Polymer catalyst deactivation and acid neutralization using ionomers
A process for deactivating an active catalyst species in an olefin polymer stream exiting a polymerization reactor and neutralizing catalyst residues comprising adding to the olefin polymer stream in a quantity at least sufficient to inactivate the catalyst species and neutralize catalyst residues a composition comprising an ionomer having a molecular weight of at least 100 g/mol, and subsequently recovering the resulting polymer product.
1. A process for deactivating an active catalyst species in an olefin polymer stream exiting a polymerization reactor and neutralizing catalyst residues comprising adding to the olefin polymer stream in a quantity at least sufficient to inactivate the catalyst species and neutralize catalyst residues a composition comprising an ionomer having a molecular weight of at least 100 g/mol, and subsequently recovering the resulting polymer product, wherein the ionomer is a potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide partially or fully neutralized copolymer of ethylene with acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, said copolymer having a number average molecular weight from 500 g/mol to 5,000 g/mol.
2. A process for deactivating an active catalyst species in an olefin polymer stream exiting a polymerization reactor and concomitantly neutralizing catalyst residues comprising adding to the olefin polymer stream water or a hydroxyl group containing organic compound catalyst kill agent and an ionomer having a molecular weight of at least 100 g/mol, and subsequently recovering the resulting polymer product, wherein the ionomer is a potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide partially or fully neutralized copolymer of ethylene with acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, said copolymer having a number average molecular weight from 500 g/mol to 5,000 g/mol.
3. A process for deactivating an active catalyst species in an olefin polymer stream exiting a polymerization reactor and concomitantly neutralizing catalyst residues comprising adding to the olefin polymer stream a catalyst kill and acid neutralization composition consisting essentially of an ionomer having a molecular weight of at least 100 g/mol, and subsequently recovering the resulting polymer product, wherein the ionomer is a potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide partially or fully neutralized copolymer of ethylene with acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, said copolymer having a number average molecular weight from 500 g/mol to 5,000 g/mol.
4. A process according to any one of claims 1 - 3 wherein the ionomer is added to the olefin polymer stream prior to devolatilization of the polymer stream and the polymer product is recovered by devolatilization of the polymer stream.
5. The process according to any one of claims 1 - 3 wherein the olefin polymer is a homopolymer of ethylene or propylene or a copolymer of ethylene with one or more C 3-10 α-olefins prepared by use of a transition metal containing catalyst composition.
6. The process according to any one of claims 1 - 3 wherein the catalyst composition comprises halogen, a transition metal of Groups 3-6 of the Periodic Table of Elements, and optionally magnesium and/or an alkoxide; and an organoaluminum cocatalyst.
7. The process according to any one of claims 1 - 3 wherein from 0.01 to 10 percent of ionomer based on olefin polymer weight is employed.
8. The process according to claim 7 wherein the olefin polymer is a homopolymer of ethylene or propylene or a copolymer of ethylene with one or more C 3-10 α-olefins prepared by use of a transition metal containing catalyst composition.
9. The process according to claim 8 wherein the catalyst composition comprises halogen, a transition metal of Groups 3-6 of the Periodic Table of Elements, and optionally magnesium and/or an alkoxide; and an organoaluminum cocatalyst.