A simple method of polyamine purification

Abstract

A simple procedure for the large-scale purification of commercial polyethyleneamines (H₂N[CH₂CH₂NH]_nH where n = 2-5) is described in which the per- tosylate salt separates as a crystalline solid from aqueous solution. The salts require no further purification except for pentaethylenehexamine (n = 5), which requires recrystallization from water. The free bases are regenerated from the tosylate salt by an anion-exchange resin.