Recycling Monomer Patents (Class 526/68)
  • Patent number: 8912297
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process for producing low density polyethylene with a dissipation factor less than or equal to 1.48×10?4 radian at 2.47 GHz. The process includes free radical high pressure polymerization of ethylene and separation of the unreacted species from the resultant polyethylene to form a recycle stream. The process further includes purging dissipative components from the recycle stream. The purged recycle stream is then introduced into the polymerization reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Anny Flory, Michael L. Smith, Chester J. Kmiec, Robert F. Eaton, Alfred E. Vigil
  • Patent number: 8906312
    Abstract: An ethylene polymerization system is provided with a quench system and that cools the product mixture entering the separation system with a reduced load on the first compressor of the system. The system includes first and second compressors, a high pressure reactor; a high pressure let down valve through which the product mixture from the high pressure reactor flows, and a separation system that separates gas from the product mixture. The quench system includes a pump having a suction inlet that receives all or substantially all of the low pressure flow of monomer from the first compressor. The system provides quenching of the product stream while allowing the first compressor to be operated at a discharge pressure lower than the suction pressure of the second compressor, thereby conserving energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Jan Clymans
  • Patent number: 8883918
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recycling product streams that have been separated from a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream comprising olefin monomer, olefin co-monomer, hydrocarbon diluent and components such as H2, N2, O2, CO, CO2, and formaldehyde. In accordance with the present process a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream is separated into a) a first side stream comprising hydrocarbon diluent and olefin monomer; b) a second side stream which is substantially hydrogen-free and comprises hydrocarbon diluent and olefin monomer, c) a bottom stream comprising substantially olefin-free hydrocarbon diluent, and d) an overhead vapor stream comprising olefin monomer, hydrocarbon diluent and components such as formaldehyde, H2, N2, O2, CO and CO2. The present process further includes recycling said first and said second side streams in a polymerization process for preparing bimodal polyolefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Total Research & Technology Feluy
    Inventors: Denis Mignon, David Vandewiele, Bernard Van De Schrick, Camille Vercruysse
  • Patent number: 8876942
    Abstract: Various methods and systems for removing particulates from a cycle gas stream, e.g., in a reactor system, are provided. In certain embodiments, the methods are performed in conjunction with a polymerization reactor system such as a gas-phase reactor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Randall L. Force, William J. Blickley, Edward A. Leach, Robert O. Hagerty
  • Patent number: 8877880
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling properties of a polyolefin. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for controlling certain properties of an ethylene-butene copolymer and compositions thereof using isobutylene and/or other C4 components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Bulawa, Periagaram S. Ravishankar, Anthony J. Dias
  • Patent number: 8835576
    Abstract: Provided are processes and systems for recovering hydrocarbons in a vent stream from a polymerization process. The methods and systems may include the recovery of an olefin monomer from a polymerization vent gas using ethylene refrigeration to condense and recover the olefin monomers from the vent gas. In some embodiments, the methods and systems may also include compression and condensation of polymerization vent gas, recompression of ethylene refrigerant, and use of an expander compressor turbine device for ethylene refrigeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventors: Randall L. Force, Donald A. Fischer
  • Patent number: 8829134
    Abstract: A process for transporting a liquid monomer phase which has been withdrawn from a storage vessel and comprises methacrylic monomers to an extent of ?90% by weight, in a tank truck or in a tanker ship, in which the liquid monomer phase is subjected to a separating operation on the route from the storage vessel into the tank of a tank truck or of a tanker ship in order to separate polymer of the monomer present in dissolved form in the liquid monomer phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Joerg Heilek, Ulrich Hammon, Volker Schliephake, Klaus Joachim Mueller-Engel, Till Blum
  • Patent number: 8822609
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for transforming a single reactor line into a double reactor line wherein the existing single reactor line is equipped with a flash tank for separating the solid polymer product from the flash vapor and wherein the vapor is sent to a system of at least two separating columns allowing the separation of its constituents into monomer, diluent and comonomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Total Research & Technology Feluy
