Polypropylene licensing technologies

Competition, in the market of polypropylene licensing technologies, has been a driving force to improve the available processes, with the aim of reducing the investment and variable costs obtained by a simplification of the process, reduction of raw materials and utilities consumptions, improving also the environmental impact with lower gas emission and liquid effluents. The evolution of catalysts and technology has allowed the polypropylene properties to be expanded, to fulfill the market demand and to widen its application. 

ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing LLC Polypropylene Propylene Technology provides large-capacity reactors for homopolymer PP and impact copolymers NA NA... 

These three— MonteU, Targor, and Elenac—came together as the Dutch-based company BaseU in 2000. BaseU was then the world s largest polypropylene maker, with 7.8 million tons of annual capacity, and the largest polyethylene producer in Europe. BaseU was also a world leader in polypropylene licensing 40 % of installed capacity worldwide used BaseU technologies, such as Spheripol. 

The rights to license this technology were given from Chisso to Japan Polypropylene Corp., which is a PP joint venture between Chisso and Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. 

XCAT A process for making polypropylene, using a metallocene catalyst. Developed by Univation Technologies and licensed to Equistar Chemicals. 

THE ENTRY INTO PETROCHEMICALS Because the early 1950s were a period of rapid innovation in polymer/petrochemical technology, Hercules was able to build a new learning base in that industry and become a first mover in one of the most versatile of the new commodities, polypropylene (PP). Its strategy was excellent. The company worked closely with European inventors and companies that, like Hercules, had not been involved in the new technology s wartime development. After pioneering the invention of a new process for phenol resins, it joined with Britain s Distillers Company to commercialize and license the process. Its first plant came on-stream in 1952.4... 

Commercial plants Nearly 45 reaction lines are in operation, with capacities ranging from 80,000 tpy to 650,000 tpy. Approximately seven additional plants are in design and construction. UNIPOL PP offers singlereaction-line systems capable of producing the full range of PP products at capacities up to 650,000 tpy. Total worldwide licensed production of polypropylene with this technology is nearly 12 million tpy. 

At the time of this writing a number of metallocene/single-site catalyst technologies are available with which to produce polypropylene (see Table 11). Metallocene-based polypropylenes are commercially available and even catalyst licenses are available (264). 

Novolen A process for making polypropylene in the gas phase, using a vertical stirred-bed reactor. Developed by BASF and engineered by Uhde. Licensed by Lummus Technology. Eight plants had been licensed as of 1985. A metallocene-catalyzed version was introdnced in 1996. The name is used also for the product. 

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