# US 2019/0169320 A1 · Process for the production of polymers via emulsion polymerisation

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- Number: US 2019/0169320 A1
- Document ID: US20190169320A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/324,254
- Filed: 2017-07-10
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-12
- Assignees: Sabic Global Technologies B.V.
- Applicants: SABIC Global Technologies B.V.
- Inventors: Shi Wang; Jianhua Xu; Vern Lowry
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169320A1

## CPC

- C08F 2/24: with the aid of emulsifying agents
- C08C 1/16: in floc form
- C08F 2/18: Suspension polymerisation
- C08F 2/22: Emulsion polymerisation
- C08F 6/22: Coagulation
- C08F 279/04: Vinyl aromatic monomers and nitriles as the only monomers
- C08K 5/47: Thiazoles
- C08L 55/02: ABS [Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene] polymers
- C08K 3/20: Oxides; Hydroxides {(graphene oxides C08K3/042)}
- C08K 3/30: Sulfur-, selenium- or tellurium-containing compounds
- C08K 5/14: Peroxides
- C08K 5/1515: Three-membered rings
- C08K 5/315: Compounds containing carbon-to-nitrogen triple bonds
- C08K 5/42: Sulfonic acids; Derivatives thereof
- C08K 2003/3054: {Ammonium sulfates}
- C08L 33/20: Homopolymers or copolymers of acrylonitrile (C08L55/02 takes precedence)
- C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
- C08C: TREATMENT OR CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF RUBBERS
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the production of a polymer comprising the steps of: a) polymerisation of an emulsion comprising a reaction mixture to obtain a polymeric latex; and b) coagulating the polymeric latex by exposing the polymeric latex to one or more coagulant, and isolating the coagulated product to obtain a polymer; wherein the polymeric latex obtained under a) is stored prior to coagulation step b) for at most such a time that the polymeric latex contains ≤500 CFU/ml of pigment-producing organisms as determined in accordance with ASTM D 5465-93 (2012) when subjecting the polymeric latex to coagulation step b). Such process allows for the production of a polymer having a reduced discoloration. The polymers may have a desirable appearance such as an opaque, white appearance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for the production of a polymer comprising the steps of:
a) polymerisation of an emulsion or suspension comprising a reaction mixture to obtain a polymeric latex; and
b) coagulating the polymeric latex by exposing the polymeric latex to one or more coagulant, and isolating the coagulated product to obtain a polymer;
wherein the polymeric latex obtained under a) is stored prior to coagulation step b) for at most such a time that the polymeric latex contains ≤500 CFU/ml of pigment-producing organisms as determined in accordance with ASTM D 5465-93 (2012) when subjecting the polymeric latex to coagulation step b).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction mixture comprises one or more reactants selected from styrene, acrylonitrile, butadiene, polybutadiene, butyl(meth)acrylate, poly(butyl acrylate), methyl(meth)acrylate, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, where the pigment-producing organisms are bacteria selected from the genera Bacillus, Microcossus, Serratia, Flavobacterium or Pseudomonas.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the pigment-producing organisms are bacteria selected from the species Bacillus Lentus, Bacillus Subtilis Serratia Marcencens, or Pseudomonas Pseudoalcaligenes.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the emulsion is an aqueous emulsion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the emulsion comprises a quantity of emulsifying agent selected from:
anionic emulsifiers selected from higher fatty alcohol sulphates, higher alkyl sulphonates, alkylaryl sulphonates, aryl sulphonates, the condensation products thereof with formaldehyde, salts of sulphosuccinic acid esters, and sulphated ethylene oxide adducts; and
non-ionic emulsifiers selected from the reaction products of ethylene oxide, 2-ethyloxirane or methyloxirane with
C10-C20 alkyl alcohol(s);
C10-C20 alkyl acid(s); or
C10-C20 alkyl amide(s);
or a combination thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The process according to claim 6, wherein:
the C10-C20 alkyl alcohol(s) are selected from 1-decanol, 1-dodecanol, 1-tetradecanol, 1-hexadecanol, 1-octadecanol or 1-eicosanol;
the C10-C20 alkyl acid(s) are selected from decanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid or eicosanoic acid; and/or
the C10-C20 alkyl amide(s) are selected from decanamide, dodecanamide, tetradecanamide, hexadecanamide, octadecanamide or eicosanamide.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The process according to claim 6, wherein the emulsifying agent is used in quantities of 0.1 wt %-10.0 wt % with regard to the total weight of the reaction mixture.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction mixture further comprises a free radical initiator selected from:
persulfate compounds including ammonium persulfate, potassium persulfate and sodium persulfate;
peroxides including hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, t-butyl hydoperoxide, acetylperoxide, lauroyl peroxide, peracetic acid and perbenzoic acid;
azo-compounds such as 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile and 4,4′-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid);
or combinations thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The process according to claim 9, wherein the free radical initiator is used in quantities of 0.01-2.00 wt % with regard to the total weight of the reaction mixture.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the storage takes place in a storage tank, wherein the storage tank is cleaned prior to the introduction of the polymeric latex with a solution comprising 0.05-3 ppm chlorine.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric latex is exposed to ultraviolet radiation for at least a fraction of the time between the production of the latex and the coagulation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein a quantity of an antimicrobial agent is added to the polymeric latex obtained in step a) prior to storage.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The process according to claim 13, wherein the antimicrobial agent is selected from 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, N-methyl-1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)one, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one or combinations thereof, and wherein the antimicrobial agent is added to the polymeric latex in a quantity of 200-2000 ppm with regard to the total weight of the polymeric latex.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction mixture comprises acrylonitrile and styrene, and/or wherein the reaction mixture comprises polybutadiene.