Process for removal of catalyst from hydrogenated polymer solutions

Claim 1

IN THE PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGENATED MATERIAL BY HYDROGENATING POLYMERIC MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF HOMOPOLYMERS OF BUTADIENE AND COPOLYMERS OF BUTADIENE CONTAINING NOT MORE THAN 30 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF STYRENE WHEREIN SAID POLYMERIC MATERIAL IS DISPERSED IN A SOLVENT AND CONTACTED WITH HYDROGEN IN THE PRESENCE OF FINELY DIVIDED NICKEL-KIESELGUHR CATALYST IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE UNSATURATION OF SAID POLYMERIC MATRIAL, THE METHOD FOR REMOVING SAID CATALYST WHICH COMPRISES ADDING TO THE DISPERSION OF SAID HYDROGENERATED POLYMERIC MATERIAL, SOLVENT AND CATALYST A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF NATURAL ROSIN ACIDS, HYDROGENATION, DEHYDROGENATION, AND DISPROPORTIONATION REACTION PRODUCT THEREOF HAVING THE SAME NUMBER OF CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE AND THE SAME ARRANGEMENT OF CARBON ATOMS AS SAID NATURAL ROSIN ACIDS, AND IRON AND NICKEL SALTS OF SAID ROSIN ACIDS AND SAID HYDROGENATION, DEHYDROGENATION AND DISPROPORTIONATION REACTION PRODUCTS OF SAID ROSIN ACIDS; ADDING TO THE RESULTING MIXTURE A BASE WHOSE CATION FORMS AN INSOLUBLE SALT OF SAID ROSIN ACID; AND RECOVERING SAID POLYMERIC MATRIAL DISPERSED IN A SOLVENT SUNSTANTIALLY FREE OF CATALYST.