    Inventors: Louis Fouarge, Eric Duchesne
  • Patent number: 8765885
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for gas phase polymerisation of olefins. The apparatus includes (a) a reaction zone having a grid at its base, (b) an inlet located in the lower half of the reaction zone for introducing a reaction gas to the reaction zone, (c) an outlet located in the upper half of the reaction zone for removing the reaction gas from the reaction zone, and (d) a solids separation unit having an inlet fluidly connected to the outlet for removing the reaction gas from the reaction zone. The inlet of the solids separation unit is located at a vertical height lower than the outlet for removal of reaction gas from the reaction zone and such that the angle to the horizontal of a straight line drawn between the inlet of the solids separation unit and the outlet for removal of reaction gas from the reaction zone is greater than 20°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ineos Sales (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Andrew David Bell, Kevin Peter Ramsay
  • Patent number: 8722818
    Abstract: Described herein are methods for monitoring and restoring electrical properties of polymerization reactor wall films. The method may comprise using a reactor wall monitor to monitor and determine an electrical property, such as the bed voltage or breakdown voltage, of the wall film. The method may further comprise adding continuity additive to the reactor and/or adjusting the feed rate of continuity additive being added to the reactor in response to the measured electrical property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric J. Markel, William A. Lamberti, Harry W. Deckman
  • Publication number: 20140094575
    Abstract: The present relates to a process for optimizing the recovery of unreacted monomers from a polymerization process, wherein said process comprises the steps of recovering a fluid stream generated by the separation of the polyolefin product from the polymerization fluid comprising unreacted monomers and optionally comonomers; contacting said fluid stream in an absorption zone with a scrub liquid comprising at least one C4-10 hydrocarbons, thereby absorbing at least a portion of the unreacted monomers in said scrub liquid; and withdrawing from said absorption zone (i) a vapor overhead comprising light gas and (ii) an absorber bottoms scrub liquid comprising said C4-10 hydrocarbons and said unreacted monomer; thereby recovering said unreacted monomer in said absorber bottoms scrub liquid comprising said C4-10 hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: TOTAL PETROCHEMICALS RESEARCH FELUY
    Inventors: Bernard Van Der Schrick, Eric Damme
  • Patent number: 8674056
    Abstract: An S,S- and R,R-lactide stream suitable for polymerization is prepared by producing a low molecular weight poly(lactic acid), depolymerizing the low molecular weight poly(lactic acid) to form a mixture of S,S-, R,R- and meso-lactide, and separating meso-lactide from this mixture to form an S,S- and R,R-lactide stream. Meso-lactide is recycled into the process, and shifts the mole fractions of the lactides in the lactide mixture that is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: NatureWorks LLC
    Inventor: Richard Douglas Benson
  • Patent number: 8669334
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the gas phase polymerization of one or more olefin monomers in a fluidized bed reactor in a dry mode or in a (super) condensed mode with a gas stream comprising an inert gas characterized in that the inert gas comprises a mixture of inert components: (1) nitrogen; (2) a gas heat capacity increasing agent (3) a sorption promoting agent and (4) a polymer swelling agent. The inert gas may comprise (1) 5-60% by mol nitrogen (2) 10-90% by mol ethane (3) 1-50% by mol % n-butane and (4) 0.1-10% by mol % n-pentane or iso-pentane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Yahya Banat, Fahad Al-Obaidi, Abdul Kader Malek
  • Patent number: 8658744
    Abstract: An olefin polymerization process comprises gas-phase polymerization of at least one olefin monomer in more than one polymerization zones in one or more polymerization reactors using a high activity catalyst injected in the front end of the reactor to give solid polymer particles. According to the process of the invention, different hydrogen to olefin ratios are controlled and applied to the reactor leading to the production of very different molecular weights and therefore broadening the molecular weight distribution of the polymer produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ineos USA LLC
    Inventors: Mattijs van der Ham, Pierre Sere Peyrigain, William D. Stephens
  • Patent number: 8658745
    Abstract: An olefin polymerization process comprises gas-phase polymerization of at least one olefin monomer in more than one polymerization zones in one or more polymerization reactors using a high activity catalyst injected in the front end of the reactor to give solid polymer particles. According to the process of the invention, different hydrogen to olefin ratios are applied to the reactor leading to the production of very different molecular weights and therefore broadening the molecular weight distribution of the polymer produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: INEOS USA LLC
    Inventors: Ton Kroezen, William D. Stephens, Mattijs van der Ham, Dennis L. McGinn, Pierre Sere-Peyrigain, Dirk Poesen
  • Patent number: 8642827
    Abstract: Processes for the separation of a hydrocarbon-containing feed streams are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy
    Inventor: Bernard Van Der Schrick
  • Patent number: 8618227
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for improving the devolatilization of polymer slurry produced in an olefin polymerization reactor. The process is characterized in that it involves an adjustment of the temperature of the interior surface of the flash line for periodically transferring polymer slurry from the polymerization reactor to a downstream processing unit. In particular, in accordance with the present process, the temperature of the interior surface of the flash line is adjusted to a temperature which is equal to or higher than the softening temperature of the polymer passing through said flash line whereby said temperature is higher in a first half of the length of the flash line than in the remaining length of the flash line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Total Research & Technology Feluy
    Inventors: Lieven Van Looveren, Marc Moers, Mathias Wijffels
  • Patent number: 8609805
    Abstract: The present invention provides a highly efficient process for manufacturing copolyether glycol having a mean molecular weight of from about 650 to about 5000 dalton by polymerization of tetrahydrofuran and at least one alkylene oxide in the presence of an acid catalyst and at least one compound containing reactive hydrogen atoms. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for manufacturing copolyether glycol which comprises recycle to the polymerization reaction step of at least a portion of the oligomeric cyclic ether which is co-produced with the copolyether glycol, said process exhibiting an Space Time Yield value of greater than about 0.9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Invista North America S.A R.L.
    Inventors: Qun Sun, Gary L. Kiser, Robert D. Orlandi
  • Patent number: 8580388
    Abstract: The instant invention provides a composition suitable for stretch hood, method of producing the same, and articles made therefrom. The article according to the present invention comprises a multi-layer film according to the present invention has a thickness of at least 3 mils comprising at least one inner layer and two exterior layers, wherein the inner layer comprises at least 50 weight percent polyethylene copolymer having a melt index less than 2 grams/10 minutes, a density less than or equal to 0.910 g/cm3, a total heat of fusion less than 120 Joules/gram and a heat of fusion above 115° C. of less than 5 Joules/gram, the total heat of fusion of the inner layer less than the heat of fusion of either of the two exterior layers, and wherein the multi-layer film has an elastic recovery of at least 40% when stretched to 100% elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Prashant Mandare, Gregory Bunker, Rajen M. Patel, Yi Jin, Selim Bensason, Mehmet Demirors, Theresa J. Hermel-Davidock, Sarah M. Hayne, Jose E. Ruiz
  • Patent number: 8569433
    Abstract: A manufacturing system for producing polyolefin includes a polymerization reactor, a flash chamber, and a purge column. In certain embodiments, the purge column may receive a solids stream directly from the flash chamber. Further, the purge column may function as a feed tank for an extruder within an extrusion/loadout system. According to certain embodiments, the manufacturing system may be configured to consume less than 445 kilowatt-hours of energy per metric ton of polyolefin produced based on consumption of electricity, steam, and fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Ralph W. Romig, Donald W. Verser, David H. Burns, John H. Tait, Richard Peacock, James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld, Carl W. Fenderson, Anurag Gupta, Dale A. Zellers
  • Patent number: 8569432
    Abstract: A method for producing aqueous polymer dispersions by means of radically initiated emulsion polymerisation, in an aqueous medium, of vinyl ester and ethylene, in series-connected polymerisation reactors, wherein in a first discontinuous polymerisation phase at least some of the reactants are introduced into the first polymerisation reactor and the remainder is added in a metered fashion. The reactor is filled up to more than 90% by volume, and at least 90 wt % of the monomers are reacted; in a second continuous polymerisation phase, the reactants are continuously supplied to the first polymerisation reactor and product is continuously withdrawn, and the product is continuously transferred into a second polymerisation reactor, and in the second polymerisation reactor the polymerisation is continued until at least 98 wt % of the monomers used have reacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Weitzel, Robert Braunsperger
  • Patent number: 8563669
