinetic parameters were used to determine the process intensification potential of this reaction and to study the limits of stable reactor operation. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.