Abstract: The present disclosure describes a polypropylene resin composition useful for the preparation of buried structures such as corrugated, non-pressure pipe.

Abstract: A polypropylene resin, useful for the production of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film, is provided. The polymer of the present invention is a blend of high crystalline polypropylene homopolymer and a high ethylene ethylene/propylene random copolymer (RCP). The present invention also provides a method of preparing the novel resin as well as a novel BOPP film comprising the resin.

Abstract: A polypropylene resin, useful for the production of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film, is provided. The polymer of the present invention is a blend of high crystalline polypropylene homopolymer and a high ethylene ethylene/propylene random copolymer (RCP). The present invention also provides a method of preparing the novel resin as well as a novel BOPP film comprising the resin.

Abstract: A polypropylene resin, useful for the production of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film, is provided. The polymer of the present invention is a blend of high crystalline polypropylene homopolymer and a high ethylene ethylene/propylene random copolymer (RCP). The present invention also provides a method of preparing the novel resin as well as a novel BOPP film comprising the resin.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high melt flow rate high crystallinity polypropylene homopolymer. The present invention likewise describes a bulk polymerization process using a Ziegler-Natta catalyst to produce the high melt flow rate high crystallinity polypropylene homopolymer according to the invention.

Abstract: High melt flow rate high crystallinity polypropylene homopolymer are produced in a bulk polymerization process using a Ziegler-Natta catalyst containing a combination of two internal electron donors and selected external donors. The high melt flow rate, high crystallinity polypropylene homopolymers produced according to the current invention display improved flexural modulus and tensile yield stress when nucleated.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an improved clarity, low haze, low melt flow rate homopolymer polypropylene and thermoformed parts therefrom using an additive package such that the additive package alone provides the improved qualities, and process adjustments at the thermoforming stage are not required. The additive package does not contain a phosphite antioxidant, and the homopolymer polypropylene is either virgin material or virgin material mixed with at least 25 percent reground homopolymer polypropylene of the improved formulation described herein and combined with the improved clarity additive package.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polyolefin having a melt flow rate of 20 dg/min or higher at 230° C. is produced in reactor without visbreaking. By controlling ratio of the weight average molecular weight of the xylene soluble fraction to the weight average molecular weight of the xylene insoluble fraction, a high melt flow thermoplastic polyolefin can be produced having a good balance of impact and stiffness, tensile elongation at break and gloss properties. Optionally, the ratio of the melt flow rate of the homopolymer phase to the melt flow rate of the total thermoplastic polyolefin can also be controlled. By compounding thermoplastic polyolefins according to the current invention with one or more modifiers, additional compositions can be produced having improved resistance to solvents.

Abstract: A process for producing propylene homopolymers comprises producing a homopolymer in a reactor train having a first stage and a second stage, wherein the first stage is normally used for homopolymer production and the second stage is normally used only in the production of copolymer blends, and is left idle during homopolymer production. According to the invention, during the production of propylene homopolymer, the polymerization is carried out sequentially in both the first stage and second stage reactors.

Abstract: A paintable impact copolymer composition is produced by in-reactor blending of a xylene insoluble polypropylene fraction and a xylene soluble ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) fraction. The composition comprises from about 5 wt. % to about 50 wt. % a xylene-soluble portion and from about 50 wt. % to about 95 wt. % a xylene-insoluble portion. The ratio of the weight average molecular weight of said xylene-soluble portion to that of said xylene-insoluble portion is from about 0.5 to about 1.8. The intrinsic viscosity of said xylene-soluble portion is from about 0.5 to about 7.0 dL/g. The xylene-soluble portion comprises from about 30 to about 70 mole percent ethylene units.

Abstract: Products from the decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) are recovered by distillation. The majority of the undesirable by-product acetol (hydroxyacetone) is removed from the phenol stream by distillation wherein the majority of the acetol is carried with an overheads stream comprising acetone, cumene and alphamethylstyrene (AMS). Acetol is subsequently separated from acetone by distillation wherein acetone is taken as an overheads stream and acetol remains with a bottoms stream comprising cumene, AMS and phenol. The acetol, along with residual phenol, is extracted from the cumene and AMS by counter-current washing with an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide. The phenol stream is then distilled to separate phenol from cumene, alphamethylstyrene and higher boiling compounds. The phenol, containing only a small amount of acetol, can then be treated to remove methylbenzofuran by treatment with an acidic resin or solid superacid catalyst without formation of significant amounts of additional methylbenzofuran.

