Bp Chemicals Limited

Bruno Grenouiller

Stephen Kevin Lee

Michael Bernard Power

Daniel Brun-Buisson

Philippe Lalanne-Magne

Geoffrey Chapman

A process for the continuous and simultaneous manufacture of at least two different acetates by at least two simultaneous transesterification reactions comprising continuously bringing into contact in the presence of a catalyst in a reaction zone: (i) an acetate of the formula CH,COOR in which R is an alkyl radical, with (ii) at least two alcohols of formulae R,OH and R,OH in which R,and R,, are different, and are alkyl radicals with a linear or branched chain, or radicals of formula R,(OCH,CR,R,),&mdash; in which R,is an alkyl radical, R,and R,, being identical or different, are a hydrogen atom or an alkyl radical, and m is an integer of from 1 to 4 to form a reaction mixture having a homogeneous liquid phase and produce in the reaction zone by at least two simultaneous transesterification reactions of (i) with (ii) at least two acetates of formulae CH,COOR,and CH,COOR,and continuously drawing off from the reaction zone the at least two acetates and continuously separating the at least two acetates from each other by at least twice successively distilling the reaction mixture present in the reaction zone.

Continuous process for producing esters

The present invention relates to a process for continuously manufacturing ethylene (co-)polymer in a gaseous phase in a polymerization zone through which passes an essentially gaseous reaction mixture comprising the (co-)monomers(s). In addition the process comprises transferring a mixture (A) formed by the gaseous reaction mixture and the solid (co-)polymer in a depressurization zone, and separating the mixture (A) into a solid phase (B) and a gaseous phase (C) returned into the polymerization zone. The solid phase (B) is subjected to (1) at least one non-deactivating flushing with respect to the active catalytic residues, and subsequently (2) a deactivating flushing with a gaseous mixture of nitrogen, water and oxygen. The (co-)polymer thus obtained has very low contents of unreacted (co-)monomer(s) and volatile organic compounds, and exhibits a high whiteness index and a long thermal stability with time.

Growing community of inventors

Martigues, France

Bruno Grenouiller