Granted Patent B2

US 7,638,597 · App. 12/002,482 · Granted Dec 29, 2009

Abstract

Claims (11)

1. A process to remove metal contaminants from a hydrocarbon solution of polyethylene, which comprises adding a primary alcohol and a β-diketone to a solution of polyethylene at a temperature within the range of 120° C. to 300° C. and contacting the solution with basic alumina wherein the molar ratio of β-diketone to primary alcohol is from 1:1 to 5:1.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the metal contaminants are catalyst residues.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the metal contaminants are selected from the group consisting of vanadium, titanium, aluminum, magnesium, zirconium, hafnium, chromium, niobium, iron, cobalt, nickel, and combinations thereof.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the metal contaminants are selected from the group consisting of vanadium, titanium, aluminum, and combinations thereof.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of β-diketone to primary alcohol is from 2:1 to 4:1.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the β-diketone is acetylacetone.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the primary alcohol is a C 2 to C 8 alcohol.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 1-hexanol, 1-octanol, and mixtures thereof.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the primary alcohol and the β-diketone are added as a mixture.

10. A process which comprises polymerizing ethylene in a hydrocarbon solvent with a transition metal catalyst at a temperature within the range of 120° C. to 300° C.; adding a primary alcohol and a β-diketone; and contacting the solution with basic alumina wherein the molar ratio of β-diketone to primary alcohol is from 1:1 to 5:1.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein the primary alcohol and the β-diketone are added as a mixture.

Assignments (14)