Fina Technology, Inc.

Kevin P McGovern

David J Rauscher

William John Gauthier

Michel Daumerie

Renaud Oreins

Kai Hortmann

Ronald Tharappel

Michel Messiaen

David Attoe

B Raghava Reddy

Edwar Shoukri Shamshoum

Christopher Garland Bauch

Kenneth Paul Blackmon

Mark Miller

Mark C Douglass

Joseph D Thorman

Polymerization processes in a bulk loop reactor are described herein. In particular, a method of contacting a flow of metallocene with a flow of propylene is provided. This method includes directing the flow of metallocene towards a junction, directing the flow of propylene towards the junction and maintaining a portion of the flow of metallocene separate from a portion of the flow propylene within a portion of the junction downstream of the flow of propylene into the junction. In another embodiment, a method of introducing a quantity of antifouling agent into a catalyst mixing system is provided. In this embodiment a portion of the antifouling agent is introduced at or downstream of a point of contact of a stream of propylene with a stream of catalyst. The antifouling agent may be a member, alone or in combination with other members, selected from Stadis 450 Conductivity Improver, Synperonic antifouling agent, and Pluronic antifouling agent.

Method for transitioning between Ziegler-Natta and metallocene catalysts in a bulk loop reactor for the production of polypropylene

Method for transitioning between ziegler-natta and metalocene catalysts in a bulk loop reactor for the production of polypropylene

Polymerization processes are described herein. The polymerization processes generally include introducing a catalyst system to a reaction zone, introducing an olefin monomer to the reaction zone, contacting the olefin monomer with the catalyst system to form a polyolefin and contacting the polyolefin with a quench agent, wherein the quench agent is at least partially soluble in the olefin monomer.

Polypropylene having reduced residual metals

The present invention relates to propylene polymerization process in a bulk loop reactor, and particularly to propylene polymerization process for polymerizing commercial quantities of polypropylene in a bulk loop reactor by sequentially introducing Ziegler-Natta and metallocene catalyst systems into the bulk loop reactor.

The present invention relates to propylene polymerization process in a bulk loop reactor, and particularly to propylene polymerization process for polymerizing commercial quantities of polypropylene in a bulk loop reactor by sequentially introducing Ziegler-Natta and metallocene catalyst systems into the bulk loop reactor. In one embodiment, separate catalyst mixing systems are used to introduce a quantity of metallocene catalyst and Ziegler-Natta catalyst into the bulk loop reactor. The frequency rate at which the quantity of metallocene catalyst is introduced into the bulk loop reactor may be higher than the frequency rate at which the quantity of Ziegler-Natta catalyst is introduced. In another embodiment, a method of polymerizing propylene in a bulk loop reactor is provided which includes contacting a quantity of supported metallocene catalyst with a first quantity of scavenger, such as TEAL and or TIBAL, prior to injecting the supported metallocene catalyst into the bulk loop reactor and contacting a quantity of Ziegler-Natta catalyst system with a second quantity of scavenger prior to injecting the Ziegler-Natta catalyst system into the bulk loop reactor, wherein the second quantity of scavenger is greater that the first quantity of scavenger. In another embodiment, a method of contacting a flow of metallocene with a flow of propylene is provided. This method includes directing the flow of metallocene towards a junction, directing the flow of propylene towards the junction and maintaining a portion of the flow of metallocene separate from a portion of the flow propylene within a portion of the junction downstream of the flow of propylene into the junction. In another embodiment, a method of introducing a quantity of antifouling agent into a catalyst mixing system is provided. In this embodiment a portion of the antifouling agent is introduced at or downstream of a point of contact of a stream of propylene with a stream of catalyst. The antifouling agent may be a member, alone or in combination with other members, selected from the group consisting of Stadis 450 Conductivity Improver, Synperonic antifouling agent, and Pluronic antifouling agent.

The invention provides a process for commercial production of syndiotactic polyolefins using a metallocene catalyst supported on silica treated with MAO. The invention includes contacting the supported metallocene catalyst with a trialkylaluminum and aging the catalyst 12 to 24 hours prior to polymerization.

Process for activating a metallocene catalyst supported on silica

The invention provides a process for commercial production of syndiotactic polyolefins using a metallocene catalyst supported on silica treated with MAO. The invention includes contacting the supported metallocene catalyst with an aluminum alkyl and aging the catalyst prior to polymerization. In addition, the catalyst is prepolymerized in a tubular reactor prior to being introduced into the polymerization reaction zone. The treated silica is produced by removing water to a level of 0.5-1.08%, slurrying in a nonpolar solvent, adding an alumoxane, heating to reflux, cooling the slurry, and separating the solid product.

Process for treating silica with alumoxane

The invention provides a process for commercial production of syndiotactic polyolefins using a metallocene catalyst supported on silica treated with MAO. The invention includes contacting the supported metallocene catalyst with an aluminum alkyl and aging the catalyst prior to polymerization. In addition, the catalyst is prepolymerized in a tubular reactor prior to being introduced into the polymerization reaction zone.

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Friendswood, TX, United States of America

Kevin P McGovern