Contacting With Exteriorly Produced Specified Gaseous Agent Other Than Drying, Blanket, Or Carrier Gas Patents (Class 528/483)
  • Patent number: 11603418
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reducing the volatile organic compound (VOC) content of plastomers the process comprising the steps of subjecting the plastomer in granular form containing VOCs which is contained in an aeration vessel to a gasflow, and withdrawing granular plastomer from the aeration vessel which has a lower content of VOCs, wherein the average particle size of the granular plastomer is greater than 2.5 mm, preferably greater than 2.7 mm, more preferably greater than 3.0 mm, wherein the gas has a minimum temperature of at least 26° C. measured at a gas inlet of the aeration vessel, and a maximum temperature of 4° C. below the Vicat temperature (10N, ISO 306) of the granular plastomer or 35° C. measured at the gas inlet of the aeration vessel, whatever value is lower, and wherein at least a part of the withdrawn granular plastomer is recirculated to the aeration vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Borealis AG
    Inventors: Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Michiel Bergstra, Charlotta Weber, Gert Stijnen
  • Patent number: 11578147
    Abstract: In a process for producing an olefin polymer, at least one olefin monomer is polymerized in a polymerization reactor to produce a particulate polymer product containing hydrocarbon impurities including unreacted monomer and other C1 to C8 hydrocarbons. The polymer product is contacted with a gas-containing stream in a stripping vessel under conditions effective to strip hydrocarbon impurities from the polymer product and produce a stripped particulate polymer product and a gaseous first effluent stream containing inert gas and hydrocarbon impurities. The stripped particulate polymer product is recovered and the atmosphere adjacent the stripped particulate polymer product is sensed with a photoionization detector configured to ionize C4 to C8 hydrocarbons. The amount of the gas-containing stream supplied to the stripping vessel is then adjusted based upon such sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Lucas, Philip W. Livanec, Christian T. Lund
  • Patent number: 11447604
    Abstract: A method for removing compounds in the gaseous aggregate state from PLA-containing products in the viscous aggregate state by means of a thin-film evaporator. The compounds may be present in the liquid or solid aggregate state in the products under standard conditions. The invention further relates to a polylactide resin prepared in accordance with the method of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: UHDE INVENTA-FISCHER GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Udo Mühlbauer, Rainer Hagen
  • Patent number: 11390697
    Abstract: Methods for separating gaseous components, such as unreacted hydrocarbon monomer and/or solvent, from polyolefin solids are provided. The methods include contacting a first stream including polyolefin solids and gaseous unreacted hydrocarbon monomer and/or solvent with a first purge gas in a gas-solid separation vessel to separate the gaseous unreacted hydrocarbon monomer and/or solvent from the polyolefin solids to produce a second stream including polyolefin solids substantially free of gaseous unreacted hydrocarbon monomer and/or solvent and a third stream including the gaseous unreacted hydrocarbon monomer and/or solvent. The first purge gas includes hydrocarbon monomer and/or solvent and has a temperature of at least about 70° C. when entering the gas-solid separation vessel. Systems for carrying out such methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin W. Lawson
  • Patent number: 11077585
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system comprising a first pump; a pelletization system that comprises an underwater pelletizer; where the pelletization system is located downstream of the first pump and is in fluid communication with it; a direct line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the direct line does not contain a pump or a heat exchanger; and a bypass line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the bypass line comprises a second pump; where the first pump is operative to discharge the polymer to the pelletization system via the direct line when the polymer has a melt viscosity greater than 105 centipoise; and where the first pump is operative to discharge the polymer to the pelletization system via the bypass line when the polymer has a melt viscosity less than 105 centipoise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Zogg, Jr., Timothy W. Gambrel, Johan Van Leeuwen
  • Patent number: 10953344
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a computer-controlled programmable logic controller (PLC) extraction system for separating an extract from a biomass includes a PLC, a solvent reservoir comprising a solvent that is a gas when the solvent is at a temperature of 25° C. and atmospheric pressure, a plurality of extraction devices comprising the biomass, an extract collection reservoir for collecting the extract, a solvent recovery system, and a temperature controlled circulation system. The circulation system fluidly connects the solvent reservoir, the plurality of extraction devices, the extract collection reservoir, and the solvent recovery system and comprises at least one apparatus for controlling a flow of the solvent. The solvent comprises no more than 1 weight % CO2. A method of extracting an extract from a biomass using a PLC extraction system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: DELTA TEAM HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Joshua A. Hartsel, Michael Hartsel, Robert F. McPherson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10526428
    Abstract: A process, for recovery of unreacted olefin monomer(s) from a particulate product of an olefin polymerization reactor, the particulate polymer product is supplied to a degassing vessel, where the particulate product is countercurrently contacted with at least a first gaseous stripping stream, which includes at least 5% by weight unreacted olefin monomer, and then with an inert gas stream under conditions effective to strip hydrocarbon impurities from the polymer product and produce a stripped polymer product, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Steven P. Haynie
  • Patent number: 10457764
    Abstract: Provided is a modified hydrocarbon resin that provides a hot melt adhesive composition with low odor, excellent heat stability, and high adhesive properties. The modified hydrocarbon resin is obtained by hydrogenating a hydrocarbon resin comprising a plurality of specific monomeric unit in a specific range, and characterized in that: a degree of hydrogenation of the olefins, a degree of hydrogenation of the aromatic rings, a weight average molecular weight (Mw), a Z-average molecular weight (Mz), a ratio (Mz/Mw) of the Z-average molecular weight to the weight-average molecular weight, a Gardner color scale of a toluene solution of 50 mass %, and a difference between pre-hydrogenation and post-hydrogenation mixed aniline point (MMAP) are within the specific range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: ZEON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryoji Kameyama, Sadaharu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10450345
    Abstract: A method for purification of a target in a solution includes providing a target in a solution, the solution comprising one or more contaminants, providing a polymer conjugate in the solution, wherein the polymer conjugate is configured to specifically bind the target, incubating the solution at a first temperature to facilitate binding of the polymer conjugate to the target, providing an environmentally-responsive block copolymer in the solution, wherein the environmentally-responsive block copolymer comprises one or more of an ethylene oxide (EO), a propylene oxide (PO), or an EO/PO block copolymer, and heating the solution comprising the environmentally-responsive block copolymer and the polymer conjugate bound to the target at a second temperature to initiate a liquid-liquid phase separation, wherein the liquid-liquid phase separation produces an aqueous phase and a liquid polymer phase, and wherein the liquid polymer phase comprises the polymer conjugate bound to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Erik Leeming Kvam, Bruce Allan Hay, Ernest William Kovacs
  • Patent number: 10308760
    Abstract: The invention is to provide a polycarbonate resin composition having excellent light resistance, transparency, hue, heat resistance, thermal stability, and mechanical strength. The invention relates to a polycarbonate resin composition which includes a polycarbonate resin at least containing structural units derived from a dihydroxy compound having the portion represented by the following general formula (1) as part of the structure thereof, the polycarbonate resin composition giving a molded object which has a haze of 12 or less as measured in accordance with a specific manner. (The case where the portion represented by the general formula (1) is part of —CH2—O—H is excluded). [Chem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Haruo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9611349
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing an ethylene/alpha-olefin/diene-based elastic copolymer having high viscosity and a high molecular weight, in which energy efficiency of the entire process is optimized. The method of preparing the elastic copolymer includes the steps of: copolymerizing an ethylene/alpha-olefin/diene-based elastic copolymer; and separating and removing the solvent and unreacted monomers from the polymer solution and recovering the elastic copolymer, by sequentially using a gas-liquid separator and a stripper in the purification of the solvent and unreacted monomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Seok Ko, Sung-Cheol Yoon, Sung-Ho Park, Soo-Young Choi
