Abstract:
A liquid-phase process for polymerizing α-olefins of the formula CH2=CHR, where R is H or an alkyl radical C1-C6, to produce a polymer that is soluble in the reaction medium, comprising the steps of: a) continuously polymerizing in liquid phase the α- olefin in the presence of a catalyst system based on a transition metal compound; b) continuously withdrawing from step a) a solution of polymer in the liquid reaction medium; c) mixing in one or more mixing stages said solution of polymer in the reaction medium with an organic deactivator having: at least a hydroxy group, a boiling point higher than 150°C, and a ratio between the molecular weight (MW) and the number of hydroxy groups (OH) comprised between 20 and 100.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for the gas-solid separation comprising a separation chamber provided with a rotating hollow body, mounted at the top wall of said separation chamber. The rotating hollow body comprises a plurality of spaced-apart blades defining openings for the passage of gas, but rejecting solid particles entrained by the gas. The apparatus comprises also a cylindrical baffle surrounding the rotating hollow body to further deviate a mixed-phase gas-solids stream entering the separation chamber, and to promote settling of solid particles. The gas-solid separation method can be used to separate a gas-polymer mixture produced in a polymerization process.
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.
Abstract:
A gas-phase process for polymerizing one or more α-olefins in a fluidized bed reactor in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, said fluidized bed reactor being equipped with a fluidization grid arranged at its base, and external means for recycling and cooling the unreacted gas from the top of said reactor to said fluidization grid, the process being characterized by: (i) a continuous pneumatic recycle of polymer by means of a circulation loop connecting said fluidization grid to the upper region of the fluidized bed reactor; (ii) a continuous discharge of polymer from a zone of said circulation loop having a polymer concentration higher than the polymer concentration inside the fluidized polymer bed.
Abstract:
A solution process for polymerizing one or more α-olefins of formula CH2=CHR, where R is H or an alkyl radical C1-12, to produce a polymer that is soluble in the reaction medium, the process comprising: (a) polymerizat ion in a solution phase of one or more α-olefins in the presence of an organo-aluminum compound and a catalyst system comprising a transition metal compound as the catalyst component; (b) the polymeric solution obtained from step a) is then pressurized and transferred by means of a screw pump to a successive step for removing the unreacted monomers from the polymer; wherein the pumping capacity of said screw pump is kept constant by adding the polymeric solution with water at a feeding point upstream the screw pump.
Abstract:
A method of discharging polymer from a continuously operated polymerization reactor, wherein at least a monomer is polymerized to form polymer particles, the method comprising adjusting the discharge rate of the polymer particles by means of a piston valve having a piston element connected to an actuator, said actuator being able to modulate the piston stroke inside said piston valve.