Removal of metal contaminants from polymers

Claim 1

IN THE METHOD OF REMOVING ASH CONSTITUENTS FROM A SOLID, ALPHA OLEFIN, HYDROCARBON, HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYMER CONTAINING RESIDUES OF A CATALYST OBTAINED BY MIXING AN ALUMINUM ALKYL WITH A HALIDE OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE GROUP IV-B, V-B AND VI-B METALS OF THE PERIODIC SYSTEM WHEREIN SAID RESIDUE-CONTAINING POLYMER IS TREATED WITH A C TC C5 ALIPHATIC ALCOHOL CONTAINING NO MORE THAN 0.1 WT. PERCENT WATER, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES FIRST TREATING SAID RESIDUE-CONTAINING POLYMER IN THE ABSENCE OF OXYGEN WITH A STOICHIOMETRIC EXCESS OF SAID ALCHOL RELATIVE TO SAID RESIDUES AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 40*-80*C. FOR ABOUT 5-5 MINUTES WHILE STIRRING, THEN NEUTRALIZING THE ALXOHOL-TREATED POLYMER IN THE ABSENCE OF OXYGEN WITH AN AMOUNT OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA EXCEEDING THAT NEEDED FOR NEUTRALIZATION BY NOT MORE THAN 5-20%, SEPARATING POLYMER FROM THE NEUTRALIZED SLURRY FORMED AND WATER WASHING FROM THE SEPARATED POLYMER AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS FORMED DURING NEUTRALIZATION.