    Abstract: An olefin polymerization reactor is provided with a first cylinder extending vertically; a first tapered cylindrical member placed in the first cylinder, having the inner diameter decreasing progressively downward, and having a gas inlet orifice at a bottom end thereof; a first liquid supplying part supplying a liquid so that the liquid may come into contact with an outer surface of the first tapered cylindrical member; and a gas supplying part supplying an olefin-containing gas through the gas inlet orifice into a first reaction region surrounded by an inner surface of the first tapered cylindrical member and an inner surface of the first cylinder above the first tapered cylindrical member, to form a spouted bed in the first reaction region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hideki Sato, Hiroyuki Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20130274425
    Abstract: This invention relates to processes for increasing the viscosity of an oligomer composition including contacting the oligomer composition comprising one or more vinyl terminated oligomer with a supported mixed metal oxide catalyst; wherein the contacting causes the reaction of the vinyl terminated oligomers; and producing a product oligomer composition having a higher viscosity than the oligomer composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Matthew W. Holtcamp, Donna J. Crowther, Caol P. Huff, Patrick Brant
  • Patent number: 8445606
    Abstract: The invention relates to high pressure tubular reactor olefin polymerization plants having improved specific energy consumption. The plants may be newly constructed or made by de-bottlenecking an existing plant. The tube of the tubular reactor may have improved arrangements for cooling to increase conversion and optimized polymer-recycle gas separation arrangements using a jet pump for recycling unreacted monomer while permitting haze to be maintained. The improved cooling arrangements include a reduced pressure cooling zone forming the tail end of the tube and/or a shortened heating zone for the front feed and allowing more monomer to be fed as a side feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Henri A. Lammens, Tom Van Nuland, Ivo T. Goossens, Roger L. Claessens, Geert Vaes, Paul Jan Clymans
  • Patent number: 8410235
    Abstract: The invention relates to a neutralization process in which at least one ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid is neutralized at least partly with a base and at least one stream of the neutralization is determined continuously, and also to an apparatus for carrying out the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Louis Claessens, Karl J. Possemiers, Ronny De Kaey, Rüdiger Funk
  • Patent number: 8410329
    Abstract: A polyethylene production process, comprising contacting ethylene and a polymerization catalyst under suitable reaction conditions to yield a polymerization product stream, separating a light gas stream from the polymerization product stream, wherein the light gas stream comprises ethane and unreacted ethylene, contacting the light gas stream with an absorption solvent system, wherein at least a portion of the ethylene from the light gas stream is absorbed by the absorption solvent system, removing unabsorbed gases of the light gas stream from contact with the absorption solvent system to form a waste gas stream, and recovering ethylene from the absorption solvent system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: John D. Hottovy, Ted Cymbaluk
  • Patent number: 8372923
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for improving the devolatilization of polymer slurry produced in an olefin polymerization reactor. The process is characterized in that it involves an adjustment of the temperature of the interior surface of the flash line for periodically transferring polymer slurry from the polymerization reactor to a downstream processing unit. In particular, in accordance with the present process, the temperature of the interior surface of the flash line is adjusted to a temperature which is equal to or higher than the softening temperature of the polymer passing through said flash line whereby said temperature is higher in a first half of the length of the flash line than in the remaining length of the flash line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy
    Inventors: Lieven Van Looveren, Marc Moers, Mathias Wijffels
  • Patent number: 8303899
    Abstract: A manufacturing system for producing polyolefin includes a polymerization reactor, a flash chamber, and a purge column. In certain embodiments, the purge column may receive a solids stream directly from the flash chamber. Further, the purge column may function as a feed tank for an extruder within an extrusion/loadout system. According to certain embodiments, the manufacturing system may be configured to consume less than 445 kilowatt-hours of energy per metric ton of polyolefin produced based on consumption of electricity, steam, and fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Ralph W. Romig, Donald W. Verser, David H. Burns, John H. Tait, Richard Peacock, James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld, Carl W. Fenderson, Anurag Gupta, Dale A. Zellers, Penny A. Zellers, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8268941
