SULFONATED NATURAL RUBBER COPOLYMER, METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME AND CATALYST CONSISTING OF THE COPOLYMER, USED FOR ESTERIFICATION REACTION IN WATER

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new sulfonated natural rubber copolymer produced by a simple process by using a main raw material without giving an environmental load and useful as a catalyst for promoting an esterification reaction in water in a good efficiency. SOLUTION: This sulfonated natural rubber copolymer having sulfonic acid groups in its side chains is obtained by sulfonating a deproteinized natural rubber-styrene-based copolymer, preferably a copolymer obtained by graft-polymerizing a styrene-based monomer with the deproteinized natural rubber. The copolymer can be produced e.g. by deproteinizing the natural rubber in a latex state, graft-polymerizing the styrene-based monomer and then sulfonating in an organic solvent. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT