Surfactants for heterogeneous processes in liquid or supercritical CO.sub.2

US5733964A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System · US
• AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. · US

Inventors

• Keith P. Johnston · Austin, US
• Steven P. Wilkinson · McKeesport, US
• Mark Leonard O'Neill · San Marcos, US
• Lloyd M. Robeson · Whitehouse Station, US
• Simon Mawson · Charleston, US
• Richard Henry Bott · Blacksburg, US
• Carrington Duane Smith · Slatington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 20, 1996
• Grant date: Mar 31, 1998
• Expiry date: Jun 20, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/54
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Heterogeneous polymer mixtures comprising a polymer in liquid or supercritical CO.sub.2 are stabilized by employing a poly(propylene oxide) or poly(butylene oxide) based surfactant. These surfactants are especially well suited for stabilizing heterogeneous polymer mixtures formed by micronizing techniques as well as by precipitation of a compressed fluid antisolvent applications.