Methods of making consolidated blend(s) of polymeric material(s) with one or more therapeutic agents (such as an antibiotic) are provided, wherein the method comprises the steps of providing a polymeric material, blending the polymeric material with one or more therapeutic agent(s), pelletizing the blended polymeric material, environmentally treating by various approaches the pelletized polymeric material, and consolidating the environmentally treated pellet. Products made by the methods and uses of the products also are provided.

A method and an apparatus are disclosed for analyzing an absorption filtering medium that filters volatile organic substances in a process gas in a dehumidification plant for dehumidifying polymer granules, with a fan that generates a flow of gas through the filtering medium, an analyzer for analyzing the concentration of total organic carbon, a sensor for detecting pressure downstream of the filtering medium, in which the state of saturation and/or the absorbent capacity and/or the deterioration over time of the filtering medium is determined by a comparison of the measured concentrations of the total organic carbon in the flow of gas upstream and downstream of the filtering medium.

A method and an apparatus are disclosed for analyzing an absorption filtering medium that filters volatile organic substances in a process gas in a dehumidification plant for dehumidifying polymer granules, with a fan that generates a flow of gas through the filtering medium, an analyzer for analyzing the concentration of total organic carbon, a sensor for detecting pressure downstream of the filtering medium, in which the state of saturation and/or the absorbent capacity and/or the deterioration over time of the filtering medium is determined by a comparison of the measured concentrations of the total organic carbon in the flow of gas upstream and downstream of the filtering medium.

The present invention relates to biodegradable and compostable granules consisting of natural ingredients comprising starch and thickening and gelling agents and does not comprise bioplastics. According to the invention, the granules are used for producing biodegradable and preferably compostable products and articles of daily use. The present invention also relates to methods for producing the granules according to the invention, as well as methods for producing different products by using the granules according to the invention.

A method for forming a composition that includes mixing an antimicrobially active botanical oil (e.g., thymol, carvacrol, etc.) and a modified starch polymer within a melt blending device (e.g., extruder) is provided. Unlike the problems associated with proteins, the use of starch polymers allows for a greater degree of flexibility in the processing conditions and is still able to achieve good properties in the resulting composition. The present inventors have also discovered that a plasticizer may be employed to facilitate melt processing of the starch, as well as to enhance the ability of the botanical oil to flow into the internal structure of the starch where it can be retained in a stable manner. The composition is also typically generally free of solvents. In this manner, the starch will not generally disperse before use and prematurely release the botanical oil. Due to the water sensitivity of the modified starch, however, it may be subsequently dispersed by moisture when it is desired to release the botanical oil.

Disclosed herein is a process for producing a long glass fibre-reinforced thermoplastic polymer composition, comprising the sequential steps of a) unwinding continuous glass multifilament strand containing at most 2% by mass of a sizing composition; b) applying from 0.5 to 20% by mass of an impregnating agent to form an impregnated continuous multifilament strand; and c) applying a sheath of thermoplastic polymer around the impregnated continuous multifilament strand to form a sheathed continuous multifilament strand, wherein the impregnating agent is non-volatile, has a melting point of at least 20° C. below the melting point of the thermoplastic matrix, has a viscosity of from 2.5 to 100 cS at application temperature, and is compatible with the thermoplastic polymer to be reinforced. This process allows trouble-free handling and unwinding of packages, and results in long glass fibre-reinforced thermoplastic products that can be made into articles having good mechanical properties and high quality surface appearance.

Method for transporting pellets of a glass fibre reinforced thermoplastic polymer composition from a loading position to an unloading position, said pellets comprising a core and a thermoplastic polymer sheath surrounding said core, wherein the core comprises glass fibres extending in a longitudinal direction of the pellets and an impregnating agent, the method comprising loading pellets onto a non-vibrating belt conveyor at said loading position, conveying the pellets by means of said non-vibrating belt convey—or to said unloading position and unloading the pellets from said non-vibrating belt conveyor at said unloading position. Further methods are claimed as regards a process for manufacturing pellets of a glass fibre reinforced thermoplastic polymer composition and a process for the manufacture at a moulding position of a moulded product from pellets of a glass fibre reinforced thermoplastic polymer composition.

Method for transporting pellets of a glass fibre reinforced thermoplastic polymer composition from a loading position to an unloading position, said pellets comprising a core and a thermoplastic polymer sheath surrounding said core, wherein the core comprises glass fibres extending in a longitudinal direction of the pellets and an impregnating agent, the method comprising loading pellets onto a non-vibrating belt conveyor at said loading position, conveying the pellets by means of said non-vibrating belt convey—or to said unloading position and unloading the pellets from said non-vibrating belt conveyor at said unloading position. Further methods are claimed as regards a process for manufacturing pellets of a glass fibre reinforced thermoplastic polymer composition and a process for the manufacture at a moulding position of a moulded product from pellets of a glass fibre reinforced thermoplastic polymer composition.

The present invention provides a process for extruding and pelletising a propylene copolymer. The copolymer has a content of comonomer from 5 to 40% by mole, a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 measured at 230° C. under a load of 2.16 kg of from 0.5 to 15 g/10 min and a content of cold xylene soluble material of from 20 to 60% by weight. The process comprises extruding the propylene copolymer through a die plate into an underwater pelletiser and cutting strands of the propylene copolymer into pellets in the underwater pelletiser, wherein the ratio of the mass flow rate of the propylene copolymer to the mass flow rate of the cooling water is from 0.020 to 0.060; and the propylene copolymer comprises a polymeric nucleating agent.

A process is described that includes flowing a carrier fluid through a transfer line, feeding polymer pellets into the transfer line at a feed location, measuring a first pressure value of the carrier fluid at a location in the transfer line upstream of the feed location, measuring a second pressure value of the carrier fluid and polymer pellets at a downstream location in the transfer line which is downstream of the feed location, and determining a mass flow rate of the polymer pellets flowing in the transfer line based on a differential pressure between the first pressure value and the second pressure value.