US 11,920,007 B2
Process for producing ultrahigh molecular weight polymer in powder form
Sukhdeep Kaur, Faridabad (IN); Gurmeet Singh, Faridabad (IN); Gurpreet Singh Kapur, Faridabad (IN); and Sankara Sri Venkata Ramakumar, Faridabad (IN)
Assigned to INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LIMITED, Mumbai (IN)
Filed by INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LIMITED, Maharashtra (IN)
Filed on Jun. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/356,296.
Claims priority of application No. 202021026558 (IN), filed on Jun. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0395468 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. C08J 3/12 (2006.01); C08L 23/26 (2006.01)
CPC C08J 3/124 (2013.01) [C08L 23/26 (2013.01); C08L 2023/44 (2013.01); C08L 2207/068 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
 
1. A process for preparing an ultra-high molecular weight drag reducing polymer, the process comprising:
a. adding a titanium halide based catalyst, wherein the titanium halide based catalyst is supported on a magnesium chloride matrix with/without an internal donor, or unsupported with/without an internal donor;
b. adding a co-catalyst, wherein the co-catalyst is an organoaluminum compound; and
c. preparing a polymerization mixture comprising the titanium halide based catalyst, the co-catalyst and monomers, wherein the monomers are alpha-olefins with carbon chains having at least four carbons in a polymerization reactor;
d. continuously stirring the polymerization mixture for a residence time ranging from 12 to 24 hours at a temperature of approximately 10° C. and regulating the stirring depending upon a viscosity of the polymerization mixture to obtain the ultra-high molecular weight drag reducing polymer as a free-flowing powder having an intrinsic viscosity a range of 21 dL/g to 35 dL/g and achieving conversion of at least 90%;
wherein the polymerization is a bulk polymerization and is carried under inert and oxygen free conditions, at a pressure of 0.5 bar.