Hydrogenation of Epoxidized Natural Rubber in Latex Stage

Abstract

Hydroxyl groups can be introduced in hydrogenated natural rubber by hydrogenation of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR). The ENR was prepared by epoxidation of high ammonia natural rubber with peracetic acid followed by deproteinization in the latex stage. Hydrogen gas in the presence of PdCl₂ as a catalyst was used as the hydrogenation agent in the latex stage. The resulting product was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Under suitable reaction conditions, 90.7% of the double bonds could be converted. The content of residual double bond was 5.6% and the hydroxyl group content was 1.5%.