Johnson Matthey Davy Technologies Limited

Colormatrix Holdings, Inc.

Colormatrix Europe Limited

Ian Campbell

Brian Stewart Jones

Martin Smidt

Graham Reed

Paul Gordon

David Whitehead

Christopher Ferguson

Andrew Stuart Overend

Michael William Marshall Tuck

Harry Baker

David Loftus

Stephen Carrett

Martin Lucas Smidt

Injector () for injecting a liquid formulation into a molten polymer includes outlet () at one end and, at its other end, is arranged to be connected to upstream conduit () via a coupling housing () so that liquid formulation can pass from conduit into the injector, and further includes an elongate conduit () in which an elongate pin is slideably arranged being capable of expelling all liquid formulation from conduit. To address the risk the outlet could become blocked in use, whilst avoiding the need to depressurize and/or stop the flow or polymer in extruder (), the injection apparatus includes a spool () which is rotatably mounted within wall () of the extruder and is arranged to be rotated about an axis which extends substantially perpendicularly to the elongate extent of the extruder through which a polymer stream () flows. The spool may be moved between a first configuration and a second configuration wherein a flow path is interrupted, but wherein molten polymer continues to flow in said polymer flow conduit.

Method of and apparatus for injecting a liquid formulation into a molten polymer

Injection apparatus for injecting a liquid formulation into a molten polymer at high pressure includes a reservoir containing liquid formulation at ambient temperature and pressure which is arrange to flood-feed pump bodyof a first progressing cavity pump (pcp) (). The first pcp () is driven by motor () and is arranged to accurately meter the liquid formulation into a second pcp () which is downstream of the first pcp and is arranged to increase the pressure of the liquid formulation by 200 bar or more. Downstream of pump () is a delivery valve () arranged to control passage of liquid formulation, via outlet (), into pressurised molten polymer stream () which is present in an extruder ().

Apparatus and method for injecting a fluid formulation into a melted polymeric material

High pressure injection apparatus () for addition of a liquid formulation into a melt stream comprises a first pump which is arranged to accurately meter the liquid formulation (including highly loaded formulations comprising solids comprising particles of relatively large size) and a second pump which boosts the pressure of the formulation to that of the melt stream into which it is to be injected. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a tank () for initially receiving liquid formulation. The tank is subjected to ambient temperature and pressure and need not be stirred or otherwise agitated. The tank is arranged to deliver the formulation via pipe () into a first pump () (which may be a diaphragm pump or a progressing cavity pump). The pump is arranged to work at a pressure up to 120 bar to boost pressure. Downstream of pump (), a pipe () is arranged to deliver formulation from the pump () to a gear pump (), driven by a motor (). The gear pump acts to meter the liquid formulation. In an alternative embodiment, apparatus may include a progressing cavity pump to meter formulation and a gear pump to increase pressure. The apparatus may be used to inject a fluid formulation into a melted polymeric material.

Polymeric materials

A process for recovering product dialkyl succinate, dialkyl maleate or dialkyl succinate and dialkyl maleate from an overhead stream from an esterification reaction column, said overhead stream comprising as a major component alkanol and water and as a minor component the product dialkyl succinate, dialkyl maleate or dialkyl succinate and dialkyl maleate which forms an azeotrope with the water, wherein said process comprises washing the overhead stream with butanol.

Process for the recovery of dialkyl succinate or dialkyl maleate

A process for production of dialkyl succinate from bio-succinic acid feedstock where solid bio-succinic acid is fed to a reactor to react with alkanol by autocatalytic esterification. Products from the reactor including unreacted succinic acid, mono alkyl ester, dialkyl ester, alkanol, water and impurities are sent to a reaction distillation column for esterification of succinic acid and further esterification of mono alkyl ester with upflowing alkanol. The bottoms products from the reaction distillation column including residual succinic acid, mono alkyl ester, dialkyl ester, impurities and alkanol are sent to a bottoms stream separation zone where di-alkyl ester is separated from alkanol, succinic acid, mono alkyl ester and impurities. The tops products from the reaction distillation column including alkanol, water and organic components are sent to a top stream distillation zone where alkanol is separated from water and organic components. The organic components are recycled to the reaction zone column.

Process for the preparation of succinic acid ester

A process for the production of dialkyl succinate from a bio-succinic acid feedstock commencing by feeding bio-succinic acid to a reaction distillation column to enable esterification of the succinic acid. The feedstock is passed co-currently with upflowing alkanol such that an esterification reaction occurs. An overhead vapor stream is removed from the reaction distillation column comprising di-ester, alkanol, water of esterification and organic components. The vapor stream is sent to an alkanol separation column where alkanol is separated from the water of esterification and organic components. A side draw is removed from the alkanol separation column comprising partially immiscible organic and aqueous phases. The side draw is passed to a phase separation apparatus where the partially immiscible organic and aqueous phases are separated. The organic phase is passed to a column where the dialkyl succinate is recovered from residual water and other organic components.

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Merseyside, United Kingdom

Ian Campbell