Abstract: A process for decomposing a cumene oxidation product mixture containing cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) and dimethylphenyl carbinol (DMPC) to produce phenol, acetone and alpha-methyl styrene (AMS) with enhanced safety of operation and reduced by-product formation which comprises the steps: mixing the cumene oxidation product in a stirred or back-mixed reactor with an acid catalyst, with 10 to 100 percent acetone relative to the amount of acetone produced during the decomposition reaction, and with up to 4 weight percent additional amounts of water relative to the reaction mixture, at an average temperature between about 50° C. and about 90° C. for a time sufficient to lower the average CHP concentration of the reactor to between about 0.2 and about 3.0 weight percent, and wherein a portion of DMPC is converted to dicumyl peroxide (DCP); then reacting the reaction mixture from step (a) at a temperature between about 120° C. and 150° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for in-process handling of concentrated cumene hydroperoxide (“CHP”) in a process for the production of phenol and acetone by the decomposition of CHP. The method of the present invention makes use of a tube and shell type heat exchanger as a vessel to accumulate a working volume of concentrated CHP from a distillation unit. Concentrated CHP is then fed to a decomposer unit from the accumulated working volume. Use of a tube and shell type heat exchanger improves safety over designs that make use of an unmodified tank or drum.

Abstract: A process for purifying glycerin recovered as a byproduct of biodiesel production comprises heating a glycerin effluent stream containing a low molecular weight alcohol, water and fatty acid esters of the low molecular weight alcohol to cause transesterification of the fatty acid esters to glycerides and additional low molecular weight alcohol. The reaction mixture is sparged with nitrogen to help remove water and low molecular weight alcohol, which drives the transesterification reaction towards glyceride formation. A wash water stream may also be added to the recovered glycerin stream from biodiesel production. Either before or following the transesterification reaction, an oil layer can be separated from the recovered glycerin stream by reducing the pH of the stream to below 7. Following separation of the oil layer and transesterification the glycerin stream is flash distilled to separate glycerin from water, salts, and glycerides.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the use of water, rather than cumene, as a more environmentally acceptable diluent for purified cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) solutions. From 1 to about 6 weight percent water can be used to dilute purified CHP solutions, thus reducing or eliminating the use of a hazardous compound, cumene, as a diluent. The method and CHP-water solutions of the present invention should significantly reduce or eliminate the hazardous emissions problems encountered with the use of cumene as a diluent and make CHP solutions more environmentally acceptable to produce, transport and use. Water as a diluent also depresses the freezing point of the resultant solution, thereby permitting year-round use of higher concentration CHP solutions. Water diluted CHP solutions will also reduce cumene-related impurities in finished products made therefrom.

Abstract: Significant amounts of soluble fluoride, known to create problems in processes requiring high quality grade calcium chloride, are removed from calcium chloride solution using hydroxyapatite as a removal mechanism. Under acidic conditions, calcium chloride solution is purified to about less than 10 ppm fluoride, significantly, to less than 1 ppm fluoride. At least 0.1 weight percent hydroxyapatite and concentrated hydrochloric acid are added to calcium chloride solution and slurried to remove fluoride and create a highly purified calcium chloride solution, substantially free of fluoride.

Abstract: A method is provided for the efficient, low cost removal of acetol from a phenol stream. The method results in removal of substantially all of the acetol from the phenol stream without the formation of substantial amounts of additional methylbenzofuran. The method also avoids the use of expensive reagents and capital intensive distillation equipment.

Abstract: A method is provided for the efficient, low cost removal of acetol from a phenol stream. The method results in removal of substantially all of the acetol from the phenol stream without the formation of substantial amounts of additional methylbenzofuran. The method also avoids the use of expensive reagents and capital intensive distillation equipment.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of a very low melt viscosity (high melt flow index) polymer resin, suitable for use in spunbond or meltblown processing. According to the process of the current invention, a high melt viscosity (low melt flow index) resin is subjected to post-reactor molecular weight alteration by extrusion with a chemical prodegradant. The process produces a very low melt viscosity resin that can be used in spunbond or meltblown processing without further treatment to reduce the average molecular weight of the resin. Further, the very low melt viscosity resins produced according to the process of the current invention contain very little or no residual prodegradant.

Abstract: Synthetic hydrotalcites of the general formula [M2+1?xM3+x(OH)2]x+[An?x/n.mH2O]x? where M2+ is a divalent cation, M3+ is a trivalent cation and An? is an organic anion selected from straight chain carboxylates of C16-C18 acids, carboxylates of aromatic acids, carboxylates of acrylic acid, unsaturated carboxylates of methacrylic acid and unsaturated carboxylates of vinylacetic acid are disclosed, along with methods of synthesis and uses.