Method for removing sodium salts from polyphosphazene polymer solutions

摘要

An improved method for removing sodium salts from mixtures of such salts and polyaryloxyphosphazene or polyalkoxyphosphazene or polyalkoxyaryloxyphosphazene polymer solutions is provided. The method involves first treating the mixture with an acid to neutralize any excess alkoxide or aryloxide. Then, water is added to the mixture to extract the sodium salts therefrom resulting in an at least partial separation of the mixture into a polyphosphazene polymer solution phase and a brine phase comprising water and the sodium salts. Following addition of the water to the mixture, a sulfated fatty acid ester of a natural non-petroleum based oil is added to the mixture to effect a more complete separation of the mixture into the polyphosphazene polymer solution phase and the brine phase. The polyphosphazene polymer solution phase is then separated from the brine phase.