  • Patent number: 9458259
    Abstract: Process for treating polyolefin particles obtained by gas-phase polymerization of one or more olefins in the presence of a polymerization catalyst system and a C3-C5 alkane as polymerization diluent in a gas-phase polymerization reactor, the process comprising the steps of a) discharging the polyolefin particles continuously or discontinuously from the gas-phase polymerization reactor and transferring the particles to a first degassing vessel; b) contacting therein the polyolefin particles with a gaseous stream comprising at least 85 mol-% of C3-C5 alkane while the polyolefin particles have an average residence time in the first degassing vessel of from 5 minutes to 5 hours; c) transferring the polyolefin particles to a second degassing vessel; d) contacting therein the polyolefin particles with a stream comprising nitrogen and steam while the polyolefin particles have an average residence time in the second degassing vessel of from 5 minutes to 2 hours, wherein the contacting is carried out at conditions un
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH
    Inventors: Giuseppe Penzo, Giulia Mei, Gabriele Mei, Antonio De Lucia, Pietro Baita
  • Patent number: 9346191
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for the direct production of polyester granulate from a highly viscous polyester melt with a polymerization degree of 132 to 165, as well as the granulates formed thereform. In the method, the highly viscous polyester melt is subjected to a pre-drying and drying/degassing after a hot cutting method. Hot cutting is implemented at water temperatures of 70° C. to 95° C. and with a liquid to solid ratio of 8 to 12:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignees: UHDE INVENTA-FISCHER GMBH, NORDSON BKG GMBH
    Inventors: Kurt Hanimann, Eike Schulz van Endert, Theodor Anton Bruckmann
  • Patent number: 9284415
    Abstract: Processes are disclosed for oxygen-tailoring polyethylene, particularly polyethylenes suitable for wire and cable applications. One process includes conveying a first polyethylene having a melt index ?5.0 and an MWD ?5.0 through mixing or extrusion apparatus having a feed zone, a melt-mixing zone downstream of the feed zone, and a melt zone downstream of the melt-mixing zone, wherein the temperature of the first polyethylene in the melt zone ranges from about 180° C. to about 300° C.; and contacting the first polyethylene with an amount of an oxygen-containing gas having at least about 20.0 parts by weight oxygen per million per parts by weight of the first polyethylene (ppm (wt) O2). Polyethylene compositions having improved properties, particularly for wire and cable applications are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Gerd A. Allermann, Danny Van Hoyweghen, Steven A. Best, Anthony Poloso, Nicolas M. De Ketelaere
  • Patent number: 9181367
    Abstract: Process for operating a vertical fixed bed degasser which is continuously fed with an active polymer powder produced by a catalytic olefin polymerization process in a polymerization reactor. The polymerization conditions in the degasser are such that there is produced an additional amount of polymer corresponding to between 0.001 and 0.015 times the amount which entered the degasser. The degassing process includes introducing into the degasser a stripping gas containing principal monomer, with the temperature inside the degasser being the polymerization reactor temperature plus or minus 20° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: INEOS EUROPE AG
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Chamayou, Luc Girardot
  • Patent number: 9126353
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to pelletized polyolefin resins. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a process that allows for adjustment of certain desired properties of either the resin, such as modification of the bulk density of resin pellets, or adjustment of properties for the articles made from the resin, such as improved odor and taste properties, when used as a bottle cap, for example, or tailoring of the resin volatile or wax level, when used to make pipe, for example. This disclosure also relates to a system for making pelletized resins, such as mono-modal or multi-modal olefin polymer resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: INEOS OLEFINS & POLYMERS USA
    Inventors: Waseem Rahim, Robert Sander, John Yanosik
  • Patent number: 9012598
    Abstract: A new and efficient method of functionalizing high molecular weight polymers through alkylation using a metal amide base is described. This novel procedure can also be used to synthesize polymer-based macro-initiators containing radical initiating groups at the chain-ends for synthesis of block copolymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Seeo, Inc.
