Texas Petrochemicals LP

Tpc Group LLC

Timothy Lowry

C Edward Baxter, Jr

Gilbert D Valdez

Christopher Joseph Lobue

Armen Abazajian

Daniel Herndon

Edward C Baxter

Christopher Lobue

A novel liquid phase polymerization process for preparing a polyolefin product having preselected properties is disclosed. The process includes the steps of providing a liquid feedstock which contains an olefinic component and a catalyst composition consisting of a stable complex of BFand a complexing agent therefor. The feedstock may comprise any one or more of a number of olefins including branched olefins such as isobutylene, Cto Clinear alpha olefins and Cto Creactive non-alpha olefins. The feedstock and the catalyst composition are introduced into a residual reaction mixture recirculating in a loop reactor reaction zone provided in the tube side of a shell and tube heat exchanger at a recirculation rate sufficient to cause intimate intermixing of the residual reaction mixture, the added feedstock and the added catalyst composition. The heat of the polymerization reaction is removed from the recirculating intimately intermixed reaction admixture at a rate calculated to provide a substantially constant reaction temperature therein while the same is recirculating in said reaction zone. The conditions in the reactor are appropriate for causing olefinic components introduced in said feedstock to undergo polymerization to form the desired polyolefin product in the presence of the catalyst composition. A product stream containing the desired polyolefin product is withdrawn from the reaction zone. The introduction of the feedstock into the reaction zone and the withdrawal of the product stream from the reaction zone are controlled such that the residence time of the olefinic components undergoing polymerization in the reaction zone is appropriate for production of the desired polyolefin product.

Process for preparing polyolefin products

A mid-range vinylidene content PIB polymer composition made by a liquid phase polymerization process conducted in a loop reactor at a temperature of at least 60&#xb0; F. using a BF/methanol catalyst complex and a contact time of no more than 4 minutes. At least about 90% of the PIB molecules present in the product comprise alpha or beta position isomers. The vinylidene (alpha) isomer content of the product may range from 20% to 70% thereof, and the content of tetra-substituted internal double bonds is very low, advantageously no more than about 10%, preferably less than about 5% and ideally less than about 1-2%.

Mid-range vinylidene content polyisobutylene polymer product produced by liquid phase polymerization process

A reaction product comprising an adduct of a mid-range vinylidene content PIB polymer composition and maleic anhydride, a phenolic compound or a compound having a reactive site for subsequent amination. The PIB composition comprises a relatively low molecular weight, mid-range vinylidene content PIB polymer product wherein at least about 90% of the PIB molecules present in the product comprise alpha or beta position isomers. The vinylidene (alpha) isomer content of the product may range from 20% to 70% thereof and the content of tetra-substituted internal double bonds is very low, preferably less than about 5% and ideally less than about 1&#x2013;2%. The mid-range vinylidene content PIB polymer products may be prepared employing a liquid phase polymerization process conducted in a loop reactor at a temperature of at least 60&#xb0; F. using a BF/methanol catalyst complex and a contact time of no more than 4 minutes.

Adducts of mid-range vinylidene content polyisobutylene polymer products and methods for making the same

A process for making a relatively low molecular weight, mid-range vinylidene content PIB polymer product comprising a liquid phase polymerization process conducted in a loop reactor at a temperature of at least 60&#xb0; F. using a BF/methanol catalyst complex and a contact time of no more than 4 minutes. At least about 90% of the PIB molecules present in the product comprise alpha or beta position isomers. The vinylidene (alpha) isomer content of the product may range from 20% to 70% thereof, and the content of tetra-substituted internal double bonds is very low, advantageously no more than about 10%, preferably less than about 5% and ideally less than about 1&#x2013;2%.

Process for producing mid-range vinylidene content polyisobutylene polymer products

A relatively low molecular weight, mid-range vinylidene content PIB polymer product and a process for making the same. At least about 90% of the PIB molecules present in the product comprise alpha or beta position isomers. The vinylidene (alpha) isomer content of the product may range from 20% to 70% thereof and the content of tetra-substituted internal double bonds is very low, preferably less than about 5% and ideally less than about 1&#x2013;2%. The midrange vinylidene content PIB polymer products are prepared by a liquid phase polymerization process conducted in a loop reactor at a temperature of at least 60&#xb0; F. using a BF/methanol catalyst complex and a contact time of no more than 4 minutes.

Mid-range vinylidene content polyisobutylene polymer product and process for producing the same

A liquid phase polymerization process for preparing low molecular weight, highly reactive polyisobutylene. The process includes the steps of providing a feedstock containing isobutylene and a catalyst composition made up of a complex of BF and a complexing agent. The feedstock and the catalyst composition are introduced into a residual reaction mixture in a reaction zone where the residual reaction mixture, the feedstock and the catalyst composition are intimately intermixed so as to present an intimately intermixed reaction admixture in said reaction zone. The intimately intermixed reaction admixture is maintained in its intimately intermixed condition and kept at a temperature of at least about 0&deg; C. while the same is in the reaction zone, whereby the isobutylene therein is polymerized to form polyisobutylene having a high degree of terminal unsaturation. A product stream is withdrawn from the reaction zone. The introduction of feedstock into the reaction zone and the withdrawal of the product stream from the reaction zone are controlled such that the residence time of the isobutylene undergoing polymerization in the reaction zone is no greater than about 4 minutes whereby the product stream contains a low molecular weight, highly reactive polyisobutylene product. Preferably the reaction may be conducted on the tube side of a shell-and-tube exchanger in which a coolant is circulated on the shell side.

Process for producing high vinylidene polyisobutylene

A novel liquid phase polymerization process for preparing a polyolefin product having preselected properties is disclosed. The process includes the steps of providing a liquid feedstock which contains an olefinic component and a catalyst composition consisting of a stable complex of BF and a complexing agent therefor. The feedstock may comprise any one or more of a number of olefins including branched olefins such as isobutylene, C to C linear alpha olefins and C to C reactive non-alpha olefins. The feedstock and the catalyst composition are introduced into a residual reaction mixture recirculating in a loop reactor reaction zone provided in the tube side of a shell and tube heat exchanger at a recirculation rate sufficient to cause intimate intermixing of the residual reaction mixture, the added feedstock and the added catalyst composition. The heat of the polymerization reaction is removed from the recirculating intimately intermixed reaction admixture at a rate calculated to provide a substantially constant reaction temperature therein while the same is recirculating in said reaction zone. The conditions in the reactor are appropriate for causing olefinic components introduced in said feedstock to undergo polymerization to form the desired polyolefin product in the presence of the catalyst composition. A product stream containing the desired polyolefin product is withdrawn from the reaction zone. The introduction of the feedstock into the reaction zone and the withdrawal of the product stream from the reaction zone are controlled such that the residence time of the olefinic components undergoing polymerization in the reaction zone is appropriate for production of the desired polyolefin product.

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Spring, TX, United States of America

Timothy Lowry