Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions which may undergo thermolysis to produce a higher purity acrylic acid product. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the compositions comprise polypropiolactone and one or more active salts. The one or more active salts may catalyze thermolysis of the polypropiolactone so that the polymer depolymerizes into acrylic acid monomers. Certain concentrations of the one or more active salts result in higher purity acrylic acid products of thermolysis. In certain preferred embodiments, the one or more active salts include an acrylate group which may decompose under thermolysis to provide acrylic acid and thus decrease the concentration of undesirable contaminants in the acrylic acid product. In certain preferred embodiment, the one or more active salts comprise sodium acrylate.

Abstract: Reactor systems and processes produce organic acids through thermolysis of polylactones. The reactor systems and processes introduce at least one epoxide reagent and carbon monoxide reagent to at least one reaction vessel through at least one feed stream inlet. The epoxide reagent and carbon monoxide reagent contact at least one carbonylation catalyst to produce at least one beta-lactone intermediate. The beta-lactone intermediate is polymerized with at least one initiator in the presence of a metal cation to produce at least one polylactone product. The polylactone product is heated under thermolysis conditions to produce at least one organic acid product. The processes control the presence of contaminates, impurities, catalytic materials, and/or reagents to provide for highly pure organic acid products.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions which may undergo thermolysis to produce a higher purity acrylic acid product. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the compositions comprise polypropiolactone and one or more active salts. The one or more active salts may catalyze thermolysis of the polypropiolactone so that the polymer depolymerizes into acrylic acid monomers. Certain concentrations of the one or more active salts result in higher purity acrylic acid products of thermolysis. In certain preferred embodiments, the one or more active salts include an acrylate group which may decompose under thermolysis to provide acrylic acid and thus decrease the concentration of undesirable contaminants in the acrylic acid product. In certain preferred embodiment, the one or more active salts comprise sodium acrylate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions which may undergo thermolysis to produce a higher purity acrylic acid product. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the compositions comprise polypropiolactone and one or more active salts. The one or more active salts may catalyze thermolysis of the polypropiolactone so that the polymer depolymerizes into acrylic acid monomers. Certain concentrations of the one or more active salts result in higher purity acrylic acid products of thermolysis. In certain preferred embodiments, the one or more active salts include an acrylate group which may decompose under thermolysis to provide acrylic acid and thus decrease the concentration of undesirable contaminants in the acrylic acid product. In certain preferred embodiment, the one or more active salts comprise sodium acrylate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reactor systems and processes for producing organic acids through thermolysis of polylactones. In preferred embodiments, the reactor systems and processes are capable of introducing at least one epoxide reagent and carbon monoxide reagent to at least one reaction vessel through at least one feed stream inlet; contacting the at least one epoxide reagent and carbon monoxide reagent with at least one carbonylation catalyst to produce at least one beta-lactone intermediate; polymerizing the at least one beta-lactone intermediate with at least one initiator in the presence of a metal cation to produce at least one polylactone product; and heating the at least one polylactone product under thermolysis conditions to produce at least one organic acid product. Advantageously, the processes of the present invention may control the presence of contaminates, impurities, catalytic materials, and/or reagents to provide for highly pure organic acid products.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reactor apparatus and processes for thermolysis of polypropiolactone to produce highly pure acrylic acid. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the processes comprise introducing a feed stream comprising polypropiolactone to a thermolysis process vessel through an inlet; maintaining a concentration of active salt by adding and removing portions of active salt by at least one inlet and at least one outlet; heating the thermolysis process vessel; and recovering a product including acrylic acid from an outlet. In certain preferred embodiments, the active salt may be present as a catalyst used for polymerization of the polypropiolactone in the feed stream. In some embodiments, one or more active salts may be added to the feed stream and/or the thermolysis process vessel.