POLYMERIZATION PROCESS FOR OLEFIN-BASED POLYMERS

摘要

The present invention relates to a solution polymerization process comprising:
A) polymerizing one or more monomers in the presence of a solvent that comprises a heavy hydrocarbon solvent and a light hydrocarbon solvent, to form a polymer solution, wherein the light hydrocarbon solvent is selected from ethane, propane, isobutene, or iso-pentane, or mixtures thereof;
B) transferring the polymer solution to a Liquid-Liquid Separator, without adding heat to the solution, and wherein the pressure of the polymer solution is actively reduced in a controlled manner prior to, or within, the Liquid-Liquid Separator, to induce at least two liquid phases, a polymer-rich phase and a solvent-rich phase, and wherein the concentration of polymer in the polymer-rich phase is higher than that in the polymer solution transferred to the Liquid-Liquid Separator; and
C) removing the solvent-rich phase.