Patent US4634761A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4634761A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Continuous method for isolating polymer resin from solution wherein organic solvent resin solution is fed into aqueous feed
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1985-08-16
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Granted: 1987-01-06
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Expires: 2005-08-16
Abstract
Abstract A continuous process for isolating polymer resin from organic solvent solution feed is provided wherein the organic solvents in the feed are volatilized in an aqueous solution to form polymer granules and the size of these granules is controlled by interrupting the feed of the organic solvent solution.
Inventors
- 👤 Ashok K. Mendiratta
- 👤 Wayne F. Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:29
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J3/00; C08J3/12; C08J3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A process for isolating polymer resin from an organic solvent solution, said process comprising (a) feeding, with agitation, an organic solvent solution of about 1 to 50% by weight polymer resin into an aqueous solution feed to provide an admixture; (b) matching the feed rates for said aqueous solution and said organic solution to provide a weight ratio of water to polymer within the admixture having a value of from about 2-50; (c) volatilizing the organic solvents within the admixture at a rate sufficiently low to permit solidification of said polymer resin followed by agglomeration of said polymer resin to form polymer granules; (d) recovering solid polymer granules and said aqueous solution from said admixture; (e) interrupting the feed of said organic solvent solution of polymer resin upon formation of polymer granules within said admixture of a desired average size to dry the polymer granules; and (f) resuming the feed of said organic solvent solution of polymer resin upon drying substantially all of the polymer granules within said admixture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A process for isolating polymer resin from an organic solvent solution, said process comprising (a) feeding, with agitation, an organic solvent solution of about 1 to 50% by weight polymer resin into an aqueous solution feed to provide an admixture; (b) matching the feed rates for said aqueous solution and said organic solution to provide a weight ratio of water to polymer within the admixture having a value of from about 2-50; (c) volatilizing the organic solvents within the admixture at a rate sufficiently low to permit solidification of said polymer resin followed by agglomeration of said polymer resin to form polymer granules; (d) recovering solid polymer granules and said aqueous solution from said admixture; (e) interrupting the feed of said organic solvent solution of polymer resin upon formation of polymer granules within said admixture of a desired average size to dry the polymer granules; and (f) resuming the feed of said organic solvent solution of polymer resin upon drying substantially all of the polymer granules within said admixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the organic solvent solution contains about 10% to 30% by weight polymer resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyphenylene ethers, polyesters, polyetherimides and ethylene-propylene rubbers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of water to polymer has a value maintained within the range of about 3 to 20.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the organic solent solution is comprised of solvents selected from the group consisting of methylene chloride, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethylene, chloroform, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, pyridine, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, benzene, xylene, toluene, hexane, heptane, pentane and mesitylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein admixing is achieved by a rotating impeller within an unbaffled vessel having a tip speed of at least about 5 feet per second.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein said rotating impeller has a tip speed of about 10 to 70 feet per second and the organic solution of polymer is fed at an inlet located at the bottom of said vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein volatilization of said organic solvents is accomplished by maintaining the admixture at a temperature within the range of about 10° C. below to 30° C. above the boiling point of the organic solvents within said organic solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the organic solvent solution is comprised of methylene chloride and volatilization is accomplished by maintaining the admixture at a temperature within the range of about 30° C. to 70° C. at atmospheric pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the organic solution is methylene chloride which contains about 10 to 30 weight percent polycarbonate, the weight ratio of water to polycarbonate within said admixture has a value within the range of about 3 to 20 and the temperature of the admixture is maintained within the range of about 35° to 50° C. at atmospheric pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the organic solvent solution is comprised of toluene and volatilization is accomplished by maintaining the admixture at a temperature within the range of about 85° C. to 100° C. at atmospheric pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein the toluene solution contains about 10 to 30 weight percent polyphenylene ether resin, the weight ratio of water to total polyphenylene ether within said admixture has a value within the range of 3 to 20 and the temperature of the admixture is maintained below 100° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein the toluene solution contains about 10 to 30 weight percent polystyrene resin, the weight ratio of water to total polystyrene within said admixture has a value within the range of 3 to 20 and the temperature of the admixture is maintained below 100° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the organic solvent solution is comprised of hexane and volatilization is accomplished by maintaining the admixture at a temperature within the range of about 60° to 75° C. at atmospheric pressure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as in claim 14 wherein the hexane solution contains about 5 to 20 weight percent ethylene propylene rubber resin and the weight ratio of water to total ethylene-propylene-rubber within said admixture has a value within the range of 3 to 20.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 10 wherein the organic solvent solution feed is interrupted once the unrecovered polycarbonate granules have reached an average size within the range of 1000-5000 microns.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the organic solvent solution feed commences after devolatilizing the unrecovered granules for about 1-10 minutes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein a desired size and size distribution of the solid polymer granules are obtained for a given quantity of polymer resin by controlling the values for the feed rate of said organic solvent solution feed, the feed rate of said aqueous solution feed, the temperature of said admixture and the degree of agitation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 18 wherein the feed rate for said organic solvent solution feed is decreased during solidification of the polymer resin within said admixture.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the organic solvent solution feed is interrupted once the unrecovered polymer granules have reached an average size within the range of 1000-5000 microns.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the polymer granules are recovered continuously.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 21 wherein the aqueous solution feed is fed at a continuous rate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-01-05 | 1990-07-07 | 1991-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-05 | 1994-07-07 | 1995-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-05 | 1998-07-07 | 1999-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |