Molecular weight distribution broadening of polypropylene by periodic switching of hydrogen and catalyst additions

Al-Haj Ali, M. and Stoomer, J. and Betlem, B. and Weickert, G. and Roffel, B. (2008) Molecular weight distribution broadening of polypropylene by periodic switching of hydrogen and catalyst additions. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 108 (4). pp. 2446-2457. ISSN 0021-8995

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Abstract:	This study presents a feasibility study of the broadening of the polypropylene molecular weight distribution produced using a multisite Ziegler-Natta catalyst in a continuous liquid-pool polymerization reactor. The broadening is achieved by operating the reactor under periodic forcing of both hydrogen and catalyst feed flows. Model-based dynamic optimization is used to determine the cycle period and peak width for these inputs. Through simulation it is shown that limited widening (~30%) of the molecular weight distribution can be achieved in case of a limited removal of hydrogen from the reactor. The results also show that the forced removal of hydrogen from the reactor could potentially double the polydispersity index of the produced polymer.
Item Type:	Article
Copyright:	© 2008 Wiley
Faculty:	Science and Technology (TNW)
Research Group:	Industrial Polymerization Processes (IPP/HT)
Link to this item:	http://purl.utwente.nl/publications/72578
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/app.27649
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