| PATENT NUMBER | This data is not available for free |
| PATENT GRANT DATE | December 1, 1998 |
| PATENT TITLE |
Purification of polyphosphazene polyacids |
| PATENT ABSTRACT |
A method for purification of a polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof in which a polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof is dissolved in a concentrated aqueous solution of a salt of monovalent ions. The resulting aqueous solution of the polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof and the at least one salt of monovalent ions then is diluted to reduce the concentration of the at least one salt of monovalent ions, whereby the polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof is precipitated. The precipitated polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof then is recovered. |
| PATENT INVENTORS | This data is not available for free |
| PATENT ASSIGNEE | This data is not available for free |
| PATENT FILE DATE | May 14, 1997 |
| PATENT REFERENCES CITED |
Ikegami et al., J. Polymer Sci., vol. 36, pp. 133-152 (1962). Axelos et al., Macromolecules, vol. 27, pp. 6594-6602 (1994). |
| PATENT CLAIMS |
What is claimed is: 1. A method for purification of a polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof, comprising: a. dissolving said polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof in an aqueous solution of at least one salt of monovalent ions, wherein said salt of monovalent ions is present in said aqueous solution in an amount of at least 10% by weight; b. diluting said aqueous solution of said polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof and said at least one salt of monovalent ions, such that the concentration of said salt of monovalent ions is less than that in step (a), thereby precipitating said polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof; and c. recovering said precipitated polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one salt of monovalent ions is sodium chloride. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said sodium chloride is present in said solution in step (a) in an amount at from about 10% by weight to about 16% by weight. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein said sodium chloride is present in said solution in step (a) in an amount of from about 14% by weight to about 16% by weight. 5. The method of claim 2 wherein said sodium chloride is present in said solution in step (b) in an amount of from about 4% by weight to about 10% by weight. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said polyphosphazene polyacid is poly ›di(carboxylatophenoxy) phosphazene!. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous solution of at least one salt of monovalent ions further includes a base. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said base is a hydroxide of a Group I element. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said base is potassium hydroxide. 10. The method of claim 7 wherein said base is present in said aqueous solution at a concentration of at least 2 mole/l. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| PATENT DESCRIPTION |
This invention relates to the purification of polyphosphazene polyacids or acid salts thereof. More particularly, this invention relates to the purification of polyphosphazene polyacids or acid salts thereof by dissolving the polyphosphazene polyacid in a concentrated solution of a salt of monovalent ions, followed by precipitating the polyphosphazene polyacid or salt thereof by diluting the concentrated solution of the salt of monovalent ions. Polyorganophosphazenes are polymers with backbones consisting of phosphorus and nitrogen atoms separated by alternating single and double bonds. (--N.dbd.P--). Each phosphorus atom is bonded covalently to two organic side groups such as alkoxy, aryloxy, and alkylamino. Side groups provide polyorganophosphazenes with properties that make them useful in a variety of applications, such as, for example, flame retardant and conductive materials elastomers, and biomaterials. (Allcock, "Polyphosphazenes," in Inorganic Polymers, Mark, et al., eds., Prentice Hall, New Jersey, pgs. 61-139 (1992)). Polyphosphazene polyelectrolytes are polyphosphazenes that have ionized or ionizable side groups that render the polyphosphazene anionic, cationic, or amphiphilic. The ionic groups may be acids, bases, or salts. Such groups also may be dissociated at least partially. Polyphosphazene polyacids are polyphosphazene polyelectrolytes that contain acid groups or acid salt groups. Any ion may be used as a counterion of the salt. Such ions include, but are not limited to, sodium, potassium, ammonium, chloride, and bromide. Polyphosphazene polyacids also may contain non-ionic side groups. Polyphosphazene polyacids may be employed as biomaterials, membranes, or controlled release and drug delivery systems. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,494,673, issued to Andrianov, et al., and 5,529,777, issued to Andrianov, et al., disclose that poly ›di (carboxylatophenoxy) phosphazene!, or PCPP, may be used as an immunoadjuvant and is an excellent material for microencapsulation. Polyorganophasphazenes may be prepared by macromolecular substitution of a reactive intermediate, such as poly (diclorophosphazene) with a wide range of chemical reagents or mixtures of reagents in accordance with methods known to those skilled in the art. The reaction mixture, in general, is heterogenous, and the final product may be contaminated with raw materials and reaction by-products, such as alkali metal salts. Thus, a need exists for an effective and simple process for polyphosphazene purification. Although methods for purification of polyphosphazenes have been described, most of these methods were developed for water-insoluble uncharged polyphosphazenes, and are based upon the solubility of these polymers in organic solvents and insolubility in aqueous solutions. Examples of such methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,806, issued to Juneau; U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,311, issued to Elefritz; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,656, issued to Longo, et al. Such methods, however, are not applicable in the case of water-soluble polyphosphazene polyelectrolytes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,246, issued to Chang, et al., discloses the purification of water soluble polyphosphazene by heating a polyphosphazene solution to precipitate the polymer and recovering the precipitate. This method, however, is limited to polyetheroxy substituted polyphosphazenes having lower critical solubility temperatures. U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,574, issued to Chambrette, et al., teaches that aqueous solutions or suspensions of polyphosphazenes can be purified by contacting the solution or suspension with semi-permeable membranes. This method, however, requires the use of complex equipment, and is difficult to employ with polyelectrolytes and polymers having high molecular weights. U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,451 issued to Allcock, et al., discloses the purification of poly ›di(carboxylatophenoxy) phosphazene!, or PCPP, in aqueous solution using dialysis, and by precipitating the polymer with hydrochloric acid. The PCPP then is isolated by centrifugation, and