    Abstract: A process for polymerizing or oligomerising a hydrocarbon includes feeding at a low level a liquid hydrocarbon reactant into a bulk liquid phase comprising polymeric or oligomeric product admixed with a catalyst. The liquid hydrocarbon reactant is allowed to vaporise to form bubbles rising through the bulk liquid phase and to polymerise or oligomerise to form the polymeric or oligomeric product, with the rising bubbles creating turbulence in the bulk liquid phase, thereby mixing the bulk liquid phase. Gaseous components comprising any unreacted vaporised hydrocarbon reactant and any gaseous product that may have formed are withdrawn from a head space above the bulk liquid phase. Liquid phase from the bulk liquid phase is withdrawn to maintain the bulk liquid phase at a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Anton Kleingeld, Craig McGregor, Richard Walsh
  • Publication number: 20120232232
    Abstract: A process for recovery of ethylene from a polymerization product stream of a polyethylene production system, comprising separating a light gas stream from the polymerization product stream, wherein the light gas stream comprises ethane and unreacted ethylene, contacting the light gas stream with an absorption solvent system, wherein the contacting the light gas stream with the absorption solvent system occurs at a temperature in a range of from about 40° F. to about 110° F., wherein at least a portion of the unreacted ethylene from the light gas stream is absorbed by the absorption solvent system, and recovering unreacted ethylene from the absorption solvent system to yield recovered ethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY LP
    Inventors: John D. Hottovy, Ai-fu Chang
  • Patent number: 8217125
    Abstract: A process for producing polyolefins, which includes polymerizing at least one olefin monomer, separating at least a part of the reaction mixture, dividing the separated reaction mixture into a polymer-lean fraction and a polymer-rich fraction, and subjecting at least a part of the polymer-lean fraction to a purification step prior to recycling back to the polymerization of at least one olefin monomer. The obtained polyolefins particularly have a low content of volatile low molecular weight compounds, a low content of low-molecular weight polyolefin waxes and a low content of residues derived from the catalyst employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Amir Kiumars Karbasi, Esa Korhonen, Michiel Bergstra
  • Publication number: 20120161358
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from ethylene glycol (EG), purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and optionally up to 6 mol % comonomer, using a mixed metal catalyst system and comprising the steps of a) esterifying EG and PTA to form diethyleneglycol terephthalate and oligomers (DGT), and b) melt-phase polycondensing DGT to form PET and EG, wherein the catalyst system substantially consists of 70-160 ppm of Sb-compound, 20-70 ppm of Zn-compound, and 0.5-20 ppm of Ti-glycolate as active components (ppm metal based on PET). With this process that applies reduced amount of metal catalyst components PET can be obtained with high productivity, which polyester shows favourable colour and optical clarity, also if recycling of EG is applied within the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: SAUDI BASIC INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Munif Al-Munif, Mummaneni Venkateswara Rao, Zahir Bashir, Suresh Padmanabhan
  • Publication number: 20120157639
    Abstract: A method of making polycarbonate comprises polymerizing, in a melt polymerization reaction, an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a diaryl carbonate in a presence of a polymerization catalyst and producing a by-product vapor stream comprising the dihydroxy compound, the diaryl carbonate and a diaryl carbonate by-product, adding a low vapor pressure compound to the by-product vapor stream to produce a modified by-product vapor stream, introducing the modified by-product vapor stream to a separation unit, removing the volatile diaryl carbonate by-product from the modified by-product vapor stream in the separation unit to form a treated by-product stream and returning the treated by-product stream to the polymerization reaction. Alternatively, the low vapor pressure compound can be added directly to the separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS IP B.V.
    Inventors: Alfredo López Carretero, David Domingo Fuster, Gerardo Hidalgo Llinás, Ignacio Vic Fernández, Miguel Angel Salomón Cheliz
  • Patent number: 8198384
    Abstract: A method for preventing or reducing clogging of a fines ejector in a gas-phase olefin polymerization process is disclosed. The process involves injecting a liquid into the motive gas stream entering the fines ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Westlake Longview Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn Edward Moore, Jeremy Bruce Mann
  • Patent number: 8153754
