Kuraray Co., Ltd.

Tetsuya Hikasa

Takaharu Kawahara

Toshio Tuboi

Yukihiro Ohara

Naoyuki Himi

The present invention provides methods for producing an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and a saponified product thereof that can inhibit visible imperfections (particularly discoloration) at the time of molding by improving the process for recovering vinyl acetate. When the alcohol-based solvent to be blown in when recovering vinyl acetate is deoxidized so that its oxygen concentration becomes not more than 60 ppm, discoloration of a molded product of the above saponified product due to oxygen can be inhibited.

Method for producing ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and saponified product thereof

A method for producing a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVOH) comprises: supplying into a second reactor a solution containing the copolymer that is saponified partially with an alkali catalyst under a predetermined pressure in a first reactor; and saponifying further the partially-saponified copolymer in the second reactor under a pressure higher than the predetermined pressure in the first reactor. According to the method, an EVOH having a high saponification degree can be produced efficiently with a small amount of alkali catalyst.

Method and apparatus for producing ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer saponification product

In the present invention, particles of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) are contacted with a solution containing a boron compound, whereby to obtain a substantially homogeneous distribution of the boron compound within the particles. For example, EVOH and the solution are continuously fed into a treatment apparatus and brought into contact with each other in the treatment apparatus, and the EVOH when continuously removed from the apparatus is in contact with the solution containing the boron compound in a concentration of at least 0.7 times but not more than 1.3 times a solution equilibrium concentration.

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Okayama, Japan

Tetsuya Hikasa