Process for transitioning between incompatible catalysts

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for transitioning from a first continuous polymerization in a gas phase reactor conducted in the presence of a metallocene catalyst to a second polymerization conducted in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst in the gas phase reactor wherein the metallocene catalyst and the Ziegler-Natta catalysts are incompatible, the process comprising: (a) discontinuing the introduction of the metallocene catalyst into the gas phase reactor; (b) introducing an effective amount of cyclohexylamine into the reactor to at least partially deactivate the metallocene catalyst; (c) introducing an organometallic compound into the reactor and reacting the organometallic compound with cyclohexylamine; (d) degas the gas composition of the reactor and build up a new composition inside the reactor for the second polymerization with the Ziegler-Natta catalyst (e) introducing the Ziegler-Natta catalyst into the reactor.