Abstract: The present invention is directed to a membrane for ethanol and aromatics separation that is stable in an alcohol containing environment. The membrane is a polyether epoxy resin having an aliphatic substituted epoxide. The invention also teaches a method to control the flux and selectivity of the membrane.

Abstract: Method of reducing fouling in an elastomer polymerization process that includes providing a reactor capable of housing an industrial-scale elastomer polymerization reaction, and applying a mechanical force to the reactor so as to create a vibration in at least one wall of the reactor, in which fouling is reduced in the reactor. In one embodiment the reaction is an industrial scale butyl polymerization reaction and the reactor is a butyl polymerization reactor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a membrane for ethanol and aromatics separation that is stable in an alcohol containing environment. The membrane is a polyether epoxy resin having an aliphatic substituted epoxide. The invention also teaches a method to control the flux and selectivity of the membrane.

Abstract: Method of reducing fouling in an elastomer polymerization process that includes providing a reactor capable of housing an industrial-scale elastomer polymerization reaction, and applying a mechanical force to the reactor so as to create a vibration in at least one wall of the reactor, in which fouling is reduced in the reactor. In one embodiment the reaction is an industrial scale butyl polymerization reaction and the reactor is a butyl polymerization reactor.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a process and polymerization system to produce isoolefin polymers (72) utilizing polymorphogenates (16, 26) in the catalyst system to control polydispersity (MWD). The disclosure also provides a catalyst system (20) comprising a plurality of active catalyst complex species (34) formed by combination of a Lewis acid (24), an initiator (22) and a polymorphogenate (26), as well as polymers made using the catalyst system or process. The polymorphogenate (16, 26) can promote or mimic the formation of different active catalyst complex species (34) having different polymerization rates, i.e. different rates of propagation, chain transfer, or termination, as observed by different polydispersities resulting from the presence of relatively different proportions of the polymorphogenate.

Abstract: Provided for herein is a process to produce an essentially homogeneous single liquid phase hydrocarbon-rubber cement from a polymer slurry comprising a hydrocarbon-rubber, a diluent, and unreacted monomer(s), the process comprising: (a) contacting the polymer slurry with a hydrocarbon solvent; and (b) removing the diluent in amounts not sufficiently more than is necessary to produce the essentially homogeneous single liquid phase hydrocarbon-rubber cement wherein the mass fraction of monomer(s) in the hydrocarbon-rubber cement, based on the total amount of hydrocarbon-rubber present in the hydrocarbon-rubber cement, is less than the mass fraction of monomer(s) in the hydrocarbon-rubber slurry, based on the total amount of hydrocarbon-rubber present in the hydrocarbon-rubber slurry, wherein the diluent comprises a hydrofluorocarbon.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a membrane for aromatics separation that is stable in an alcohol containing environment. The polymeric membrane is a epoxy amine based membrane.

Abstract: Copolymer are formed by polymerizing C4 to C7 isoolefin monomers and alkyl-styrene monomers. The method comprises first providing feed streams into a reactor. The various feed streams provide monomers, a polar diluent or polar diluent mixture, and a catalyst system into the reactor. In the reactor, the feed streams contact one another so that the monomers form a polymer in a stable slurry, wherein the amount of polymer in the slurry yields a slurry concentration greater than 22 wt %. The ratio of moles of polymer formed per mole initiator is in the range of 0.25 to 4.0 moles polymer per mole of initiator.

