Abstract: Provided is a composition with partially aromatic polyester polymers having an It.V. of at least 0.50 dL/g, produced in an ester exchange melt phase process, having from zero or greater than zero to less than 5 ppm titanium, from zero or greater than zero to less then 10 ppm germanium, and from zero or greater than zero to less than 20 ppm manganese.

Abstract: A polyester polymer comprising alkylene arylate units, said polymer having an It.V. of at least 0.72 dl/g, a vinyl ends concentration of at least 0.8 microequivalents per gram, an AA generation rate of less than 20 ppm are prepared by addition of a catalyst deactivator either late in the polycondensation or upon remelting of a solid polyester polymer.

Abstract: Polymer blends suitable for packaging are disclosed that include one or more impact modifiers; and one or more polyethylene terephthalate homopolymers or copolymers obtained by a melt phase polymerization using a catalyst system comprising aluminum atoms in an amount, for example, from about 3 ppm to about 60 ppm and one or more alkaline earth metal atoms, alkali metal atoms, or alkali compound residues in an amount, for example, from about 1 ppm to about 25 ppm, in each case based on the weight of the one or more polyethylene terephthalate homopolymers or copolymers The polymer blends disclosed exhibit improved low temperature toughness compared with blends made using polymers prepared with conventional catalyst systems.

Abstract: A polyester composition containing: a) aluminum atoms; and b) alkaline earth atoms or alkali metal atoms or alkali compound residues such as lithium atoms; and c) particles comprising titanium, zirconium, vanadium, niobium, hafnium, tantalum, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, iron, or nickel atoms or combinations thereof, where the particles improve the reheat rate of the polyester composition. The polyester polymer compositions may also contain phosphorus catalyst deactivators/stabilizers. The polyester compositions and the articles made from the compositions such as bottle preforms and stretch blow molded bottles have improved reheat rate while maintaining low haze, high L*, a b* below 3, and have low levels of acetaldehyde. In the process for making the polyester polymer, the polymer melt is polycondensed in the presence of a) and b), with the particles c) added in a melt phase process or added to the polymer in an injection molding machine or extruder.

Abstract: Disclosed are process and apparatus for vertical splitting of the oxygen supply to a post-oxidation reactor. Further disclosed are process and apparatus for supplying reaction medium to a post-oxidation reactor at a mid-level inlet. Such apparatus and process can assist in reducing oxygen pinch throughout the post-oxidation reactor.

Abstract: Polyester compositions, especially polyethylene terephthalate homopolymer and copolymers, are disclosed containing titanium catalysts and catalyst deactivator added late in the manufacturing processing having reduced acetaldehyde generation rates. The polyester compositions are low in free acetaldehyde, making them suitable for fabrication into beverage containers for relatively tasteless beverages such as bottle water. Furthermore, the polyesters are polymerized to a high inherent viscosity in reduced processing time, without the necessity of further polymerization in the solid state, and in the absence of acetaldehyde scavengers leading to polyester polymers having reduced color.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for use in producing a low-moisture carboxylic acid wet cake. Such a low-moisture wet cake can comprise less than about 12 weight percent liquid and can be achieved by washing a carboxylic acid wet cake in a product isolation zone with a wash stream having an initial temperature of at least about 40° C.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.

Abstract: A stable catalyst solution suitable for catalyzing the polycondensation of reactants to make polyester polymers comprising: (i) M, wherein M is represented by an alkaline earth metal or alkali metal and (ii) aluminum metal and (iii) a polyhydroxyl solvent having at least 3 carbon atoms and at least two primary hydroxyl groups, the longest carbon chain being a hydrocarbon; such as 1,3-propane diol, 1,4-butane diol, 1,5-pentane diol, or combinations thereof, wherein the molar ratio of M:Al ranges from 0.75:1 to less than 1.5:1. The catalyst solution is desirably a solution which does not precipitate upon standing over a period of at least one week at room temperature (25° C.-40° C.), even at molar ratios of M:Al approaching 1:1. There is also provided a method for the manufacture of the solution, its feed to and use in the manufacture of a polyester polymer, and polyester polymers obtained by combining certain ingredients or containing the residues of these ingredients in the composition.

Abstract: A method for the production of solid polyester polymer particles comprising: a) polycondensing a molten polyester polymer composition in the presence of a polycondensation catalyst composition comprising antimony species; b) continuing the polycondensation of the molten polyester polymer composition to an It.V. of 0.68 dL/g or more; and c) after reaching an It.V. of 0.68 dL/g or more, adding a catalyst stabilizer or deactivator to the polymer melt; and d) after reaching an It.V. of 0.68 dL/g or more, solidifying the melt into solid polyester polymer particles which do not contain organic acetaldehyde scavengers. In a further embodiment, after solidification of the polyester from the melt phase polycondensation process: e) the amount of residual acetaldehyde in the particles in the solid state is reduced to a level of 10 ppm or less without increasing the It.V. of the particles by more than 0.03 dL/g.

Abstract: A process for removing metal species from a composition comprising contacting: a. an oligomer mixture stream comprising the monomers of a partially aromatic polyester polymer and at least one metal species, or b. a molten polyester polymer stream comprising partially aromatic polyester polymers and at least one metal species, with a non-catalytic porous material in the presence of hydrogen to produce a treated stream containing a reduced amount of at least one metal species. There are provided compositions comprising a partially aromatic polyester polymer having an It.V. of at least 0.50 produced in a direct esterification melt phase process, from greater than 0 to less than 50 ppm antimony, and less than 40 ppm cobalt, or produced in an ester exchange melt phase process, having from greater than zero to less than 5 ppm titanium and less than 10 ppm manganese.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.

Abstract: A polyester production process employing an esterification system that utilizes a horizontally elongated esterification vessel as an esterification reactor and/or a vapor-liquid disengagement vessel.

Abstract: The process relates improving terephthalic acid purge filtration rate by controlling % water in filter feed slurry and to the recovery of a metal catalyst from an oxidizer purge stream produced in the synthesis of carboxylic acid, typically terephthalic acid, while utilizing pressure filtration.

Abstract: A polyester composition containing: a) aluminum atoms; and b) alkaline earth atoms or alkali metal atoms or alkali compound residues such as lithium atoms; and c) particles comprising titanium, zirconium, vanadium, niobium, hafnium, tantalum, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, iron, or nickel atoms or combinations thereof, where the particles improve the reheat rate of the polyester composition. The polyester polymer compositions may also contain phosphorus catalyst deactivators/stabilizers. The polyester compositions and the articles made from the compositions such as bottle preforms and stretch blow molded bottles have improved reheat rate while maintaining low haze, high L*, a b* below 3, and have low levels of acetaldehyde. In the process for making the polyester polymer, the polymer melt is polycondensed in the presence of a) and b), with the particles c) added in a melt phase process or added to the polymer in an injection molding machine or extruder.

Abstract: A process for crystallizing a polyester polymer by introducing a molten polyester polymer, such as a polyethylene terephthalate polymer, into a liquid medium at a liquid medium temperature greater than the Tg of the polyester polymer, such as at a temperature ranging from 100° C. to 190° C., and allowing the molten polyester polymer to reside in the liquid medium for a time sufficient to crystallize the polymer under a pressure equal to or greater than the vapor pressure of the liquid medium. A process flow, underwater cutting process, crystallization in a pipe, and a separator are also described.

Abstract: A melt phase process for making a polyester polymer melt phase product by adding an antimony containing catalyst to the melt phase, polycondensing the melt containing said catalyst in the melt phase until the It.V. of the melt reaches at least 0.75 dL/g. Polyester polymer melt phase pellets containing antimony residues and having an It.V. of at least 0.75 dL/g are obtained without solid state polymerization. The polyester polymer pellets containing antimony residues and having an It.V. of at least 0.70 dL/g obtained without increasing the molecular weight of the melt phase product by solid state polymerization are fed to an extruder, melted to produce a molten polyester polymer, and extruded through a die to form shaped articles. The melt phase products and articles made thereby have low b* color and/or high L* brightness, and the reaction time to make the melt phase products is short.

Abstract: Provided is a composition with partially aromatic polyester polymers having an It.V. of at least 0.50 dL/g, produced in an ester exchange melt phase process, having from zero or greater than zero to less than 5 ppm titanium, from zero or greater than zero to less then 10 ppm germanium, and from zero or greater than zero to less than 20 ppm manganese.

Abstract: A process for producing non-solid-stated polyester polymer particles having one or more properties similar to polyester polymer particles that have undergone solid-state processing.