Solvay Specialty Polymers Usa, LLC

Matthew Booher

Stéphane Jeol

Joel Pollino

Keshav S Gautam

The invention pertains to a process for separating mixtures of solids based on their densities. The present invention also relates to the use of a separating liquid (L) for separating plastic solids from metal-containing solids based on their densities, wherein the separating liquid (L) has a density d3 such that 1.5<d3<2.0; wherein the solids have a particle size ranging from 0.1 to 100 mm. The separating liquid (L) is preferably a fluorinated fluid.

Process for separating mixtures of solids

Described herein are end-capped poly(aryl ether sulfone) ('PAES') polymers and corresponding synthesis methods. The end-capped PAES polymers are end-capped by functionalizing a PAES polymer with a halophthalic diialkyl ester end-capping agent. It was surprisingly discovered that the resulting dialkyl phthalate end-capped PAES polymers could be synthesized with significantly improved end-capping conversion rates, relative to end-capped PAES polymers directly functionalized with traditional phthalic anhydride end-capping agents. It was also surprisingly found that by heating the isopropyl phthalate end-capped PAES polymers, the polymers could be converted to the corresponding phthalic anhydride end-capped PAES polymers, yielding a more efficient synthetic route to phthalic anhydride end-capped PAES polymers.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, GA, United States of America

Matthew Booher