Reverse-phase polymerization process

US10370461B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Pascal Hesse · Mannheim, DE
• Aleksandra Jelicic · Mannheim, DE
• Gabriela Eugenia Fonseca Zepeda · Mannheim, DE
• Robert Haschick · Mannheim, DE
• Shankara Narayanan Keelapandal Ramamoorthy · Schifferstadt, DE
• Gareth Ian Naylor · Halifax, GB
• John Scott Barratt · Mirfield, GB
• Oliver Soetje · Mannheim, DE
• Marcel Lievre · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Florian Rainau · Bischofswerda, DE
• Mark Lebkuecher · Deidesheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 29, 2014
• Grant date: Aug 6, 2019
• Expiry date: Mar 28, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08F226/10
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A reverse-phase suspension polymerization process for the manufacture of polymer beads comprising forming aqueous monomer beads comprising an aqueous solution of water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer or monomer blend and polymerizing the monomer or monomer blend, to form polymer beads while suspended in a non-aqueous liquid, and recovering polymer beads, in which the process comprises providing in a vessel (1) a volume (2) of non-aqueous liquid wherein the volume of non-aqueous liquid extends between at least one polymer bead discharge point (3) and at least one monomer feed point (4), feeding the aqueous monomer or monomer blend through orifices (5) into, or onto, the non-aqueous liquid to form aqueous monomer beads, allowing the aqueous monomer beads to flow towards the polymer bead discharge point initiating polymerization of the aqueous monomer beads to form polymerizing beads, wherein the polymerizing beads form polymer beads when they reach the polymer bead discharge point, removing a suspension of the polymer beads in non-aqueous liquid from the vessel at the polymer bead discharge point and recovering, water soluble or water swellable polymer beads from the suspen…