Production of grafted polyethylene from renewable materials, the obtained polyethylene and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for production of grafted polyethylene comprising the following steps: a) fermentation of primary renewable material with optional purification to give at least one alcohol chosen from ethanol or a mixture of alcohols comprising ethanol; b) dehydration of the alcohol obtained to give in a first reactor at least one alkene selected from ethylene and mixtures of alkenes containing ethylene and optional purification of the alkene to give ethylene; c) polymerization, in a second reactor, of the ethylene to give polyethylene; d) isolation of the polyethylene obtained in step c); e) grafting the polyethylene with at least one grafting monomer selected from the unsaturated carboxylic acids or theifunctional derivatives thereof, the unsaturated dicarboxylic acids having 4-10 carbon atoms and the functional derivatives thereof being C-Calkyl esters or glycidyl ester derivatives of the unsaturated carboxylic acids and the metal salts of the unsaturated carboxylic acids. The invention further relates to the grafted polyethylene obtained by said method, the copolymers and compositions comprising said polyethylene and the use of said polyethylene.