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Effect of supercritical CO 2 on bulk hydrogenation of nitrile butadiene rubber catalyzed by RhCl(PPh 3 ) 3
Author(s) -
Li Guanghui,
Pan Qinmin,
Rempel Garry L.,
Ng Flora T.T.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.200351412
Subject(s) - catalysis , solubility , supercritical fluid , polymer , nitrile , dissolution , nitrile rubber , natural rubber , acetone , hydrogen , chemical engineering , chemistry , materials science , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
The effect of supercritical (SC) CO 2 on the bulk hydrogenation of NBR entrapped with the catalyst (RhCl(PPh 3 ) 3 ) was investigated under various reaction times, reaction temperatures, hydrogen pressures and loadings of the catalyst and the thicknesses of the polymer films. CO 2 helps in improving the transport behaviour of catalyst in polymer matrices, as well as helping to move catalyst into or out of the polymer. A method for the measurement of the dissolution extent or the apparent solubility of the Rh based catalyst in SC‐CO 2 was developed. It is found that high temperatures and high SC‐CO 2 densities would enhance the apparent solubility. Cosolvents, such as acetone, are also found to increase the apparent solubility. Details on the hydrogenation process are also presented.