US5432242A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
HP catalyst killer
Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc
•
Filing: 1992-02-19
•
Granted: 1995-07-11
•
Expires: 2012-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A process for preparing olefinic polymers by metallocene catalyzed olefin polymerisation in which at least one volatile catalyst kill agent is introduced. A non-volatile catalyst kill agent may also be used in conjunction with the volatile catalyst kill agent. Water may be used as the volatile agent and compounds containing a terminal hydroxy group, oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur may constitute the non-volatile agent. Purified monomer is recycled to the reactor.
Inventors
- 👤 Norbert Baron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:35
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08F; C08F10/00; C08F6/00; C08F6/02; C08F4/00; C08F4/42; C08F4/44; C08F4/60; C08F4/62; C08F4/64; C08F4/659; C08F4/65912; C08F4/6592; C08F4/65922; C08F4/65925; C08F4/65927; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/50; Y02P20/584
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
Process for preparing olefinic polymers comprising the steps of: (a) continuously feeding olefinic monomer and a catalyst system of a metallocene component and a cocatalyst component to a reactor; (b) continuously polymerising the monomer in the reactor under elevated pressure in a polymerisation zone; (c) continuously removing a monomer/polymer mixture from the reactor; (d) continuously separating inonomer from polymer to form a monomer-rich and a polymer-rich phase; and (e) recycling separated monomer to the reactor, said process being characterised in that: (f) a volatile catalyst system killer component and a non-volatile catalyst system killer component are added to suppress polymerisation outside of the polymerisation zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
Process for preparing olefinic polymers comprising the steps of: (a) continuously feeding olefinic monomer and a catalyst system of a metallocene component and a cocatalyst component to a reactor; (b) continuously polymerising the monomer in the reactor under elevated pressure in a polymerisation zone; (c) continuously removing a monomer/polymer mixture from the reactor; (d) continuously separating inonomer from polymer to form a monomer-rich and a polymer-rich phase; and (e) recycling separated monomer to the reactor, said process being characterised in that: (f) a volatile catalyst system killer component and a non-volatile catalyst system killer component are added to suppress polymerisation outside of the polymerisation zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Process according to claim 1 in which the non-volatile killer component is added in a molar ratio of from 0.01 to 10 of non-volatile killer component per mol of metal (metallocene and cocatalyst).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process according to claim 1 or 2 in which the non-volatile killer component is an oxygen containing compound.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Process according to claim 1 or 2 in which the volatile killer component is water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
Process according to claim 1 in which the volatile and non-volatile components are mixed for common introduction, preferably in the form of a solution or emulsion which may be formed with the aid of additional solvent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
Process according to claim 1 in which at least the volatile component is added in a killer reaction zone upstream of a high pressure letdown valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
Process for preparing olefinic polymers comprising the steps of: (a) continuously feeding olefinic monomer and a catalyst system of a metallocene component and a cocatalyst component to a reactor; (b) continuously polymerising the monomer in a polymerisation zone in the reactor under elevated pressure; (c) continuously removing a monomer/polymer mixture from the reactor; (d) continuously separating monomer from molten polymer at a reduced pressure; and (e) recycling separated monomer to the reactor, characterised in that: (f) water is added as a volatile catalyst system killer component to suppress polymerisation outside of the polymerisation zone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
Process for preparing olefinic polymers comprising the steps of: (a) continuously feeding olefinic monomer and a catalyst system of a metallocene component and a cocatalyst component to a reactor; (b) continuously polymerising the monomer in a polymerisation zone in the reactor under elevated pressure; (c) continuously removing a monomer/polymer mixture from the reactor; (d) continuously separating monomer from molten polymer at a reduced pressure; and (e) recycling separated monomer to the reactor, characterised in that: (f) water is added as a volatile catalyst system killer component to suppress polymerisation outside of the polymerisation zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Process according to claim 7 in which the cocatalyst component includes an aluminum alkyl capable of hydrolising with excess water to produce alumoxane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
Process according to claims 7 or 8 in which there is no addition of a non-volatile catalyst system killer component.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
Process according to claim 7 in which water is added in amounts such that the catalyst system is killed sufficiently to permit polymer separation, unreacted water being recycled with separated monomer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
Process according to claim 7 in which water is added into a killer reaction zone upstream of a high pressure let-down valve or downstream of a high pressure let-down valve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
Process according to claim 11 in which the killer reaction zone is defined by a baffle in a high pressure reaction vessel with a polymerization zone upstream of the killing reaction zone and is upstream of the pressure let-down valve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
Process according to claim 7 in which monomer and residual water are removed from a low pressure separator and recycled from the low pressure separator without additional separate water removal for feeding to the reactor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
