A process for reducing the amount of soluble polymeric fractions in a sulfonyl fluoride polymer. The process comprises contacting the sulfonyl fluoride polymer with a fluorinated fluid followed by separation of the polymer from the fluid. The fluorinated fluid is selected from hydrofluoroethers and hydrofluoropolyethers. The invention further relates to sulfonyl fluoride polymers obtainable by the process and having a heat of fusion not exceeding 4 J/g and containing less than 15% by weight of polymeric fractions having an average content of monomeric units comprising a sulfonyl functional group exceeding 24 mole %. The sulfonyl fluoride polymers so obtained are particularly suitable for the preparation of ionomeric membranes for use in electrochemical devices.

A process for reducing the amount of soluble polymeric fractions in a sulfonyl fluoride polymer. The process comprises contacting the sulfonyl fluoride polymer with a fluorinated fluid followed by separation of the polymer from the fluid. The fluorinated fluid is selected from hydrofluoroethers and hydrofluoropolyethers. The invention further relates to sulfonyl fluoride polymers obtainable by the process and having a heat of fusion not exceeding 4 J/g and containing less than 15% by weight of polymeric fractions having an average content of monomeric units comprising a sulfonyl functional group exceeding 24 mole %. The sulfonyl fluoride polymers so obtained are particularly suitable for the preparation of ionomeric membranes for use in electrochemical devices.

The present invention is concerned with a reactive surfactant composition for emulsion polymerization, which is able to micronize the particle diameter of a polymer emulsion and to reduce the addition amount of the reactive surfactant composition to be used. The reactive surfactant composition for emulsion polymerization of the present invention contains a reactive anionic surfactant (component A) represented by the following formula (I): ##STR00001##
wherein AO represents an alkyleneoxy group having a carbon number of 3 or more and 18 or less; EO represents an ethyleneoxy group; p represents an integer of 1 or more and 15 or less; m′ represents an integer of 0 or more; n′ represents an integer of 0 or more; M.sup.+ represents a hydrogen ion or a cation; and plural kinds of AOs may coexist.

The present invention is concerned with a reactive surfactant composition for emulsion polymerization, which is able to micronize the particle diameter of a polymer emulsion and to reduce the addition amount of the reactive surfactant composition to be used. The reactive surfactant composition for emulsion polymerization of the present invention contains a reactive anionic surfactant (component A) represented by the following formula (I): ##STR00001##
wherein AO represents an alkyleneoxy group having a carbon number of 3 or more and 18 or less; EO represents an ethyleneoxy group; p represents an integer of 1 or more and 15 or less; m′ represents an integer of 0 or more; n′ represents an integer of 0 or more; M.sup.+ represents a hydrogen ion or a cation; and plural kinds of AOs may coexist.

Poly(sulfonic acid)s including a multiplicity of sulfonic acid units separated by alkylene units in a polymer chain or a copolymer chain, the poly(sulfonic acid) having a degree of crosslinking in a range of from about 0.1 to about 30 percent. Methods of preparing poly(sulfonic acid)s having improved mechanical integrity. The methods may include synthesizing a poly(sulfonic acid) by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization and reacting a plurality of double bonds afforded by the ADMET polymerization with a crosslinker. The crosslinking reaction may achieve a degree of crosslinking in a range of from about 0.1 to about 30 percent.

Poly(sulfonic acid)s including a multiplicity of sulfonic acid units separated by alkylene units in a polymer chain or a copolymer chain, the poly(sulfonic acid) having a degree of crosslinking in a range of from about 0.1 to about 30 percent. Methods of preparing poly(sulfonic acid)s having improved mechanical integrity. The methods may include synthesizing a poly(sulfonic acid) by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization and reacting a plurality of double bonds afforded by the ADMET polymerization with a crosslinker. The crosslinking reaction may achieve a degree of crosslinking in a range of from about 0.1 to about 30 percent.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a polymer-functionalized particle for using in isolating and extracting solutes, such as rare earth metals, lithium, and the like. The polymer-functionalized particles exhibit strong resistance to agglomeration and degradation even in high ionic strength and/or temperature environments. A post-particle synthesis method for making the polymer-functionalized particle is disclosed, along with a magnetic separation device and that can be used in system embodiments to facilitate use and regeneration of the polymer-functionalized particles in solute extraction.

The present invention is concerned with a reactive surfactant composition for emulsion polymerization, which is able to micronize the particle diameter of a polymer emulsion and to reduce the addition amount of the reactive surfactant composition to be used.

The reactive surfactant composition for emulsion polymerization of the present invention contains a reactive anionic surfactant (component A) represented by the following formula (I), the component A being satisfied with the following requirement R:

##STR00001## wherein AO represents an alkyleneoxy group having a carbon number of 3 or more and 18 or less; E represents an ethyleneoxy group; p represents an integer of 1 or more and 15 or less; m represents an integer of 0 or more; n represents an integer of 0 or more; M.sup.+ represents a hydrogen ion or a cation; and plural kinds of AOs may coexist.

Requirement R: An average addition molar number m of AO is a number of 1 or more and 50 or less; an average addition molar number n of EO is a number of 0 or more and 200 or less; and when in the component A, a component having an addition molar number of AO of (m3) or less is defined as (component A-1), and a component having an addition molar number of AO of (m+2) or more is defined as (component A-2), X in the following formula (I) is less than 30, provided that when m is less than 3, (m=0) is defined as (component A-1):

X={(molar number of component A-1)+(molar number of component A-2)}(molar number of component A)100(I).

The present invention is concerned with a reactive surfactant composition for emulsion polymerization, which is able to micronize the particle diameter of a polymer emulsion and to reduce the addition amount of the reactive surfactant composition to be used.

The reactive surfactant composition for emulsion polymerization of the present invention contains a reactive anionic surfactant (component A) represented by the following formula (I), the component A being satisfied with the following requirement R:

##STR00001## wherein AO represents an alkyleneoxy group having a carbon number of 3 or more and 18 or less; E represents an ethyleneoxy group; p represents an integer of 1 or more and 15 or less; m represents an integer of 0 or more; n represents an integer of 0 or more; M.sup.+ represents a hydrogen ion or a cation; and plural kinds of AOs may coexist.

Requirement R: An average addition molar number m of AO is a number of 1 or more and 50 or less; an average addition molar number n of EO is a number of 0 or more and 200 or less; and when in the component A, a component having an addition molar number of AO of (m3) or less is defined as (component A-1), and a component having an addition molar number of AO of (m+2) or more is defined as (component A-2), X in the following formula (I) is less than 30, provided that when m is less than 3, (m=0) is defined as (component A-1):

X={(molar number of component A-1)+(molar number of component A-2)}(molar number of component A)100(I).

The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment of ion imbalances. In particular, the invention provides compositions comprising potassium binding polymers and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Methods of use of the polymeric and pharmaceutical compositions for therapeutic and/or prophylactic benefits are disclosed herein. Examples of these methods include the treatment of hyperkalemia, such as hyperkalemia caused by renal failure and/or the use of hyperkalemia causing drugs.