Himont spheripol loop reactor process

The Himont spheripol loop reactor process is initiated by injecting specially prepared supported catalyst and cocatalyst into liquid propylene circulated in a relatively simply high L/D ratio loop reactor, followed by monomer removal (Figure 4.2). The homopolymers so produced can he circulated through ethylene and ethylene/propylene gas phase reactors for insertion of copolymer fractions before final... 

One particular development was the commercialization of the Spheripol process by Himont (now licensed by Basell) in 1982. This process combines bulk phase polymerization in loop reactors with gas phase polymerisation and has become the most dominant licensed process. More recently. Borealis has taken a similar route with the adaptation of its Bor-star bimodal PE process to produce PP. 

Spheripol A process for making polypropylene and propylene co-polymers. Homopolymerization is conducted in the liquid phase in a loop tubular reactor co-polymerization is conducted in the gas phase in a fluidized-bed reactor. The catalyst is treated with a special silane. The product is in the form of beads of up to 5 mm in diameter. Developed by Montecatini, Italy, and first licensed by Himont, United States, and Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, Japan. In 1989, 29 licenses had been granted worldwide. Now offered for license by Montell, a joint venture between Montedison and Shell. See also Addipol. 

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