GB988999A - Process for polymerization of olefins - Google Patents

Abstract

An a -olefin polymer slurry from a reaction zone, which slurry may have been prepared by contacting an a -olefin with a reducible metal halide of a metal of Group IV, V or VI of the Mendel<\>aeef Periodic Table with an organo-aluminium compound, comprising the polymer and a hydrocarbon diluent and which has been treated and preferably heated with a water soluble oxygen containing organic catalyst deactivating agent, is contacted with and preferably heated with water to form a diluent/polymer phase, and an aqueous phase which absorbs the water soluble slurry constituents, the two phases are separated, the diluent/polymer phase is recovered, the diluent flashed therefrom, and the flashed diluent may be further washed with water, dried with a desiccating agent and recycled to the reaction zone. a -olefins specified are ethylene, propylene, butene-1, pentene-1, 4-methyl pentene-1, 5-methyl pentene-1 and styrene. The diluent may be an inert hydrocarbon, excess monomer or mixtures of the two. The catalyst deactivating agent may be an alcohol, a diol or a ketone to which small amounts of hydrochloric acid are preferably added. In an example propylene is polymerized in bulk with a catalyst comprising titanium trichloride and diethyl aluminium monochloride, and methanol is used as the catalyst deactivating agent. A flow diagram is given. Specification 810,023 is referred to.