Patent ID: 6437024
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: C07D,C08G

Abstract:
A process to recover at least one polar organic compound and at least one modifier from a quench process reaction mixture comprising high molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide), low molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide), cyclic and linear poly(arylene sulfide) oligomers, at least one polar organic compound, at least one modifier, and an alkali metal halide by-product, said process comprising:1) contacting said quench process reaction mixture with additional polar organic compound at a temperature sufficient to dissolve substantially all of said low molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide) and cyclic and linear oligomers to produce a quench process polar organic compound-rich mixture; 2) separating said quench process polar organic compound-rich mixture to produce a quench process solid stream and a quench process liquid stream; wherein said quench process solid stream is in a substantially solid form and comprises said high molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide), polar organic compound, a portion of said modifier compound, and a portion of said alkali metal halide by-product; wherein said quench process liquid stream is in a substantially liquid form and comprises substantially all of said low molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide) and cyclic and linear poly(arylene sulfide) oligomers, polar organic compound, and a portion of said modifier compound; 3) contacting said quench process solid stream with methanol to produce a quench process methanol-rich poly(arylene sulfide) product mixture; and 4) separating said quench process methanol-rich poly(arylene sulfide) product mixture to produce a high molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide) product and a recycle mixture; wherein said recycle mixture comprises methanol, polar organic compound, and modifier compound; 5) separating said recycle mixture in a first separation zone to yield methanol and a recycle feedstock mixture; wherein said recycle feedstock mixture comprises polar organic compound and modifier compound.