A process is provided comprising contacting 1,3-propanediol with a suitable polymerization catalyst to produce polytrimethylene ether glycol or random polytrimethylene ether ester, wherein the 1,3-propanediol comprises about 10 microg/g or less peroxide compounds, based on the weight of 1,3-propanediol, and about 100 microg/g or less carbonyl compounds based on the weight of the 1,3-propanediol. Preferably, the 1,3-propanediol comprises about 100 microg/g or less of monofunctional alcohol compounds based on the weight of the PDO. In addition, polytrimethylene ether glycol and random polytrimethylene ether ester prepared by the process.