Process for polymer hydrogenation using lithium hydride prepared from reactor equipped with high-speed injection nozzle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for polymer hydrogenation that includes: polymerizing or copolymerizing at least one conjugated diene in a hydrocarbon solvent using an organic alkali metal polymerization initiator to generate a living polymer; adding a terminating agent selected from amines, esters, ketones, or halogen compounds to deactivate the active terminal of the living polymer; and selectively hydrogenating the conjugated diene polymer using at least one organotitanium compound and a lithium hydride, which is prepared from a reactor equipped with a high-speed injection nozzle and thereby precisely controlled in regard to particle diameter. The lithium hydride as used in this process is a highly active lithium hydride having a precisely controlled particle diameter as prepared from a reactor equipped with a high-speed injection nozzle to acquire stable hydrogenation reaction rate and hydrogenation reproducibility, and particularly allow the quantitative control of the lithium hydride/titanium mole ratio in the hydrogenation of the conjugated diene polymer having different molecular weights, thereby maintaining a high hydrogenation activity.