Effect of supercritical CO2 on bulk hydrogenation of nitrile butadiene rubber catalyzed by RhCl(PPh3)3 |
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| Authors: | Guanghui Li Qinmin Pan Garry L Rempel Flora TT Ng |
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| Institution: | Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada |
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| Abstract: | The effect of supercritical (SC) CO2 on the bulk hydrogenation of NBR entrapped with the catalyst (RhCl(PPh3)3) was investigated under various reaction times, reaction temperatures, hydrogen pressures and loadings of the catalyst and the thicknesses of the polymer films. CO2 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-CO2 was developed. It is found that high temperatures and high SC-CO2 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. |
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| Keywords: | catalysts rubber |
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