Patent ID: 9493391
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: C07C,C07D,C08G,Y02P

Claim Text:
1. A continuous method of making poly(3-hydroxy propionic acid) from ethylene oxide, the method comprising steps of: reacting the contents of a feed stream comprising ethylene oxide, a solvent, a carbonylation catalyst and carbon monoxide to produce a liquid reaction product stream comprising beta-propiolactone and a carbonylation catalyst; separating at least a portion of the beta-propiolactone in the reaction product stream from the carbonylation catalyst to produce a liquid catalyst recycling stream comprising carbonylation catalyst; polymerizing at least a portion of the separated beta-propiolactone to produce poly(3-hydroxy propionic acid); and adding the liquid catalyst recycling stream to the feed stream.