the isolated PCPP is vacuum dried. The acid precipitation, however, provides a low content of polymer in the final product in that such acid precipitation is inefficient in removing some of the reaction by-products, such as, for example, p-hydroxybenzoic acid. In addition, the dialysis portion of the purification is time-consuming and difficult to scale up. This method also results in the isolation of PCPP in its acid form, which is insoluble in aqueous solutions of neutral pH and should be converted to the salt form by additional treatment of PCPP with base prior to use. It is therefore an object of the present invention to purify polyphosphazene polyacids or acid salts thereof such that there is provided an increased yield of the purified product, and to reduce the contamination of the polyphosphazene polyacid with raw materials or reaction by-products. The present invention is not time-consuming and does not require the use of elaborate equipment. The present invention also can yield polyphosphazene polyacids in their acid salt forms. Such acid salts of polyphosphazene polyacids are water soluble. The present invention thus eliminates the need for an additional step whereby the polyphosphazene polyacid is treated with base. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for the purification of a polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof. The method comprises dissolving the polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof in an aqueous solution of at least one salt of monovalent ions. The at least one salt of monovalent ions is present in the aqueous solution at a concentration which is sufficient to dissolve the polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof. The aqueous solution of the polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof and the at least one salt of monovalent ions then is diluted, thereby reducing the concentration of the at least one salt of monovalent ions. As the concentration of the at least one salt of monovalent ions is diluted, the polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof is precipitated from the solution. The precipitated polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt thereof then is recovered. In general, polyelectrolytes, including polyacids, are soluble in dilute salt solutions, but can be precipitated in solutions of higher salt concentration. (Ikegami, et al., J. Pol. Sci., Vol. 36, pgs. 133-152 (1962)). This effect, also known as "salting out," is a result of shielding or screening of repulsive interactions between the same type (i.e. positive or negative) of electrical charges along the polymer backbone with ions from the added salt at a high salt concentration, which causes collapse of the relatively hydrophobic polymer chain. Typical aqueous polymer/salt systems are described in Axelos, et al., Macromolecules, Vol. 27, pgs. 6594-6602 (1994). In general, in such two-phase systems, the polymer is in the form of a precipitate at a high salt concentration, and in solution at a low salt concentration. The solubility of polyphosphazene polyacids in aqueous salt solutions at salt concentrations higher than those at which the polyphosphazene polyacids are precipitated initially cannot be predicted from typical aqueous polymer/salt systems. Thus, applicants have found unexpectedly that polyphosphazene polyacids or acid salts may be dissolved in aqueous salt solutions at salt concentrations higher than those at which the polyphosphazene polyacids are precipitated initially. In general, the at least one salt of monovalent ions is present in an initial concentration that is sufficient to provide for dissolution of the polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt. In one embodiment, the at least one salt of monovalent ions is present in the aqueous solution at a concentration of at least 10% by weight, up to the concentration of a saturated solution. Preferably, the at least one salt of monovalent ions is present in the aqueous solution at a concentration of from about 10% to about 16% by weight, and more preferably from about 14% to about 16% by weight. Salts of monovalent ions which may be employed include, but are not limited to, salts of Group I elements, and in particular sodium salts. Such sodium salts include, but are not limited to, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium nitrate, sodium sulfate, and the sodium salt of hydroxybenzoic acid. Other salts of monovalent ions which may be employed include, but are not limited to, ammonium salts. In a preferred embodiment, the salt of monovalent ions is sodium chloride. The aqueous solution which includes at least one salt of monovalent ions may, one embodiment, further include a base. The base may be present at a concentration of at least 2 mole/l, preferably at about 3 mole/l. Bases which may be employed include, but are not limited to, hydroxides of Group I elements, such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Polyphosphazene polyacids or acid salts thereof which may be dissolved in the aqueous solution include, but are not limited to, those which include side groups of carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid salts or sulfonic acid or sulfonic acid salts. In one embodiment, the polyphosphazene polyacid is poly ›di(carboxylatophenoxy) phosphazene!, or poly ›bis(carboxylatophenoxy) phosphazene!, or PCPP. In general, the polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt may be present in the solution at any concentration, preferably from about 0.1% by weight to about 5% by weight. Upon dissolving the polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt in the aqueous solution, the solution is diluted with water or an aqueous solution of a salt of monovalent ions, having a low concentration of such salt, such that the concentration of the salt of monovalent ions is lower than the initial concentration of the salt of monovalent ions. The concentration of the salt of monovalent ions is lowered such that the polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt precipitates from the solution. The concentration of the salt of monovalent ions to which the solution is reduced is dependent upon the salt employed. In general, the aqueous solution is diluted such that the concentration of the salt of monovalent ions is less than 14% by weight, preferably from about 4k to about 10% by weight. Upon precipitation of the polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt from the solution, the polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt then may be recovered by means known to those skilled in the art, such as, for example, by filtration or decantation. The recovered polyphosphazene polyacid or acid salt is readily soluble in neutral aqueous solutions. The invention now will be described with respect to the drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a phase diagram for a system formed by mixing solutions of PCPP, sodium chloride, and potassium hydroxide, wherein the concentration of potassium hydroxide is 3 mole/l.; and FIG. 2 is an HPLC profile for samples of PCPP obtained by the purification process of the present invention (Sample A) and by acid precipitation (Sample B). |
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| PATENT PHOTOCOPY | available on request |
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