IP Library Granted Patent US 9,290,616
Granted Patent B2
US 9,290,616 · App. 14/122,275 · Granted Mar 22, 2016

Solid-phase polymerization method for preparing high-molecular-weight aliphatic polyester

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,290,616
App. No.
14/122,275
Granted
Mar 22, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solid-phase polymerization method of high-molecular-weight aliphatic polyester conducts the solid-phase polymerization of aliphatic polyester prepolymer under a gas stream containing sulfonic acid catalyst. The method features preparing metal free aliphatic polyester with high molecular weight, good color and luster and perfect thermal stability efficiently. The non-metal-ion aliphatic polyester is not only applicable to common use, but is also suitable as high value-added medical material and packing material which contacts with food directly than other metal-containing polyester.

Claims (20)

1. A solid-phase polymerization method of preparing aliphatic polyester comprising a gas stream containing a sulfonic acid catalyst, then flowing the gas stream containing sulfonic acid catalyst into a reactor, and then carrying out solid-phase polymerization of aliphatic polyester prepolymer in the reactor, wherein a concentration Cg of said sulfonic acid catalyst in the gas stream is 0.0001 mmol/L to 1 mmol/L.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said sulfonic acid catalyst is one or multiple of monosulfonic acid of C1-C20 and monosulfonic acid of C1-C20 substituted by halogen.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the concentration Cg of said sulfonic acid catalyst in the gas stream is 0.0005 mmol/L to 0.2 mmol/L.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the concentration Cg of said sulfonic acid catalyst in the gas stream is 0.001 mmol/L to 0.1 mmol/L.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein during the solid-phase polymerization, concentration Cp of sulfonic acid catalyst in aliphatic polyester prepolymer is 10 mmol/L to 350 mmol/L.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein during the solid-phase polymerization, concentration Cp of sulfonic acid catalyst in aliphatic polyester prepolymer is 20 mmol/L to 150 mmol/L.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein concentration Cg of sulfonic acid catalyst in the gas stream during the solid-phase polymerization, concentration Cp of sulfonic acid catalyst in aliphatic polyester prepolymer and partition coefficient Kgp of sulfonic acid catalyst in gas stream and aliphatic polyester prepolymer at a temperature for solid-phase polymerization meet formula (1):

0.1

Cg

CpKgp

10.

(

1

)

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein linear velocity of the gas stream during solid-phase polymerization is 1 cm/s to 200 cm/s.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aliphatic polyester prepolymer contains more than 50 mol % of hydroxy carboxylic acid units.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the aliphatic polyester prepolymer is polylactic acid or polyglycolic acid.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein weight-average molecular weight Mw of said aliphatic polyester prepolymer before and after solid-phase polymerization respectively is 8000 to 30000 and 100000 to 500000; average growth speed of Mw in solid-phase polymerization is greater than or equal to 3500/h.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: NATUREWORKS, LLC
Reel/Frame 072412/0844 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 20, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: NATUREWORKS LLC
Reel/Frame 057873/0985 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2021
From: NATUREWORKS LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 057879/0338 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 16, 2018
From: NATUREWORKS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 045075/0556 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2017
From: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: NATUREWORKS LLC
Reel/Frame 044321/0286 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2013
From: HE, YONG; ZUO, PUJING; YE, ZINONG; AOYAMA, MASATOSHI; ZENG, XIN; FAN, XIANGQUN; DAI, XIAJI; LU, JING
To: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 031727/0757 →