Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymerization process for producing olefin polymers in a loop reactor comprising two or more settling legs, comprising the steps of: —introducing into the loop reactor one or more olefin reactants, polymerization catalysts and diluents, and while circulating said reactants, catalysts and diluents; —polymerizing said one or more olefin reactants to produce a polymer slurry comprising essentially liquid diluent and solid olefin polymer particles; said process further comprising one or more cycles of: (a) allowing said polymer slurry to settle into said setting legs, and (b) sequentially discharging said settled polymer slurry from said two or more settling legs out of the reactor, whereby the aggregate time of discharge of all the legs is more than 50%, preferentially more than 80% and most preferably more than 95% of the time interval between two triggerings of the same settling leg.

Abstract: Methods and processes for reducing alkylation catalyst poisoning are described herein.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an olefin polymerisation process carried out in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst in two liquid full loop reactors connected in series wherein different molecular weight fractions are produced to form a polyolefin, said process being characterized in that the Ziegler-Natta catalyst has a particle size distribution d50 of less than 20 ?m and greater that 5 ?m.

Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods of forming the catalyst systems are described herein. The methods generally include contacting a support material with an activator to form a support composition, contacting a component with at least a portion of an aluminum containing compound including TIBAl, wherein the component is selected from the support composition, the transition metal catalyst compound and combinations thereof and contacting the support composition with a transition metal catalyst compound to form a supported catalyst system.

Abstract: A random copolymer having improved mechanical toughness and properties suitable for thin wall thermoforming applications is provided. The random copolymer exhibits the following physical properties: a flexural modulus profile having a 2% flexural modulus of about 168,000 psi, a 1% flexural modulus of about 190,000 psi, and a 0.4% flexural modulus of about 199,000 psi; a melt flow rate of at least about 2.0 g/10 min.; and a haze of less than about 40%. The random copolymer preferably comprises a copolymer of ethylene and propylene, wherein the ethylene content is in the range of from about 0.2% to about 0.8% ethylene by weight of the copolymer. The random copolymer also preferably includes a stabilizer and a clarifying agent such as a sorbitol based clarifier or a nucleator. Various articles of manufacture such as thermoformed containers and packaging may be formed from the random copolymer.

Abstract: Catalyst components, methods of forming catalyst compositions, polymerization processes utilizing the catalyst compositions and polymers formed thereby are described herein. The methods generally include providing a magnesium dialkoxide compound, contacting the magnesium dialkoxide compound with a first agent to form a solution of a reaction product “A1”, contacting the solution of reaction product “A1” with a reducing agent to form a reduced reaction product “A2”, contacting reduced reaction product “A2” with a second agent to form a solid reaction product “A3”, contacting solid reaction product “A3” with a metal halide to form reaction product “B” and contacting reaction product “B” with an organoaluminum compound to form a catalyst component.

Abstract: A polypropylene material is provided having increased radiation resistance compared to solely isotactic polypropylene. The material is formed by utilizing a syndiotactic polypropylene. The isotactic polypropylene may be an isotactic metallocene or Ziegler-Natta catalyzed polypropylene and may include an amount of syndiotactic polypropylene. The material may be used in forming a variety of materials that may undergo exposure to radiation, such as sterilization procedures using radiation. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a transition metal olefin polymerization catalyst component characterized by the formula: where, M is a Group IV or a Group IV transition metal, B is a bridge group containing at least two carbon atoms, A? and A? are organogroups, each containing a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen and phosphorus, X is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine, a C1-C20 alkyl group, a C6-C30 aromatic group and mixtures thereof, and n is 1, 2 or 3. The invention also encompasses a method for the polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer which comprises contacting a transition metal catalyst component as characterized by formula (1) above and an activating co-catalyst component in a polymerization reaction zone with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer under polymerization conditions to produce a polymer product.

Abstract: In methods of preparing asphalt and elastomeric polymer compositions crosslinked with phenol aldehyde resins and sulfur, such as polymer modified asphalt (PMA), it has been discovered that the MP1 compatibility may be improved by adding certain ionic metal oxides. Suitable ionic metal salts include, but are not necessarily limited to, zinc oxide, cadmium oxide, and the like. Acceptable elastomeric polymers include, but are not necessarily limited to, styrene-butadiene copolymers. Additional sulfur-containing crosslinkers may also be used.

Abstract: Asphalt and elastomeric polymer compositions crosslinked with mixed polythiomorpholines or at least one alkyl polysulfide can give polymer modified asphalts (PMAs) with improved properties and/or reduced H2S evolution. When at least one alkyl polysulfide is used to completely or partially replace conventional crosslinkers such as S or MBT, mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI) may be optionally used as a co-crosslinker. The use of mixed polythiomorpholines as crosslinkers provide PMAs with better low temperature profiles (BBR m-values). The use of at least one alkyl polysulfide crosslinker gives PMAs with improved PAV-aged DSR results, and reduced H2S evolution. The use of at least one alkyl polysulfide crosslinker together with MBI may give PMAs with improved PAV DSR Fail Temperatures.

Abstract: A branched aromatic ionomer is prepared by co-polymerizing a first monomer having an aromatic moiety and an unsaturated alkyl moiety and a second monomer having an ionic moiety and at least one unsaturated moiety. The ionic moiety may have a cationic group having a valence of +1 or greater. Styrene is among the useful first monomers and sodium methacrylate and zinc dimethacrylate are among the useful second monomers. The branched aromatic ionomers may be used to prepare articles including foamed polystyrene and microwave save dishes and utensils.

