Zeon Chemicals L.p.

Mahesh Datla

Soobum Choi

Lawrence J Justice

Mike Recchio

The residual hydrogenation catalyst from the hydrogenated nitrile rubber solution is recovered by using two steps such as (1) the catalyst extraction step with an ammonium salt and water (optionally including an oxidation step) to extract catalyst from the HNBR polymer chain to the solvent and then (2) the separation/column recovery step with the column packed with functional ion exchange resins for the separation of ammonia-catalyst complex from hydrogenated nitrile rubber solution and the column recovery for the high catalyst recovery with functional groups of resins. The ammonium salt for the catalyst extraction step is selected from ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, ammonium iodide, and ammonium acetate. The functional groups in the functional ion exchange resins for packing the column is selected from thiourea, thiouronium, thiol, amine, diamine, triamine, TMT, dithiocarbamate, and carbodithioate.

Hydrogenated nitrile rubber with reduced catalyst impurity

Residual hydrogenation catalyst produced from reduction of nitrile rubber is recovered by a chelation step using a chelating agent and a series of extraction using semi-coagulation with polar solvents and an optional washing steps for the separation of catalyst-chelating agent complex from hydrogenated nitrile rubber solution. The chelating agent is selected from xanthate, dithiocarbamate, and trithiocarbonate compounds.

Growing community of inventors

Friendswood, TX, United States of America

Mahesh Datla