    Inventors: Kulandaivelu Sivanandan, Hany Basam Eitouni, Yan Li, Russell Clayton Pratt
  • Patent number: 8816045
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a latex using a membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Dow Global Technologies LLC, Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Timothy C. Frank, Edward L. Cussler
  • Patent number: 8815970
    Abstract: A method of preparing polyurethane prepolymer does not require using a toxic isocyanate monomer (manufactured by harmful phosgene) as a raw material. Epoxy resin and carbon dioxide are used as major raw materials to form cyclic carbonates to be reacted with a functional group oligomer, and then amino groups in a hydrophilic (ether group) or hydrophobic (siloxane group) diamine polymer are used for performing a ring-opening polymerization, and the microwave irradiation is used in the ring-opening polymerization to efficiently synthesize the amino-terminated PU prepolymer, and then an acrylic group at an end is added to manufacture an UV cross-linking PU (UV-PU) oligomer which can be coated onto a fabric surface, and the fabric is dried by UV radiation for a surface treatment to form a washing-resisted long lasting hydrophilic or hydrophobic PU fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Tamkang University (A University of Taiwan)
    Inventors: Jing-Zhong Hwang, Guei-Jia Chang, Jhong-Jheng Lin, Cheng-Wei Tsai, Shih-Chieh Wang, Po-Cheng Chen, Kan-Nan Chen, Kan-Nan Chen
  • Patent number: 8779015
    Abstract: Provided are a recycling method for industrially, simply and effectively recycling a phenolic body from a phenolic antioxidant which is masked by an organoaluminum compound and contained in an olefin polymer obtained by supplying the masked phenolic antioxidant upon polymerization; and an olefin polymer obtained by this method. In a method for recycling a phenolic antioxidant wherein a phenolic antioxidant which is masked by an organoaluminum compound and contained in an olefin polymer obtained by supplying the masked phenolic antioxidant upon polymerization is recycled to a phenolic body, a nitrogen gas comprising water and/or a proton donor at a volume ratio of 1.0×10?6 to 2.5×10?2 with respect to 1 volume of nitrogen is brought into contact with the olefin polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Adeka Corporation
    Inventors: Naoshi Kawamoto, Tsuyoshi Urushihara, Kohei Okamoto, Tetsuya Seguchi
  • Patent number: 8765842
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing polymeric solids free of auxiliary emulators starting from polymer latices (dispersion), wherein a polymer dispersion with a starting ph-value greater than 9 is set to a ph-value of 6 to 9 by adding gaseous carbon dioxide and the polymer dispersion is subsequently coagulated by shearing and/or freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Achten, Peter Kueker, Jürgen Kempkes, Bianka Lorenz, Werner Obrecht, Annika Stobrawe
  • Patent number: 8748562
    Abstract: A process for producing higher molecular weight polyester includes heating a polyester to form a melt, and applying and maintaining a vacuum of between about 5 mm and about 85 mm of mercury to the melt while passing bubbles of gas through the melt until molecular weight has increased. The process may involve esterification of a diacid component and a diol component at elevated temperature. After the acid functional groups have essentially reacted, a vacuum of about 5 mm of mercury or less was applied and excess diol stripped off during transesterification, thereby increasing molecular weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: AWI Licensing Company
    Inventors: Larry W. Leininger, Dong Tian
  • Patent number: 8703868
    Abstract: Ethanol is produced from methyl acetate by a hydrogenolysis reaction. The methyl acetate is produced as a byproduct during the conversion of a vinyl acetate polymer or copolymer to a polymer or copolymer of vinyl alcohol. By integrating the two processes, a valuable product, i.e. ethanol, is produced from a methyl acetate byproduct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventor: Mark O. Scates
  • Patent number: 8703879
    Abstract: A continuous process for the multistage drying and postcondensation of polyamide pellets in the solid phase comprises 1) carrying out the predrying process in a continuous drying apparatus which is operated in countercurrent mode or in crossflow mode with inert gas or steam, or with a mixture of inert gas and steam, using a pellet temperature in the range from 70 to 200° C., and 2) Carrying out the subsequent continuous postcondensation process in a separate vertical duct with moving bed at a pellet temperature in the range from 120 to 210° C., where the duct is operated in countercurrent mode with inert gas or steam, or with a mixture of inert gas and steam, the inert gas is introduced at least two sites along the duct, and from 15 to 90% of the inert gas is introduced at the base of the vertical duct and from 10 to 85% of the inert gas is introduced in the upper half below the surface of the pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Wolfgang Loth, Faissal-Ali El-Toufaili, Achim Stammer, Gad Kory, Achim Gerstlauer, Jens Becker
  • Patent number: 8697802
    Abstract: Acetic acid is converted to vinyl acetate monomer by a reaction with oxygen and ethylene. The vinyl acetate is polymerized to form a vinyl acetate polymer or copolymer, which is then reacted in a methanolysis reaction with methanol and base to form a polymer or copolymer of vinyl alcohol and a methyl acetate byproduct. Ethanol is produced from methyl acetate by a hydrogenolysis reaction. The hydrogenolysis reaction also produces methanol. At least a portion of this ethanol is converted to ethylene by a dehydration reaction. At least a portion of the ethylene produced in this dehydration reaction is recycled to react with acetic acid and oxygen to form vinyl acetate. By converting a byproduct and by recycle of compositions, a polymer or copolymer of vinyl alcohol is efficiently produced with minimal waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventor: Mark O. Scates
  • Patent number: 8658758
    Abstract: In the production of an aliphatic polyester by ring-opening polymerization of a cyclic ester, at least a latter period of polymerization is proceeded with by way of solid-phase polymerization, and the resultant aliphatic polyester is subjected to removal of residual cyclic ester. As a result, an aliphatic polyester with a minimized content of residual monomer is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kureha Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sato, Fuminori Kobayashi, Yukichika Kawakami, Kazuyuki Yamane, Yoshikazu Amano, Takashi Sato
  • Patent number: 8617765
    Abstract: Ionomeric polymers that are chemically stabilized and contain inorganic fillers are prepared, and show reduced degradation. The ionomers care useful in membranes and electrochemical cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Mark Gerrit Roelofs
  • Patent number: 8486530
    Abstract: A method of reducing a volatile organic compound of composite resin particles comprising the step of: blowing a gas from a bottom part of a container in order to fluidize composite resin particles containing a polyolefin-based resin and a polystyrene-based resin in the container until an amount of volatile organic compounds contained in the whole composite resin particles becomes 50 ppm or less, wherein the gas has a temperature of (T?40) to (T?10)° C. when a softening temperature of the composite resin particles is defined as T° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyasu Matsumura, Shinji Ishida
  • Patent number: 8470082
    Abstract: A system in one embodiment includes a barrier; an inverted cone in the barrier; and a member under the inverted cone and having dimensions that cause solids passing therealong between the member and the barrier to have about a constant velocity profile thereacross. A method for purging a gas from a solid/gas mixture according to one embodiment includes adding solids to a barrier having an inverted cone therein and a member under the inverted cone, wherein the solids passing along the member have about a constant vertical velocity profile thereacross; and injecting a purge gas into the solids from at least one point adjacent the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William J. Blickley, Mark W. Blood, Glenn W. Baldwin
  • Patent number: 8404801
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for removing contaminants from substances are provided. The apparatus includes a treatment vessel, a pump, and a means to suspend a contaminated substance within a flow of a low surface tension solvent. Circuitous piping is provided to cycle the flow of the solvent through the treatment vessel. The methods include exposing a contaminated substance to a flow of low surface tension solvent that removes the contaminant from the substance and transports it away from the substance. In further examples, the pressure and temperature within the processing system can be increased to put the solvent into a supercritical phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Greg Strugalski
  • Patent number: 8324339
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for thermally processing polyester pellets, e.g., polyethylene terephthalate pellets, in order to achieve a partial crystallization, whereby the polyester melt is fed to an underwater pelletizer and pelletized, the pellets obtained are fed to a water/solids separating device and the dried pellets are fed at a pellet temperature of greater than 100°C. to an agitation device that the pellets leave at a pellet temperature of over 100°C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventor: Theodor Bruckmann
  • Patent number: 8299135
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a process for processing post-consumer polymer. The polymer is contacted with a control medium having a carrier gas and a reactive vapor. Such a process is useful for processing post-consumer polymers with lower energy and reactants than with liquid reactants, and also promotes decontamination of the recycled polymer during the reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Bepex International, LLC
    Inventor: Girish Bhatt
  • Patent number: 8283437
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for manufacturing low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The invention also provides methods and systems for preparing macrocyclic polyester oligomer (MPO) from low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate. Finally, the invention provides methods and systems for preparing MPO via reaction of a diol and a dialkyl ester in an organic solvent to form non-isolated, low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate which undergoes cyclization (depolymerization) to form MPO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Cyclics Corporation
    Inventors: Peter D. Phelps, Gary R. Faler
  • Patent number: 8236213
    Abstract: A process for producing a perfluoropolymer, the process including extruding a polymer obtained by polymerizing a perfluoromonomer to prepare strands, and bringing a gas comprising from 3 to 50 volume % of fluorine gas into contact with the strands; the process being conducted on an apparatus that includes an extruder for melting and extruding the polymer obtained by polymerizing a perfluoromonomer, a die having a plurality of pores for preparing the strands from the molten polymer extruded, and a fluorination tank for bringing the gas comprising from 3 to 50 volume % of fluorine gas into contact with the strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kasahara, Noriaki Miyaki, Fusaaki Takeo, Satoshi Shiratori
  • Patent number: 7960496
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel stabilizer for preparing a polymer polyol, which is used to prepare polyurethane foam having improved physical properties. The stabilizer is prepared by allowing maleic anhydride to react with a polyether polyol, having an OH functionality of 3-8 and a molecular weight of 3,000-15,000, and then adding ethylene oxide to the reaction solution. Because the molecular weight and functionality of the stabilizer are increased through aging and dimerization, the stabilizer has a high molecular weight of 5,000-30,000, a high OH functionality of 6-10 and a viscosity of 3,000-15,000 cps/25° C. A polymer polyol derived from the stabilizer has low viscosity compared to those of prior products and contributes to the improvement in the physical properties of the resulting polyurethane foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang Hyun Choi, Seung Moo Huh, Jeon Koo Lee, Jong Yeol Choi
  • Patent number: 7884177
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for the continuous polycondensation of polyester material in the solid phase, in particular in the form of partially crystalline granulate. The aim of the invention is to achieve a high product throughput on recrystallising and recondensation of polyester material with a low initial IV. Said aim is achieved, whereby on recrystallisation, a low residence time of 1-10 minutes is achieved, by means of a rapid heating of a thin product layer, followed by an SSP treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Camille Borer, Martin Muller, Brent Allan Culbert
  • Patent number: 7858684
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a solid composite material easily molded into a desirable shape and superior both in hardness and toughness, and a method of producing the same. A solid composite material 1 having an organic matrix of fibrous organic polymers of nonionic polymer and fine particles of a crystalline metal carbonate having an average diameter of 30 nm or less dispersed therein and a production method thereof. The production method includes mixing, gelation, and reactive precipitation steps. In the mixing step, a liquid mixture is prepared by mixing a hydrophilic nonionic polymers with a metal ion source in water. In the gelation step, the nonionic polymer in the liquid mixture is allowed to gel, to give a gel solvent. In the reactive precipitation step, a metal carbonate is precipitated by adding a carbonic acid source to the gel solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Hiroaki Wakayama, Yoshiaki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7855237
    Abstract: The method for the manufacture of foamed or foamable polymer particles employs a mixture of a polymer melt and a recycled polymer melt produced from recycled, propellant-containing polymer particles. The associated plant for the manufacture of the foamed or foamable polymer particles is provided with an apparatus for the processing of recycled, propellant-containing polymer particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sulzer Chemtech AG
    Inventor: Philip Nising
  • Patent number: 7786254
    Abstract: A process to perform the finishing of polyolefins produced by gas-phase catalytic polymerization of one or more ?-olefins in the presence of a polymerization diluent selected from a C3-C5 alkane, wherein the polyolefin granules discharged from the gas-phase reactor are subjected to: (1) a first degassing step in which said polyolefin is counter-currently contacted with a gaseous stream containing at least 85% by mol of a stripping agent selected from a C3-C5 alkane, said gaseous stream being continuously derived from the monomer recovery section of the polymerization plant; (2) a second degassing step in which said polyolefin is counter-currently contacted with steam, the amount of steam being from 10 to 200 Kg per 1000 kg of polyolefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH
    Inventors: Pietro Baita, Giuseppe Penzo, Gabriele Mei
  • Patent number: 7767781
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for manufacturing low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The invention also provides methods and systems for preparing macrocyclic polyester oligomer (MPO) from low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate. Finally, the invention provides methods and systems for preparing MPO via reaction of a diol and a dialkyl ester in an organic solvent to form non-isolated, low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate which undergoes cyclization (depolymerization) to form MPO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Cyclics Corporation
    Inventors: Peter D. Phelps, Gary R. Faler
  • Patent number: 7767782
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for increasing the molecular weight of a polyamide via solid-state post-condensation by exposing the polyamide in the solid-state at elevated temperature to an inert gas atmosphere, that comprises a step (a) wherein the gas atmosphere to which the polyamide is exposed has a dew temperature Tdew-1, followed by a step (b) wherein the gas atmosphere to which the polyamide is exposed has a dew temperature Tdew-2, whereby Tdew-1 is higher than Tdew-2. The effect is that a high molecular weight polyamide can be obtained in a shorter production time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: DSM IP Assets B.V.
    Inventors: Robert C. B. Crombach, Rudy Rulkens
  • Patent number: 7759455
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polymer powder extract from a mixture of a polymer powder and a first particulate material reduces the level of particulate contamination of the polymer powder by exploiting the different behaviour of the particulate material and the polymer powder in a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Orthoplastics Ltd.
    Inventor: Neil Hubbard
  • Patent number: 7705092
    Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a process for producing a vinyl polymer which can provide a vinyl polymer in such form that a polymerization catalyst is effectively removed from that. The present invention relates to a process for producing a vinyl polymer wherein a vinyl polymer at the time of completion of the polymerization is treated with oxygen in the presence of a polar solvent. More preferably, the present invention relates to a process for bringing a polymer added with a polar solvent having a relative dielectric constant at 20° C. of not lower than 10 into contact with mixed gases of oxygen and an inert gas such as nitrogen with an oxygen concentration below the explosion limit oxygen concentration of this solvent as in the state of occurrence as a pure component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Yousuke Asai, Nao Fujita
  • Publication number: 20100004427
    Abstract: A process is described for removing isobutene oligomers from an isobutene polymer by stripping the isobutene polymer with vapors of a saturated hydrocarbon having at least 8 carbon atoms and at least partly driving out the isobutene oligomers. Troublesome isobutene oligomers are substantially removed without impairing the reactivity of the isobutene polymer (expressed as the content of the methylidene double bonds).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Hans Peter Rath, Phillip Hanefeld, Helmut Mach
  • Publication number: 20090221788
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for degassing polymer powder comprising a chamber having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, said chamber being equipped with at least one powder inlet and at least one gas outlet at the first end and with at least one powder outlet and at least one gas inlet at the second end, and a valve provided with a powder entry and a powder exit and arranged at the powder outlet of said chamber. The apparatus is characterised in that said chamber is equipped with a gas line joining a gas exit of the valve to the inside of the chamber at a position that is at a distance h2 from the first end (20), said distance h2 being 20-70% of the height H of the chamber and at a distance l1 from a wail of said chamber, said distance being l1 5-50% of the largest diameter L of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: TOTAL PETROCHEMICALS RESEARCH FELUY
    Inventor: Eric Damme
  • Patent number: 7582723
    Abstract: Process for the polymerization of ethylene or of ethylene with further 1-olefins, in which the ethylene is polymerized in the presence of a catalyst in a gas-phase reactor and reaction gas comprising propane and unpolymerized ethylene is circulated to remove the heat of polymerization, wherein the polymer particles are discharged continuously or discontinuously from the reactor, the polymer particles are separated from the major part of the concomitantly discharged gas and the polymer particles are degassed, the gas is freed of entrained fine particles and is separated from a low-boiling fraction comprising ethylene or from a high boiling fraction containing further 1-olefins or alkanes having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms in a first separation stage, a propane fraction is separated off in a second separation stage and this propane fraction is used for degassing the polymer particles discharged from the reactor, with the proportion of ethylene in the propane fraction being less than 1 mol % and the proportion of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH
    Inventors: Giuseppe Penzo, Cyrus Ahmadzade-Youssefi, Rainer Karer, Ulrich Nieken
  • Patent number: 7541427
    Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a desolvation method for removing a solvent efficiently from a polymer solution. In the present desolvation method where the solvent is removed from the polymer solution by steam stripping using an apparatus comprising a pipe which connects a gas phase portion of a desolvation tank at the downstream and a liquid phase portion of a desolvation tank at the upstream, and an opening-degree adjusting mean (for example, pressure adjusting valve) fixed to this pipe, pressures are controlled such that a pressure difference (?P=P2?P1) between pressures of each gas phase portion of desolvation tanks at the downstream and at the upstream is allowed to be larger by from 0.005 to 0.6 MPa, preferably from 0.05 to 0.3 MPa than a pressure difference when the opening-degree adjusting mean is fully opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignees: JSR Corporation, International Center for Environmental Technology Transfer
    Inventors: Nobuaki Katayama, Katsunori Ishii, Naritsugu Kumai
  • Patent number: 7491791
    Abstract: A method for treating polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in its reactor latex form to produce a dry submicron PTFE powder that remains stable without rheology modifiers, surfactants, wetting agents, pH adjusters or other stabilizing additives. Reactor latex PTFE formed during an emulsion polymerization process can be irradiated, with an electron beam or gamma rays, during or after the polymerization to form a product where the dry submicron PTFE powder is free-flowing, tends not to self-agglomerate and tends not to dust into the air upon handling so that the PTFE is readily dispersible when placed in a desired application system or medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Shamrock Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Cody, William Neuberg, Manshi Sui, Youssef Awad, Paul Carey
  • Patent number: 7488790
    Abstract: The present invention discloses the use of a supercritical fluid to improve the homogeneity of heterogeneous bi- or multi-modal resins resulting from a physical or a chemical blend of two or more fractions of the same type of polymer resin, said fractions having different molecular weights or of two or more polymer resins having different chemical compositions, or both. It also discloses the use of a supercritical fluid to improve the dispersion of additives or fillers into a polymer resin. It further discloses the process for preparing the homogeneous resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy
    Inventors: Marc Dupire, Tom Lindt, Guy Debras
  • Patent number: 7465780
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a polyimide, which has high ionic conductivity and good structural stability, does not decompose even under low humidity, and is inexpensive, and a polymer electrolyte and a fuel cell using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung-sup Jung, Do-yun Kim, Min-ju Jeong