Reverse-phase polymerisation process

US9765167B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Robert Haschick · Mannheim, DE
• Aleksandra Jelicic · Mannheim, DE
• John Scott Barratt · Mirfield, GB
• Pascal Hesse · Mannheim, DE
• Oliver Soetje · Mannheim, DE
• Gabriela Eugenia Fonseca Zepeda · Mannheim, DE
• Shankara Narayanan Keelapandal Ramamoorthy · Schifferstadt, DE
• Bjoern Langlotz · Trostberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 29, 2014
• Grant date: Sep 19, 2017
• Expiry date: Jul 29, 2034

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 subjecting the aqueous monomer beads to polymerization conditions to initiate polymerization to form polymerizing beads, wherein the polymerizing beads have formed 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 w…