Methods of making rosin esters

Abstract

Provided herein are methods of making rosin esters. The methods can involve contacting a rosin ester with a microporous adsorbent. Treatment with a microporous adsorbent, such as an activated carbon, can improve the color of the rosin ester (e.g., reduce the neat Gardner color of the rosin ester by at least 1 Gardner color unit), reduce the concentration of sulfur in the rosin ester (e.g., reduce the concentration of sulfur in the rosin ester by at least 50 ppm), or combinations thereof. Rosin esters prepared by the methods described herein, as well as methods of using thereof, are also described.

Description

technical field [0001] This application is primarily concerned with methods of making rosin esters. Background technique [0002] Rosin esters, including those derived from polyols, have been known for over 50 years (see, eg, US Patent No. 1,820,265 to Bent et al.). Rosin esters are generally derived from rosin (which is primarily an isomeric C 20 tricyclic monocarboxylic acid) with an alcohol such as glycerol or pentaerythritol. The resulting rosin esters are used as additives in a variety of applications including, for example, as tackifiers in hot melt and pressure sensitive adhesives, modifiers for rubber and various plastics, emulsifiers for synthetic rubbers , the base material for chewing gum, resins in coating compositions such as traffic paints and inks, and sizing agents for papermaking. [0003] While suitable for many applications, many existing rosin esters do not possess suitable properties for particular applications. In particular, many commercially avail...

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[0003] Although suitable for many applications, many existing rosi

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