US 8,273,799 B2 · Amination of vinyl aromatic polymers with tertiary amines

Abstract

The invention generally relates to amination reactions and amination reaction products, and particularly to methods for aminating vinyl aromatic polymers utilizing tertiary amines. In one embodiment, the invention includes conducting an amination reaction by combining a tertiary amine and a vinyl aromatic polymer comprising benzyl chloride groups to form a reaction mixture and maintaining the pH of the reaction mixture within a designated range. In another embodiment, the invention includes an aminated vinyl aromatic polymer. In yet another embodiment, the invention includes an ion exchange resin including quaternary ammonium functionality. The invention is useful in preparing ion exchange resins suitable for a variety of applications such as the removal of perchlorate ions from water sources and recovery of gold cyanide from mining leach solutions.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of conducting an amination reaction by:

i) combining a tertiary amine and a vinyl aromatic polymer comprising benzyl chloride groups in a ratio of less than 1.5 mole of tertiary amine per mole of benzyl chloride group of the vinyl aromatic polymer within an alcohol-based solvent to form a reaction mixture, wherein the tertiary amine is represented by the formula:
wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each independently selected from:
alkyl and alkoxy groups;
with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms for R1, R2 and R3 is at least 7;
ii) conducting an amination reaction for a reaction time period of at least 2 hours;
and
iii) maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature of at least 50° C. and a pH of at least 7 for at least half of the reaction time period by adding a base selected from at least one of:
sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide and potassium hydroxide.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Amination of vinyl aromatic polymers with tertiary amines

Life of this patent

Amination of vinyl aromatic polymers with tertiary amines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12