Industrial processes for synthesis of polypropylene

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1. Industrial processes for synthesis of polypropylene Submitted by: Aqsa Akram MS.Chem 2nd semester Roll no # 10

2. introduction Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene , is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications. It is produced via chain-growth polymerization from the monomer propylene Polypropylene belongs to the group of polyolefins and is partially crystalline and non-polar. Its properties are similar to polyethylene, but it is slightly harder and more heat resistant.

3. Molecular structure of polypropylene

4. Different Types of Polypropylene: Propylene Homopolymer is the most widely utilized general-purpose grade. It contains only propylene monomer in a semi-crystalline solid form. Main applications include packaging, textiles, healthcare, pipes, automotive and electrical applications. Polypropylene copolymer family is further divided into random copolymers and block copolymers produced by polymerizing of propene and ethane

5. Production process of polypropylene There are many commercial technologies that are used for making pp polymer . All the technology has similar basic steps. Steps in production of PP polymer First , the feedstock material and additives must be purified. The catalyst material should be prepared. The feedstock that is used is propylene. Then the polymerization takes place either in the gas phase with fluidized bed / stirred reactor or a liquid phase in with slurry/solution After that, the polymer particles are separated from existing monomers and diluents. The monomer and diluents are recovered and fed again in the process .

6. Technologies used in production of polypropylene : The two main commercial technology used in production PP resin is UNIPOL PP Technology and LyondellBasell Spheripol Technology. The UNIPOL PP technology is gas phase technology with lesser moving part and equipment. It is supposed to be less complex with simple processes leading to lower operating cost. Being simple in design has low maintenance cost also. The LyondellBasell Spheripol Technology the process is based on high specificity controlled morphology catalyst and is highly efficient along with less polluting. This technology is more common globally and has a market share of around 39% in producing PP resin

7. The Polypropylene manufacturing process can be divided into three generations

8. Another Classification of production methods: Classification can be done according to the polymerization method into: solvent processes bulk polymerization processes vapor phase polymerization processes

9. Solvent polymerization process Since the PP particles are dispersed in the form of a slurry in the solvent with the solvent polymerization process, this is also called the slurry polymerization process.

10. Bulk polymerization process The bulk polymerization process is also called the mass polymerization process, and solvents such as hexane and heptane are not used. It carries out polymerization in liquefied propylene

11. Vapor phase polymerization process: The vapor phase polymerization process falls under the category of bulk (mass) polymerization processes carried out only with monomers in the broad sense, but since polymerization is carried out in propylene gas rather than in liquefied propylene,

12. reactors Various types of reactors have been developed . stirred tanks fluidized beds The process can be separated into three different areas: purification and reaction; resin degassing and pelletizing; and vent recovery.

13. Fluidized-Bed Reactor :

14. Stirred-Bed Reactor

15. References : Boustead , I. (2005). Eco-profiles of the European Plastics Industry–Polypropylene (PP), data last calculated March 2005, report prepared for PlasticsEurope , Brussels, 2005. Zugriff im August. Maddah , H. A. (2016). Polypropylene as a promising plastic: A review. Am. J. Polym . Sci , 6(1), 1-11. OGAWA , H. Review on Development of Polypropylene Manufacturing Process. Derosa , C; Auriemma , F (2006). "Structure and physical properties of syndiotactic polypropylene: A highly crystalline thermoplastic elastomer". Progress in Polymer Science. 31 (2): 145–237.