US4463164A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for preparing polyphenylene ethers
Assignee: GE Chemicals Inc
•
Filing: 1983-02-15
•
Granted: 1984-07-31
•
Expires: 2003-02-15
Abstract
Abstract An improved method for the production of polyphenylene ethers is disclosed. The method comprises oxidatively coupling monohydric phenols in the presence of a complex catalyst and in a liquid medium which is a solvent for the monomer and catalyst and a non-solvent for the polyphenylene ether. The polyphenylene ether precipitates to form a slurry of particulate solids which is then washed with an aqueous solution of a chelating agent to remove catalyst residue.
Inventors
- 👤 William O. Dalton
- 👤 Michael K. Rinehart
- 👤 Akitoshi Sugio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:22
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08G; C08G65/00; C08G65/34; C08G65/46; C08G65/38; C08G65/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A process for producing a polyphenylene ether comprising the steps of: a. oxidatively coupling monohydric phenols in a polymerization reactor in the presence of a complex catalyst comprising a copper salt and an amine in a liquid medium immiscible with water, said liquid medium being a solvent for said monohydric phenols and a poor solvent for said polyphenylene ether, and allowing the polyphenylene ether to precipitate to form a slurry in said medium; b. washing said slurry with an aqueous solution comprising water and from 0.05 to 5 wt% of a chelating agent; and c. separating the aqueous solution from said slurry.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A process for producing a polyphenylene ether comprising the steps of: a. oxidatively coupling monohydric phenols in a polymerization reactor in the presence of a complex catalyst comprising a copper salt and an amine in a liquid medium immiscible with water, said liquid medium being a solvent for said monohydric phenols and a poor solvent for said polyphenylene ether, and allowing the polyphenylene ether to precipitate to form a slurry in said medium; b. washing said slurry with an aqueous solution comprising water and from 0.05 to 5 wt% of a chelating agent; and c. separating the aqueous solution from said slurry.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said liquid medium comprises a solvent for the polyphenylene ether and a non-solvent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said liquid medium comprises a solvent for the polyphenylene ether selected from the group consisting of chlorinated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons, and as a non-solvent an aliphatic hydrocarbon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said liquid medium comprises at least one aromatic hydrocarbon and at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid medium comprises at least one aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene and xylene and at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of C 2 to C 10 alkanes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon and aliphatic hydrocarbon is employed in a volume ratio of from 10:1 to 1:10.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the chelating agent is an aminocarboxylic acid-type chelating agent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution comprises from 0.1 to 5 wt% aminocarboxylic acid-type chelating agent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution comprises from 0.1 to 5 wt% aminocarboxylic acid-type chelating agent selected from the group consisting of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, and salts thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution further comprises from 1 to 5 wt% of a reducing compound.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution further comprises from 1 to 5 wt% soldium hydrosulfite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of separating the precipitated polyphenylene ether in said slurry from the medium and returning at least a portion of the separated medium to the reactor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said separated medium is distilled.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
A process for producing a polyphenylene ether comprising the steps of: a. oxidatively coupling monohydric phenols in a polymerization reactor in the presence of a complex catalyst comprising a copper salt and an amine in a liquid medium comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon and at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon and allowing the polyphenylene ether to precipitate to form a slurry in said medium; b. washing said slurry with an aqueous solution comprising from 0.1 to 5 wt% of an aminocarboxylic acid-type chelating agent; c. separating the aqueous solution from said slurry; and d. separating the precipitated polyphenylene ether in said slurry from the medium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
105 words
A process for producing a polyphenylene ether comprising the steps of: a. oxidatively coupling monohydric phenols in a polymerization reactor in the presence of a complex catalyst comprising a copper salt and an amine in a liquid medium comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon and at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon and allowing the polyphenylene ether to precipitate to form a slurry in said medium; b. washing said slurry with an aqueous solution comprising from 0.1 to 5 wt% of an aminocarboxylic acid-type chelating agent; c. separating the aqueous solution from said slurry; and d. separating the precipitated polyphenylene ether in said slurry from the medium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of said medium is returned to the polymerization reactor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of said medium is distilled.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the liquid medium comprises at least one aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene and xylene and at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of C 2 to C 10 alkanes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said chelating agent is selected from the group consisting of ethylene diamine tetracarboxylic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid and salts thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said aqueous solution further comprises from 1 to 5 wt% of a reducing compound.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said aqueous solution further comprises from 1 to 5 wt% of sodium hydrosulfite.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3219626A
Cited
US3306875A
Cited
US3306874A
Cited
US4067851A
Cited
US3789054A
Cited
US3838102A
Cited
US4011200A
Cited
US4058504A
Cited
US4237265A
Cited
US4039510A
Cited
US4088634A
Cited
US4157434A
Cited
US4211857A
Cited
US4385167A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-31 | 1988-01-30 | 1988-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-31 | 1992-01-30 | 1992-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-31 | 1996-01-30 | 1996-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |