Abstract: This invention relates to a self cleaning reactor and to a process for the oligomerization of ethylene that employs a self-cleaning reactor. The reactor includes a mass of inert, particulate cleaning bodies that are entrained by the liquid in the reactor and scour the internal surfaces of the reactor during normal operation. This scouring action reduces the level of fouling on the reactor surfaces. Foulant material (polyethylene) is removed from the process on a continuous basis but the cleaning bodies remain within the reactor.

Abstract: A method is presented of thermal decomposition to crack ethane and/or higher alkane hydrocarbon feed or the mixture of any of these hydrocarbons to break down into component elements or simpler constituents using heat from a hot metal agent from a chemical looping combustion process.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to ethylene interpolymer product having intermediate branching. Intermediate branching was defined as branching that was longer than the branch length due to comonomer and shorter than the entanglement molecular weight (Me). Intermediately branched ethylene interpolymer products were produced in a continuous solution polymerization process employing an intermediate branching catalyst formulation. Intermediately branched ethylene interpolymer products were characterized by a Non-Comonomer Index Distribution (NCIDi), a melt index from 0.3 to 500 dg/minute, a density from 0.858 to 0.965 g/cm3, a polydispersity (Mw/Mn) from about 2 to about 25 and a CDBI50 from about 10% to about 98%. A method based on triple detection cross fractionation chromatography (3D-CFC) was disclosed to measure NCIDi.

Abstract: A Biaxially Oriented Polyethylene (BOPE) process uses a selected polyethylene having a medium density and a very broad molecular weight distribution. The use of this selected polyethylene facilitates stretching in the BOPE process in comparison to previously used polyethylene resins having a higher density and/or a narrower molecular weight distribution.

Abstract: An interpolymer product comprising: a first ethylene interpolymer comprising ethylene and an ?-olefin having a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of greater than 250,000 and a density of less than 0.930 g/cm3, and a second ethylene interpolymer comprising ethylene and an ?-olefin wherein the second ethylene interpolymer comprises a Mw of less than 70,000 and a density of greater than 0.930 g/cm3; and wherein the interpolymer product comprises an environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR), measured according to ASTM D1693, Condition B, 10% IGEPAL CO-630, of greater than 90 hours. The interpolymer product may be manufactured in a continuous solution polymerization process utilizing at least two reactors employing at least one single site catalyst formulation and at least one heterogeneous catalyst formulation.

Abstract: A process, a system, and an apparatus for separation of an oxygenate from a stream is provided. More specifically, a stream comprising the oxygenate is introduced to a quench tower along with a caustic outlet stream comprising a metal salt. Contact between the oxygenate and the metal salt results in conversion of a portion of the oxygenate into a derivative salt. The derivative salt and unconverted oxygenate are condensed by quenching and substantially removed from the quench tower as an oxygenate outlet stream. The gaseous components of the stream, minus a substantial portion of the oxygenate, are removed from the quench tower as a quench outlet stream.

Abstract: The copolymerization of ethylene with an optional comonomer is conducted in the presence of a catalyst having a specific aryloxy ether ligand structure. The process enables very high conversions of ethylene to polyethylene at very short residence times when conducted under conditions of pressures of at least 10.3 MPa and high ethylene feed concentrations of from 70 to 150 grams per liter. Using these polymerization conditions, the level of unsaturation may be controlled by the polymerization temperature: for example, a level of 0.09 vinyl groups per 1000 carbon atoms was observed at a polymerization temperature of 160° C. and a level of 0.22 vinyls per 1000 carbon atoms was observed at 220° C.

Abstract: A process, a system, and an apparatus are provided for converting a lower alkane to an alkene. Oxygen and the lower alkane are provided to an ODH reactor to convert at least a portion of the lower alkane to an alkene. An ODH stream comprising the alkene, an oxygenate, steam, and a carbon-based oxide is produced. The bulk of the oxygenate is removed from the ODH outlet stream by non-dilutive cooling, with residual oxygenate being removed using dilutive quenching with a carbonate. Subsequently, separation of the carbon-based oxide from the alkene is achieved using a caustic tower, which also produces spent caustic in the form of a carbonate, which is then used as the carbonate for dilutive quenching. Dilutive quenching using a carbonate allows conversion of the oxygenate to an acetate, which can then be used to simplify separation of the oxygenate from water.

Abstract: Multilayer Films have a first skin layer that is prepared from a high density polyethylene and a second skin layer (also referred to as the sealant layer) that is prepared from a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) having a density of from 0.90 to 0.92 g/cc and a Dilution Index, Yd, of greater than 0°. Seals can be prepared by placing two pieces of this film against each other such that the sealant layers are in contact with each other, then applying heat to at least one high density skin layer such that heat is transmitted/conducted through the multilayer film in a sufficient amount to melt the sealant layer and form a seal. The use of LLDPE having a Dilution Index of greater than 0° has been found to improve the sealing performance of multilayer films in comparison to multilayer films where the sealant layer is a conventional LLDPE having a Dilution Index of less than 0°.

Abstract: The copolymerization of ethylene with an optional comonomer is conducted in the presence of a catalyst having a specific aryloxy ether ligand structure. The process enables very high conversions of ethylene to polyethylene at very short residence times when conducted under conditions of pressures of at least 10.3 MPa and high ethylene feed concentrations of from 70 to 150 grams per liter.

Abstract: Provided in this disclosure are oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts that include a mixed metal oxide having the empirical formula: Mo1.0V0.12-0.49Te0.05-0.17Nb0.10-0.20Od wherein d is a number to satisfy the valence of the oxide. The oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst is characterized by having XRD diffraction peaks (2? degrees) at 22±0.2, 27±0.2, 28.0±0.2, and 28.3±0.1. The disclosure also provides methods of making the catalysts that include wet ball milling.

Abstract: The use of a flow conditioner improves the performance of an electromagnetic system to detect metal contamination in a polymer stream at high flow rates.

Abstract: A process, a system, and an apparatus for separation of an oxygenate from a stream is provided. More specifically, a stream comprising the oxygenate is introduced to a quench tower along with a caustic outlet stream comprising a metal salt. Contact between the oxygenate and the metal salt results in conversion of a portion of the oxygenate into a derivative salt. The derivative salt and unconverted oxygenate are condensed by quenching and substantially removed from the quench tower as an oxygenate outlet stream. The gaseous components of the stream, minus a substantial portion of the oxygenate, are removed from the quench tower as a quench outlet stream.

Abstract: A method of converting one or more alkanes to one or more alkenes that includes a) providing a first stream containing one or more alkanes and oxygen to an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor; b) converting at least a portion of the one or more alkanes to one or more alkenes in the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor to provide a second stream exiting the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor containing one or more alkanes, one or more alkenes, oxygen, carbon monoxide and optionally acetylene; and c) providing the second stream to a second reactor containing a catalyst that includes a group 11 metal to convert a least a portion of the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and reacting the acetylene.

Abstract: A dual reactor solution process gives high density polyethylene compositions containing a first ethylene copolymer and a second ethylene copolymer and which have good processability, toughness, and environmental stress crack resistance. The polyethylene compositions are suitable for the preparation of rotomolded parts.

Abstract: A polyethylene composition which when made into a film layer having a thickness of about 1 mil exhibits a machine direction (MD) 1% secant modulus of ?190 MPa and an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of ?650 cm3 per 100 inch2 per day, and when made into a film layer having a thickness of about 2 mil exhibits a seal initiation temperature (SIT) of ?100° C. and an area of hot tack window (AHTW) of ?160 Newtons·° C.

Abstract: Provided in this disclosure are catalyst compositions. The catalyst compositions include an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst that includes a mixed metal oxide having the empirical formula: Mo1.0V0.12-0.49Te0.05-0.17Nb0.10-0.20AlcOd wherein c is from 0 to 2.0 and d is a number to satisfy the valence of the oxide. The compositions are at least 40 wt. % amorphous as measured by XRD. The disclosure also provides methods of making the compositions.

Abstract: A polymer suitable for use in a thin film hinge (living hinge) comprising from about 0.1 to about 5 weight % of a C4-8 comonomer and the balance ethylene, said composition having a density as determined according to ASTM D 792 from about 0.945 to about 0.965 g/cm3; a melt index as determined according to ASTM D1238 (2.16 kg/190° C.) from about 10 to about 20 g/10 min; a weight average molecular weight (Mw) from about 45,000 to about 55,000 g/mol; a polydispersity from about 2.5 to about 3.1 and when molded into a strip having a length of about 13 cm and gross thickness from about 50 to about 70 mil (about 1 to about 2 mm) and completely bent over end to end four times to create a thinned region or crease having a thickness from about 15 to about 30 mil (about 0.3 to about 0.7 mm) tested by bending and releasing the deformed thinned region of the strip through a radius of curvature from about 180 to about 190° about a rounded plate goes through not less than 500 cycles without breaking.

Abstract: A polyethylene composition which when made into a film layer having a thickness of about 1 mil has a machine direction (MD) 1% secant modulus of ?200 MPa and an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of ?600 cm3 per 100 inch2 per day and when made into a film layer having a thickness of about 2 mil has a seal initiation temperature (SIT) of ?90° C. and an area of hot tack window (AHTW) of ?160 Newtons·° C.

Abstract: A multilayer film having Machine Direction Orientation (MDO) is prepared by first co-extruding a multilayer film, then stretching the multilayer film in the machine direction at a temperature lower than the melting point of the polyethylene resin that is used to prepare the film. At least one layer of the film is a first polyethylene composition having a density of from about 0.94 to about 0.97 g/cc and at least one second layer is prepared from a polyethylene composition having a lower density than the first polyethylene composition. This disclosure enables the manufacture of films having outstanding barrier properties (low Water Vapor Transmission Rate, WVTR, and low Oxygen Transmission Rate, OTR) and good physical properties.