Fina Technology, Inc.

Fina Research, S.a.

Michel Messiaen

David J Rauscher

William John Gauthier

Michel Daumerie

Renaud Oreins

Kai Hortmann

Kevin P McGovern

Ronald Tharappel

David Attoe

Guy L Debras

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

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.

A process for producing high density polyethylene in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system in two liquid full loop reactors in series, wherein in a first reactor a first polyethylene product is polymerized substantially by homopolymerization of ethylene and hydrogen, optionally with a minor degree of copolymerization of ethylene with an alpha-olefinic comonomer comprising from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and in a second reactor serially connected to the first reactor downstream thereof a second polyethylene product is copolymerized from ethylene and an alpha-olefinic comonomer comprising from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and a hydrogenation catalyst is introduced into the reactants downstream of the first reactor.

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Waterloo, Belgium

Michel Messiaen