Method and apparatus for preparing a poly(arylene ether)

A method of precipitating a poly(arylene ether), comprising:

• preparing a poly(arylene ether) solution comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a solvent, wherein said solvent comprises a C6-C18 aromatic hydrocarbon;
• combining said poly(arylene ether) solution with an antisolvent to form a poly(arylene ether) dispersion, wherein said antisolvent comprises water and a compound selected from the group consisting of alkanols having one to about ten carbon atoms, ketones having three to about ten carbon atoms, alkanes having five to about ten carbon atoms, and combinations thereof;
• determining a particle size distribution in said poly(arylene ether) dispersion within about 30 seconds of said combining said poly(arylene ether) solution with said antisolvent;
• and
• adjusting a precipitation parameter in response to said particle size distribution.

A method of precipitating a poly(arylene ether), comprising:

• preparing a poly(arylene ether) solution comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a solvent;
• wherein said poly(arylene ether) is the polymerization product of a monohydric phenol comprising 2,6-dimethylphenol, 2,3,6-trimethylphenol, or a combination thereof;
• and wherein said solvent comprises toluene;
• combining said poly(arylene ether) solution with an antisolvent to form a poly (arylene ether) dispersion;
• wherein said antisolvent comprises methanol, toluene and water;
• determining a particle size distribution in said poly(arylene ether) dispersion within about 20 seconds of said combining said poly(arylene ether) solution with said antisolvent;
• and
• adjusting the antisolvent composition in response to said particle size distribution.

A method of preparing a poly(arylene ether), comprising:

• oxidatively coupling a monohydric phenol using an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a first solvent and a complex metal catalyst to produce a poly(arylene ether) solution;
• combining said poly(arylene ether) solution with a first antisolvent to form a poly(arylene ether) dispersion comprising a poly(arylene ether) solid;
• separating said poly(arylene ether) solid from said poly(arylene ether) dispersion to form an isolated poly(arylene ether) solid;
• determining a particle size distribution of said poly(arylene ether) solid prior to said separating said poly(arylene ether) solid from said poly(arylene ether) dispersion;
• and
• adjusting a precipitation parameter in response to said particle size distribution.