This disclosure relates to a process for polymerization, and in particular to minimizing undesired polymerization reactions downstream of a polymerization reaction zone, for instance by use of a quenching agent that enables fast reaction rates with active polymerization catalyst in the polymerization effluent, so as to quench the catalyst quickly, thereby preventing uncontrolled polymerization reactions. A preferred quenching agent is methanol. Also provided are means for treating polymer recycle streams containing oxygenates, which may result from the use of such quench agents, particularly in polymerization processes including polyene (e.g., diene) monomers.

This disclosure relates to a process for polymerization, and in particular to minimizing undesired polymerization reactions downstream of a polymerization reaction zone, for instance by use of a quenching agent that enables fast reaction rates with active polymerization catalyst in the polymerization effluent, so as to quench the catalyst quickly, thereby preventing uncontrolled polymerization reactions. A preferred quenching agent is methanol. Also provided are means for treating polymer recycle streams containing oxygenates, which may result from the use of such quench agents, particularly in polymerization processes including polyene (e.g., diene) monomers.

The present disclosure generally relates to a process for separating polymeric and gaseous components of a reaction mixture obtained by high-pressure polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of free-radical polymerization initiators into a gaseous fraction and a liquid fraction in a separation vessel, wherein the filling level of the liquid fraction in the separation vessel is measured by a radiometric level measurement system comprising at least two radioactive sources and at least three radiation detectors, and the filling level is controlled by a product discharge valve which operates based on data coming from the level measurement system.

The present disclosure generally relates to a process for separating polymeric and gaseous components of a reaction mixture obtained by high-pressure polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of free-radical polymerization initiators into a gaseous fraction and a liquid fraction in a separation vessel, wherein the filling level of the liquid fraction in the separation vessel is measured by a radiometric level measurement system comprising at least two radioactive sources and at least three radiation detectors, and the filling level is controlled by a product discharge valve which operates based on data coming from the level measurement system.

The present disclosure relates to a process for separating polymeric and gaseous components of a reaction mixture obtained by high-pressure polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of free-radical polymerization initiators into in a gaseous fraction and a liquid fraction, wherein the separation is carried out at a pressure of from 15 MPa to 50 MPa and a temperature of from 120 C. to 300 C. in a separation vessel which has a vertically arranged cylindrical shape with a ratio of length to diameter L/D of from 4 to 10 and which is equipped with an inlet pipe which extends vertically from the top into the separation vessel; and the ratio of the inner diameter of the inlet pipe at its lower end and the inner diameter of the separating vessel in its cylindrical part is in the range of from 0.2 to 0.4.

The present disclosure relates to a process for separating polymeric and gaseous components of a reaction mixture obtained by high-pressure polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of free-radical polymerization initiators into in a gaseous fraction and a liquid fraction, wherein the separation is carried out at a pressure of from 15 MPa to 50 MPa and a temperature of from 120 C. to 300 C. in a separation vessel which has a vertically arranged cylindrical shape with a ratio of length to diameter L/D of from 4 to 10 and which is equipped with an inlet pipe which extends vertically from the top into the separation vessel; and the ratio of the inner diameter of the inlet pipe at its lower end and the inner diameter of the separating vessel in its cylindrical part is in the range of from 0.2 to 0.4.

A continuous process for producing high pressure polyethylene is described. The process includes contacting first amounts of ethylene, an optional polar comonomer, and a first C.sub.2 to C.sub.12 modifier in the presence of a first amount of initiator in a reaction system under polymerization conditions to form a reaction system effluent comprising a first polyethylene resin having a first concentration of unreacted monomer therein; and directing an ethylene stream and the reaction system effluent to a pressure separation unit operated at separation conditions thereby removing at least a portion of the unreacted monomer from the reaction system effluent.

A continuous process for producing high pressure polyethylene is described. The process includes contacting first amounts of ethylene, an optional polar comonomer, and a first C.sub.2 to C.sub.12 modifier in the presence of a first amount of initiator in a reaction system under polymerization conditions to form a reaction system effluent comprising a first polyethylene resin having a first concentration of unreacted monomer therein; and directing an ethylene stream and the reaction system effluent to a pressure separation unit operated at separation conditions thereby removing at least a portion of the unreacted monomer from the reaction system effluent.

Process for enhancing the separation of monomer components from light components other than monomer by providing a first stream containing monomer and light components other than monomer and passing the first stream to a first separator at a first pressure to separate a gaseous second stream containing at least some of the light components other than monomer and provide a liquid third stream containing monomer. A portion of the third stream and a fourth stream containing monomer and light components other than monomer is passed to a second separator at a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure to separate a gaseous fifth stream containing at least some of the light components other than monomer from the fourth stream and provide a liquid sixth stream containing monomer.

Process for enhancing the separation of monomer components from light components other than monomer by providing a first stream containing monomer and light components other than monomer and passing the first stream to a first separator at a first pressure to separate a gaseous second stream containing at least some of the light components other than monomer and provide a liquid third stream containing monomer. A portion of the third stream and a fourth stream containing monomer and light components other than monomer is passed to a second separator at a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure to separate a gaseous fifth stream containing at least some of the light components other than monomer from the fourth stream and provide a liquid sixth stream containing monomer.