PREPARATION AND USE OF NOVEL POLYANILINES FOR WATER TREATMENT

1 . Polyaniline, comprising aniline units and organosulphur units, characterized in that the organosulphur units are thiols and the polyaniline is doped and has a number average degree of polymerization of approximately 5 to approximately 50, wherein

the polyaniline is represented by the formula PAni-S—R, wherein PAni stands for polyaniline, and wherein

R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkyl(aryl) 2 , alkyl(aryl) 3 , arylalkyl, alkyl-C(═O)—O-alkyl, alkyl-CO 2 H, alkylferrocenyl, arylferrocenyl, ferrocenyl, allyl, alkyl-X-alkyl, alkyl-X-aryl, aryl-X-aryl, aryl-X-alkyl and C 3-12 cycloalkyl,

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S— and —NH—,

wherein each of the abovenamed alkyl radicals independently of one another contains 1 to 20 carbon atoms, can be straight-chained or branched and optionally can be substituted one or more times by a substituent selected from —SO 3 H, —SO 3 − alkali cation, —CO 2 H, -halogen, -hydroxy, -amino, -amino-C 1-20 alkyl, -amino (C 1-20 alkyl) 2 , —CO 2 —C 1-20 -alkyl, —C 1-20 alkyl, —NH—CO—C 1-20 -alkyl, —Si (C 1-3 alkyl) 3 , and wherein each of the abovenamed aryl radicals independently of each other can be phenyl or naphthyl which can both be substituted one or more times by a substituent selected from —SO 3 H, —SO 3 − alkali cation, —C 1-20 alkyl, halogen, —NO 2 ,

—NHC 1-20 -alkyl, —N(C 1-20 alkyl) 2 , —CF 3 , —CO 2 H, —CO 2 —C 1-20 —alkyl, —NH-tert-butoxycarbonyl, —C 1-20 alkyl-OH, —O—C 1-20 alkyl, —S—C 1-20 alkyl, —C 1-20 -alkyl-CO 2 H and —NH—CO—C 1-20 —alkyl.

2 . (canceled)

3 . (canceled)

4 . Polyaniline according to claim 1 , characterized in that the polyaniline comprises an acid group.

5 . Process for the preparation of the polyaniline of claim 1 comprising converting the aniline and at least one organosulphur unit to a polyaniline derivative in an oxidative, acid-catalyzed polymerization reaction.

6 . Process for the preparation of a coating composition, wherein the process comprises the steps:

a) providing the polyaniline according to claim 1 ,

b) homoganizing the polyaniline,

c) producing a dispersion from the homogenized polyaniline and a dispersant,

d) treating the dispersion by energy input, and

e) filtering the dispersion.

7 . Process according to claim 6 , characterized in that the homogenization of the polyaniline is provided in a solvent which is not the same as the dispersant and is preferably an alcohol.

8 . Process according to claim 6 , characterized in that the dispersant is NMP.

9 . Process according to claim 6 , characterized in that after step e), the polyaniline is doped with an acid.

10 . Process according to claim 9 , characterized in that the acid comprises a C 12 alkylbenzenesulphonic acid.

11 . A coating composition obtainable according to the process of claim 6 .

12 . A coated substrate, characterized in that a substrate is coated with the coating composition containing polyaniline prepared by the process of claim 6 .

13 . Coated substrate according to claim 12 , characterized in that the substrate is selected from the group consisting of an electrode, a packed bed, a membrane, a fleece and/or a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, an interlaced fabric, a knitted fabric, a gauze, a flat membrane, a hollow fibre membrane, a capillary, a hollow capsule, and combinations thereof.

14 . Coated substrate according to claim 12 , characterized in that the substrate is selected from the group consisting of an organic polymer, a polymer composition, an inorganic material and a composite material and can be conductive or non-conductive.

15 . Process for the preparation of the coated substrate according to claim 12 , characterized in that the coating composition is applied to a substrate and optionally dried.

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

18 . (canceled)

19 . (canceled)

20 . (canceled)

21 . (canceled)

22 . Purification reactor, characterized in that the reactor comprises

a reaction chamber with inlet and outlet for a medium to be purified,

at least one coated substrate of claim 12 as a working electrode, and

at least one counterelectrode, and

optionally at least one separator between the at least one coated substrate and the at least one counterelectrode.

23 . (canceled)

24 . Purification of a medium, such as air or water, comprising contacting the medium with the coated substrate of claim 12 .

25 . Process for the preparation of a coating composition, wherein the process comprises the steps:

a) providing the polyaniline according to claim 1 ,

b) producing a dispersion from the polyaniline and a dispersant,

c) treating the dispersion by energy input, and

d) filtering the dispersion.

26 . Process for the preparation of a coating composition, wherein the process comprises the steps:

a) providing the polyaniline according to claim 1 ,

b) homoganizing the polyaniline,

c) producing a dispersion from the homogenized polyaniline and a dispersant, and

d) filtering the dispersion.

27 . Process for the preparation of a coating composition, wherein the process comprises the steps:

a) providing the polyaniline according to claim 1 ,

b) producing a dispersion from the polyaniline and a dispersant, and

c) filtering the dispersion.