    Abstract: An equipment for producing polyhydroxycarboxylic acid, includes a ring-opening polymerization apparatus, a liquid phase devolatilizing apparatus, and a drying apparatus, wherein an indirect heat exchanger is connected to a vent gas discharge path of the liquid phase devolatilizing apparatus. The indirect heat exchanger captures a dispersed in-process substance containing hydroxycarboxylic acid cyclic dimers and transfers the substance to the ring-opening polymerization apparatus; a wet condenser and a hot well are connected to a vent gas discharge path of the indirect heat exchanger and that of the drying apparatus, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kamikawa, Toshiaki Matsuo, Naruyasu Okamoto, Kenichiro Oka, Takeyuki Kondo
  • Patent number: 8148481
    Abstract: A method for preparing a reactor for performance of a polymerization reaction, the method including providing at least one seed bed into the reactor; wherein the at least one seed bed includes at least one organometallic compound and polymer particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: F. David Hussein, Mark G. Goode, Michael E Muhle, David A. Yahn, Robert O. Hagerty
  • Patent number: 8143352
    Abstract: A process for fluid phase in-line blending of polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Gabor Kiss, Patrick Brant, Robert Patrick Reynolds, Jr., Robert Charles Portnoy, David B. Dunaway
  • Patent number: 8138283
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for changing the given mean molecular weight Mn in the continuous preparation of polytetrahydrofuran or tetrahydrofuran copolymers, the mono- or diesters of polytetrahydrofuran or of tetrahydrofuran copolymers by polymerizing tetrahydrofuran in the presence of a telogen and/or of a comonomer over an acidic catalyst, wherein a) the molar ratio of telogen to tetrahydrofuran or to tetrahydrofuran and comonomer is changed, b) then the mean molecular weight of at least one sample is determined, c) until the mean molecular weight thus determined differs from the molecular weight to be achieved by the change, the already formed polytetrahydrofuran or the tetrahydrofuran copolymers, the mono- or diesters of polytetrahydrofuran or tetrahydrofuran copolymer is at least partly depolymerized over an acidic catalyst and d) the tetrahydrofuran recovered by depolymerization is recycled at least partly into the polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Rolf Pinkos, Jochen Steiner, Stefan Käshammer, Tobias Wabnitz
  • Patent number: 8128878
    Abstract: A method for preparing polyolefin from alpha-olefin with high productivity using an internal circulating fluidized bed polymerization reactor is disclosed. The method for gas-phase polymerization of alpha-olefin comprising the steps of: supplying circulation gas including one or more alpha-olefins and inert gas into a polymerization reactor; polymerizing the alpha-olefin to polyolefin in two separated polymerization areas in the polymerization reactor; and discharging produced polyolefin from the polymerization reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventors: Sung Woo Kang, Nam Kyu Kim, Young Jae Jun, Man Jung Kim, Kil Su Kim
  • Patent number: 8128877
    Abstract: A manufacturing process for producing polyolefin, having a feed system, a reactor system including at least one polymerization reactor, a diluent/monomer recovery system, a fractionation system, and an extrusion/loadout system having an extruder. The manufacturing process is configured to consume less than 325 kilowatt-hours of electricity per metric ton of polyolefin produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Robert R. McElvain, John D. Hottovy, Ralph W. Romig, Donald W. Verser, David H. Burns, John H. Tait, Richard Peacock, James E. Hein, Scott E. Kufeld, Carl W. Fenderson, Anurag Gupta, Dale A. Zellers, Penny A. Zellers, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8114945
    Abstract: Process for controlling the (co)polymerization of olefins in a continuous polymerization reactor wherein the olefin (co)polymerization is performed in an industrial plant reactor in the presence of a polymerization catalyst characterized in that at least one operating parameter of the plant is controlled by means of a measurement of the chain branching level (CBL) of the produced polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ineos Europe Limited
    Inventors: David Heslop, Eric Osmont
  • Patent number: 8097686
    Abstract: A process for the multistage polymerization of olefins in a sequence of an upstream slurry reactor and a downstream gas-phase reactor, the transfer of polymer from the upstream reactor to the downstream reactor comprising the following steps: a) heating the slurry of polyolefin particles to evaporate the liquid polymerization medium; b) separating the polyolefin particles from the obtained gaseous phase in at least a separation chamber; c) transferring the polyolefin particles to said downstream reactor by means of a couple of lock hoppers working intermittently in parallel, where one of said lock hoppers is continuously filled with the polymer coming from said separation chamber, while simultaneously the other one is continuously pressurized by means of a gas comprising the reaction mixture coming from said downstream reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia s.r.l.
    Inventors: Dorini Maurizio, Giuseppe Penzo, Rinaldi Riccardo
  • Patent number: 8088334
    Abstract: There are disclosed polymerization processes and associated apparatuses. The polymerization processes involve both making a polymeric material in a fluidized bed reactor having a feed distributor and catching a spitwad with a spitwad catcher, and the apparatuses are those corresponding to such processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Westlake Longview Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth Alan Dooley, Don Kent Farrer, Sandra Dorothy Holyfield, Tommy Ray Maddox, II, Glenn Edward Moore, Larry Allen Noble
  • Publication number: 20110313115
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for polymerizing olefins, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting in one or more reactors, in a dense fluid homogeneous polymerization system, olefin monomers having three or more carbon atoms present at 30 weight % or more (based upon the weight of the monomers and comonomers entering the reactor), with: 1) one or more catalyst compounds, 2) one or more activators, 3) from 0 to 50 mole % comonomer (based upon the amount of the monomers and comonomers entering the reactor), and 4) 0 to 40 wt % diluent or solvent (based upon the weight of the polymerization system), at a temperature above the crystallization temperature of the polymerization system and a pressure no lower than 10 MPa below the cloud point pressure of the polymerization system and less than 200 MPa, where the polymerization system comprises the monomers, any comonomer present, any diluent or solvent present, any scavenger present, and the polymer product; (b) forming a reactor effluent comprising a polymer-mo
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Chris B. Friedersdorf, Patrick Brant, Gabor Kiss
  • Patent number: 8080610
    Abstract: A monomer recycle process for fluid phase in-line blending of polymers is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Gabor Kiss, Alan Anthony Galuska, James Richardson Lattner
  • Patent number: 8067509
    Abstract: A process for the polymerization of olefin's, including: introducing an olefin and a polymerization catalyst into a polymerization reactor to form a polyolefin, the polymerization reactor including: a fluidized bed region having a top and a bottom; and a motive bed region; wherein a first end of the motive bed region is fluidly connected to the top of the fluidized bed region; and wherein a second end of the motive bed region is fluidly connected to the bottom of the fluidized bed region; and wherein a diameter of the fluidized bed region is greater than a diameter of the motive bed region; circulating at least a portion of the olefin, the catalyst, and the polyolefin through the fluidized bed region and the motive bed region; maintaining a dense-phase fluidized bed within the fluidized bed region; recovering polyolefin from the fluidized bed region, is provided. A reactor system directed to the process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fathi D. Hussein, Ping Cai, Jose F. Cevallos-Candau, Ian D. Burdett, W. Scott Hamilton, Daniel N. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8067512
    Abstract: Monomer/solvent separation and recycle processes for continuous supercritical, solution and advanced solution polymerization processes for propylene-containing polymers and their blends are provided. The advantageous monomer/solvent separation and recycle process includes heating a polymer-lean recycle stream coming from a gravimetric separator positioned downstream of the reactor to form a heated polymer-lean recycle stream, and subsequently combining the heated polymer-lean recycle stream with the one or more homogenous reactor effluent streams to form a heated reactor effluent mixed stream. The heated reactor effluent mixed stream may then be passed through a pressure let-down valve followed and a gravimetric separator, such as to provide for reduced fouling propensity of the polymer-rich phase and sufficient heating of the polymer-rich phase to be able to pass through the remainder of the processing steps to form a propylene based polymer product without additional heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Gabor Kiss, James Richardson Lattner
  • Patent number: 8063158
    Abstract: There are disclosed polymerization processes and associated apparatuses. The polymerization processes involve both making a polymeric material in a fluidized bed reactor having a feed distributor and catching a spitwad with a spitwad catcher, and the apparatuses are those corresponding to such processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Westlake Longview Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth Alan Dooley, Don Kent Farrer, Sandra Dorothy Holyfield, Tommy Ray Maddox, II, Glenn Edward Moore, Larry Allen Noble
  • Patent number: 8058368
    Abstract: A method for preparing polyolefin from alpha-olefin with high productivity using an internal circulating fluidized bed polymerization reactor is disclosed. The method for gas-phase polymerization of alpha-olefin comprising the steps of: supplying circulation gas including one or more alpha-olefins and inert gas into a polymerization reactor; polymerizing the alpha-olefin to polyolefin in two separated polymerization areas in the polymerization reactor; and discharging produced polyolefin from the polymerization reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Daelim Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Woo Kang, Nam Kyu Kim, Young Jae Jun, Man Jung Kim, Kil Su Kim
  • Patent number: 8058373
    Abstract: A process for polymerization of propylene, optionally ethylene, and further optionally one or more C4-30 ?-olefins and/or one or more conjugated or nonconjugated dienes under continuous, solution polymerization conditions to prepare a high molecular weight polymer or interpolymer, said process comprising conducting the polymerization in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising a hafnium complex of a polyvalent aryloxyether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James C. Stevens, Daniel D. VanderLende