Process according to claims 1 or 7 in which the metallocene is used in an amount of 0.01 to 100 g of metallocene per 10 6 g of monomer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
Process according to claim 8 in which water is added as a catalyst system killer component at a molar ratio of 0.005 to 2.5 mole of water per mol of total metal in the catalyst system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
Process according to claim 1 in which the volatile killer component and non-volatile killer component are added downstream of the polymerization zone and upstream of a means for separating monomer from molten polymer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
Process according to claim 2 in which the non-volatile killer component is added in a molar ratio of from 0.05 to 2 of non-volatile killer component per mol of total metal in the catalyst system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
Process according to claim 5 in which the mixture of volatile and non-volatile components is introduced downstream of a high-pressure let-down valve.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
Process according to claim 18 in which the mixture of volatile and non-volatile components is introduced upstream of a high pressure separating stage.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
Process according to claim 7 in which the water is added downstream of the polymerization zone and upstream of a means for separating monomer from molten polymer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
Process according to claim 10 in which the catalyst system contains a component capable of reacting with unreacted water.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process according to claim 14 in which the metallocene is used in an amount of from 0.1 to 10 g/10 6 g of polymer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
Process according to claim 15 in which the water is added at a molar ratio of 0.05 to 1.5 mol of water per mol of total metal in the catalyst system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
101 words
Process for preparing olefinic polymers comprising the steps of: (a) feeding olefinic monomer and a catalyst system of a metallocene component and a cocatalyst component to a reactor; (b) polymerising the monomer in the reactor under elevated pressure in a polymerisation zone; (c) removing a monomer/polymer mixture from the reactor; (d) separating monomer from polymer to form a monomer-rich and a polymer-rich phase; and (e) recycling separated monomer to the reactor, said process being characterised in that: (f) a volatile catalyst system killer component and a non-volatile catalyst system killer component are added to kill polymerisation outside of the polymerisation zone.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
101 words
Process for preparing olefinic polymers comprising the steps of: (a) feeding olefinic monomer and a catalyst system of a metallocene component and a cocatalyst component to a reactor; (b) polymerising the monomer in the reactor under elevated pressure in a polymerisation zone; (c) removing a monomer/polymer mixture from the reactor; (d) separating monomer from polymer to form a monomer-rich and a polymer-rich phase; and (e) recycling separated monomer to the reactor, said process being characterised in that: (f) a volatile catalyst system killer component and a non-volatile catalyst system killer component are added to kill polymerisation outside of the polymerisation zone.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
90 words
Process for preparing olefinic polymers comprising the steps of: (a) feeding olefinic monomer and a catalyst system of a metallocene component and a cocatalyst component to a reactor; (b) polymerising the monomer in a polymerisation zone in the reactor under elevated pressure; (c) removing a monomer/polymer mixture from the reactor; (d) separating monomer from molten polymer at a reduced pressure; and (e) recycling separated monomer to the reactor, characterised in that: (f) water is added as a volatile catalyst system killer component to kill polymerisation outside of the polymerisation zone.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
90 words
Process for preparing olefinic polymers comprising the steps of: (a) feeding olefinic monomer and a catalyst system of a metallocene component and a cocatalyst component to a reactor; (b) polymerising the monomer in a polymerisation zone in the reactor under elevated pressure; (c) removing a monomer/polymer mixture from the reactor; (d) separating monomer from molten polymer at a reduced pressure; and (e) recycling separated monomer to the reactor, characterised in that: (f) water is added as a volatile catalyst system killer component to kill polymerisation outside of the polymerisation zone.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 3 in which the non-volatile killer component contains a terminal hydroxy group.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 1 in which the non-volatile killer component is a nitrogen containing compound.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 1 in which the non-volatile killer component is a sulfur containing compound.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process according to claim 1 in which the non-volatile killer component has a molecular weight higher than 200.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process according to claim 29 in which the non-volatile killer component has a molecular weight higher than 300.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 1 in which the volatile killer component is an oxygen containing compound.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 1 in which the volatile killer component is a nitrogen containing compound.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 1 in which the volatile killer component is a sulfur containing compound.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process according to claim 1 in which the volatile killer component has a molecular weight less than 200.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process according to claim 34 in which the volatile killer component has a molecular weight less than 80.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-10 | 1999-01-09 | 1999-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-10 | 2003-01-09 | 2003-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-10 | 2007-01-09 | 2007-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |