Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A process for preparing an acrylic acid polymer which comprises the steps of reacting at least a portion of the hydroxyl groups of polyvinyl alcohol with formic acid to convert at least a portion of the hydroxyl groups of the polyvinyl alcohol to an intermediate containing formate groups and bringing the intermediate into contact with activated carbon in the presence of carbon monoxide, a soluble group VIII transition metal catalyst and an alkyl halide promoter to thereby provide a reaction product comprising a polymer wherein the formate groups of the said intermediate are converted to carboxyl groups to thereby provide said acrylic acid polymer, said catalyst being soluble in said intermediate or an organic solvent solution of said intermediate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process for preparing an acrylic acid polymer which comprises the steps of reacting at least a portion of the hydroxyl groups of polyvinyl alcohol with formic acid to convert at least a portion of the hydroxyl groups of the polyvinyl alcohol to an intermediate containing formate groups and bringing the intermediate into contact with activated carbon in the presence of carbon monoxide, a soluble group VIII transition metal catalyst and an alkyl halide promoter to thereby provide a reaction product comprising a polymer wherein the formate groups of the said intermediate are converted to carboxyl groups to thereby provide said acrylic acid polymer, said catalyst being soluble in said intermediate or an organic solvent solution of said intermediate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process as in claim 1, wherein the intermediate is brought into contact with the activated carbon at a temperature within the range of about 200° to about 360° C. and a pressure within the range of about 1500 to about 2100 psig.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process as in claim 2, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol is reacted with a molar excess of formic acid, based on the hydroxyl groups in the polyvinyl alcohol, to thereby provide a polyvinyl formate intermediate product and whereby the final product will comprise poly acrylic acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as in claim 3, wherein polyvinyl formate is brought into contact with the activated carbon in solvent solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
A process which comprises bringing polyvinyl formate into contact with activated carbon having a density of about 0.03 to about 2.5 cm 3 per gram and a surface area of about 200 to about 2,000 m 2 per gram in the presence of carbon monoxide, about 10 to about 1,000 parts per million, based on said polyvinyl formate, of a soluble group VIII transition metal catalyst and about 1 to 20 mol %, based on said polyvinyl formate, of a C 1 to C 12 alkyl iodide promoter under reaction conditions including a temperature in the range of about 200° C. to about 400° C. and a pressure within the range of about 500 to about 4000 psig. to thereby provide a reaction product comprising polyacrylic acid, said catalyst being soluble in said polyvinyl formate or an organic solvent solution of said polyvinyl formate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
144 words
A process which comprises bringing polyvinyl formate into contact with activated carbon having a density of about 0.03 to about 2.5 cm 3 per gram and a surface area of about 200 to about 2,000 m 2 per gram in the presence of carbon monoxide, about 10 to about 1,000 parts per million, based on said polyvinyl formate, of a soluble group VIII transition metal catalyst and about 1 to 20 mol %, based on said polyvinyl formate, of a C 1 to C 12 alkyl iodide promoter under reaction conditions including a temperature in the range of about 200° C. to about 400° C. and a pressure within the range of about 500 to about 4000 psig. to thereby provide a reaction product comprising polyacrylic acid, said catalyst being soluble in said polyvinyl formate or an organic solvent solution of said polyvinyl formate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as in claim 5, wherein the halide promoter is iodomethane and the group VIII transition metal catalyst is a nickel catalyst.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process as in claim 6, wherein the nickel catalyst is nickel iodide.