Abstract: A process for cracking an olefin-containing hydrocarbon feedstock which is selective towards light olefins in the effluent, the process comprising passing a hydrocarbon feedstock containing one or more olefins through a moving bed reactor containing a crystalline silicate catalyst selected from an MFI-type crystalline silicate having a silicon/aluminium atomic ratio of at least 180 and an MEL-type crystalline silicate having a silicon/aluminium atomic ration of from 150 to 800 which has been subjected to a steaming step, at an inlet temperature of from 500 to 600° C., at an olefin partial pressure of from 0.

Abstract: A process of producing polyethylene, the process comprising copolymerizing ethylene and an alpha-olefinic comonomer comprising from 3 to 8 carbon atoms in the presence of a chromium-based catalyst in a main polymerization reactor and, in a gas-phase preliminary reactor upstream of the main polymerization reactor, chemically treating the chromium-based catalyst with at least one treatment agent prior to introduction of the catalyst into the main polymerization reactor and releasing from the preliminary reactor waste gases produced during the chemical treatment.

Abstract: A process for the disproportionation of toluene over a nickel-modified mordenite catalyst which has been pretreated with mild sulfiding procedure. The sulfur dose is employed in a minor amount relative to the nickel content of the catalyst. The modified mordenite catalyst is contacted with a sulfur-containing compound such as hydrogen sulfide or dimethyldisulfide (DMDS) under pretreatment conditions involving a temperature of at least 100° C. The sulfur-containing compound is employed in a relatively small amount to passivate only a minor portion of the active nickel sites. A toluene-containing feedstock is brought into contact with the pretreated catalyst under conditions effective for the disproportionation of toluene and a disproportionation product is removed from contact with the catalyst. The mordenite catalyst contains nickel in an amount within the range of 0.1-2 wt. %. The catalyst may contain another metal such as palladium or platinum, or a lanthanide series metal such as lanthanum or cerium.

Abstract: A process for the disproportionation of a toluene containing feedstock employing a nickel modified mordenite catalyst comprising particulate mordenite having nickel dispersed throughout the catalyst particles to provide surface nickel and interior nickel within the mordenite crystal structure. The catalyst is pretreated to selectively deactivate the surface nickel to provide a surface nickel content of reduced catalytic activity. The interior nickel thus has a higher catalytic activity than the surface nickel. The feedstock is supplied to a reaction zone containing the catalyst to cause disproportionation of toluene in the feedstock to produce a mixture of benzene and xylene. The non-aromatic content of the product is less than the non-aromatic content of a corresponding disproportionation product which would be produced by the disproportionation of the feedstream in the presence of a corresponding nickel mordenite catalyst which has not been pretreated.

Abstract: Methods and systems for extending the life of a dehydrogenation catalyst are described herein. For example, one embodiment includes providing a reaction vessel loaded with a dehydrogenation catalyst with a feedstream via a conduit in operable communication with the reaction vessel. The feedstream may include an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon and the dehydrogenation catalyst may be adapted to convert the alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon to a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon. The feedstream may be contacted with an aqueous catalyst life extender, wherein the aqueous catalyst life extender enters the conduit at a linear velocity sufficient to prevent vaporization of the catalyst life extender in the conduit prior to contact with the feedstream.

Abstract: Methods and systems for petrochemical feedstream purification are described herein. The methods generally include providing a petrochemical feedstock, wherein the petrochemical feedstock includes a concentration of polar impurities, contacting the petrochemical feedstock with a washing agent to remove at least a portion of the polar impurities therefrom, separating the washing agent from the petrochemical feedstock to form a purified feedstock and passing the purified feedstock to a petrochemical process. In one embodiment, the petrochemical feedstock includes benzene and the washing agent includes water.

Abstract: Methods of modifying crude fractions are described herein. The methods generally include blending a crude fraction with an emissions reducing additive to form a modified crude fraction, wherein the modified crude fraction exhibits reduced sulfur emissions. The emissions reducing additive generally includes a dispersion of a metal oxide.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel non-linear vinyl polymers comprised of a multifunctional peroxide, and a cross-linking agent and/or a chain transfer agent, and methods of making such polymers having: at least 0.03 branches/1000 backbone carbons; linear portions with a molecular weight (Mw) of 350,000 or less; 0.2 to 3.0 branches/molecule; or, a Mz/Mw of from 1.7 to 5.7. Methods of quantifying branching are disclosed using a linear reference having 0.0 to 0.06 branches/1000 backbone carbons along with SEC techniques and measurements of molecular weight, molecular size, and concentration. Also discovered is a vinyl polymer resin comprised of from 0.1 to 50 weight percent of non-linear polymers having at least 0.06 branches/1000 backbone carbons, where branching is measured using a heat polymerized polystyrene having from 0.0 to 0.06 branches/1000 backbone carbons as a linear reference.

Abstract: Process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of a C2 or C3 alkyl aromatic in which a feedstock containing the alkyl aromatic and steam is supplied into the inlet of a tubular reactor containing a dehydrogenation catalyst. Within the reactor, the feedstock flows through at least a portion of the reactor along a spiral flow path extending longitudinally of the reactor. The resulting vinyl aromatic product is then recovered from a downstream or outlet section of the reactor. The spiral flow path through which the feedstock is passed is located at least adjacent the inlet side of the reactor and at least a portion of the spiral flow path contains a particulate dehydrogenation catalyst. The spiral flow path may extend throughout a major portion of the elongated tubular reactor and may contain a particulate dehydrogenation catalyst in a substantial portion there.