METHOD TO MONITOR AND CONTROL THE POLYMERIZATION OF A POLYMER

• Main Authors: KIRSCH, Barbara A, DENTON, David P, SEASHOLTZ, Mary Beth, CHAUVEL, Jean P., Jr
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 17.02.2021
• Subjects: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVINGCARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS; METALLURGY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

A process to obtain a real-time measurement of a monomer concentration and/or a real-time measurement of a comonomer concentration in at least one process stream of a solution polymerization to form a polymer, said process comprising analyzing the amount of the monomer and/or the comonomer in a polymer solution downstream from the exit of at least one reactor, using at least one fiber optic sensor coupled to a light source, or using at least one flow cell coupled to a light source, and wherein the light source is connected to a spectrometer; and wherein at least one of the following takes place: A) a portion of the polymer solution exits the reactor, and then comes into contact with the fiber optic sensor or the flow cell, and a spectrum is generated, and then the solution flows through a densitometer; or B) a portion of the polymer solution exits the reactor, and then flows through a densitometer, and then the solution comes into contact with the fiber optic sensor or the flow cell, and a spectrum is generated; or C) a portion of the polymer solution exits the reactor, and is split into at least two streams, and wherein one stream flows through a densitometer, and wherein another stream comes into contact with the fiber optic sensor or flow cell, and a spectrum is generated.