Abstract: Methods for producing elastomers or elastomeric compositions are provided. One or more C4 to C7 isoolefins and one or more comonomers can be polymerized in the presence of a diluent comprising one or more hydrofluorocarbons to provide a slurry comprising polymer product, unreacted monomer and the diluent. The slurry can be extruded to separate at least a portion of the diluent from the polymer product. The separated diluent can be recycled for polymerizing the one or more C4 to C7 isoolefins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-line method for generating comonomer from monomer, such as ethylene. The comonomer generated is directly transported, without isolation or storage, to a polyethylene polymerization reactor. The in-line method includes the steps of providing an in-line comonomer synthesis reactor and a downstream gas/liquid phase separator prior to the polymerization reactor; feeding ethylene monomer and a catalyst in a solvent and/or diluent to the comonomer synthesis reactor; reacting the ethylene monomer and the catalyst in solvent and/or diluent under reaction conditions to produce an effluent stream including ethylene monomer and comonomer; passing the effluent stream from the comonomer synthesis reactor to the downstream gas/liquid phase separator to separate a gas stream from a bottom stream, wherein the gas stream is a mixture of ethylene monomer and comonomer; and passing the gas stream to the polymerization reactor to provide the necessary comonomer input.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a process and polymerization system to produce isoolefin polymers (72) utilizing polymorphogenates (16, 26) in the catalyst system to control polydispersity (MWD). The disclosure also provides a catalyst system (20) comprising a plurality of active catalyst complex species (34) formed by combination of a Lewis acid (24), an initiator (22) and a polymorphogenate (26), as well as polymers made using the catalyst system or process. The polymorphogenate (16, 26) can promote or mimic the formation of different active catalyst complex species (34) having different polymerization rates, i.e. different rates of propagation, chain transfer, or termination, as observed by different polydispersities resulting from the presence of relatively different proportions of the polymorphogenate.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a process and polymerization system to produce isoolefin polymers (72) utilizing polymorphogenates (16, 26) in the catalyst system to control polydispersity (MWD). The disclosure also provides a catalyst system (20) comprising a plurality of active catalyst complex species (34) formed by combination of a Lewis acid (24), an initiator (22) and a polymorphogenate (26), as well as polymers made using the catalyst system or process. The polymorphogenate (16, 26) can promote or mimic the formation of different active catalyst complex species (34) having different polymerization rates, i.e. different rates of propagation, chain transfer, or termination, as observed by different polydispersities resulting from the presence of relatively different proportions of the polymorphogenate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymeric aromatic selective membrane comprising an cross linked polyether imide membrane that comprise the reaction of a polyether amine with an dianhydride, and that may be utilized in a process for selectively separating aromatics from a hydrocarbon feedstream comprised of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons and at least one alcohol, typically ethanol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-line method for generating comonomer, such as 1-hexene or 1-octene, from monomer, such as ethylene. The comonomer generated is directly transported, without isolation or storage, to a polyethylene polymerization reactor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a membrane for aromatics separation that is stable in an alcohol containing environment. The polymeric membrane is a epoxy amine based membrane.

Abstract: The method of polymerization includes the steps of a) providing a catalyst system, b) providing at least one monomer or comonomer mixture in a reaction vessel, c) introducing the catalyst into the reaction vessel, and d) polymerizing the at least one monomer or comonomer mixture to produce an isoolefin polymer. The catalyst may be soluble in the diluent used for polymerization. The polymerization contact surfaces of the reaction vessel have an arithmetic average surface roughness of less than 0.3 ?m (12 microinches).

Abstract: The method of polymerization includes the steps of a) providing a catalyst system, b) providing at least one monomer or comonomer mixture in a reaction vessel, c) introducing the catalyst into the reaction vessel, and d) polymerizing the at least one monomer or comonomer mixture to produce an isoolefin polymer. The catalyst may be soluble in the diluent used for polymerization. The polymerization contact surfaces of the reaction vessel have an arithmetic average surface roughness of less than 0.3 ?m (12 microinches).

Abstract: Provided is a method for reducing depositions in polymerization vessels, where the method includes the steps of providing a reaction vessel having polymerization contact surfaces, polishing a majority of the polymerization contact surfaces to have an average percent excess surface areas (SAxs) of 2% or less, introducing a catalyst system and at least one monomer or comonomer mixture in the reaction vessel, and polymerizing the at least one monomer or comonomer mixture. The catalyst may be soluble in the diluent used for polymerization. The method may be useful for low temperature polymerization systems.

Abstract: Methods for producing elastomers or elastomeric compositions are provided. One or more C4 to C7 isoolefins and one or more comonomers can be polymerized in the presence of a diluent comprising one or more hydrofluorocarbons to provide a slurry comprising polymer product, unreacted monomer and the diluent. The slurry can be extruded to separate at least a portion of the diluent from the polymer product. The separated diluent can be recycled for polymerizing the one or more C4 to C7 isoolefins.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a process and polymerization system to produce isoolefin polymers (72) utilizing polymorphogenates (16, 26) in the catalyst system to control polydispersity (MWD). The disclosure also provides a catalyst system (20) comprising a plurality of active catalyst complex species (34) formed by combination of a Lewis acid (24), an initiator (22) and a polymorphogenate (26), as well as polymers made using the catalyst system or process. The polymorphogenate (16, 26) can promote or mimic the formation of different active catalyst complex species (34) having different polymerization rates, i.e. different rates of propagation, chain transfer, or termination, as observed by different polydispersities resulting from the presence of relatively different proportions of the polymorphogenate.