Patent ID: 8034986

Claim:
A process of reducing the content of occluded bromine in at least one particulate brominated diphenyl alkane compound, the alkylene bridge between the two pentabromophenyl groups contains in the range of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein such compound was prepared by a process including bromination in a liquid phase consisting essentially of excess bromine, has a total bromine content of at least about 60 wt % and contains an initial amount of occluded bromine in an amount greater than 105 ppm, which process comprises heating for a period of at least about 1 hour, a concentrated agitated slurry consisting essentially of such decabrominated diphenyl alkane compound(s), in an inert organic liquid diluent at one or more temperatures in the range of about 60° C. up to the temperature that is just below the temperature at which thermal decomposition of said at least one particulate decabrominated diphenyl alkane compound begins to occur, the occluded bromine content of the resultant solids being reduced to a final amount of occluded bromine in the process, the amount of dissolved brominated organic compound being treated in the process not exceeding about 5 wt % in the slurry at any time during said period, without grinding or milling such compound during said heating in order to reduce its particle size, wherein said final amount of occluded bromine is in the range of from about 0 to about 105 ppm.