A process for agglomerating superabsorbent particles, wherein polymer particles having a particle size of 250 m or less are dispersed in a hydrophobic organic solvent, the dispersed polymer particles are mixed with an aqueous monomer solution, the amount of unneutralized monomer applied with the monomer solution being from 0.5% to 80% by weight, based on the dispersed polymer particles, and the monomer solution is polymerized.

Valorization methods herein relate to undesired by-products containing compounds including the optical isometry D, in particular D-lactic acid and D-lactic acid esters. An illustrative valorization method is disclosed wherein a flux containing undesired D-lactic acid and/or undesired D-lactic acid ester(s) is subjected to a treatment in order to selectively separate a fraction rich in L-lactic acid and/or L-lactic acid ester(s) from a fraction containing D-lactic acid and/or D-lactic acid ester(s), thereby improving the efficiency of the production of L-PLA.

The present invention discloses a valorization method of a flux containing undesired D-lactic acid (ester(s)) in the production process of L-polylactic acid, the production thereof comprising: oligomerisation (30) of a substantially pure L-lactic acid feed; cyclisation (40) of the lactic acid oligomers, thereby obtaining lactides and a first residual stream transferred, at least partially, to a transesterification (80) and a hydrolysis (90) step; lactide purification (50), thereby obtaining purified lactides comprising L-lactide and meso-lactide, a second and a third residual stream, wherein the second residual stream is transferred, at least partially, to the oligomerisation (30) step and the third residual stream is transferred, at least partially, to a transesterification (80) and a hydrolysis step (90); polymerisation (60) of the purified lactides into poly lactic acid; purification (70) of the poly lactic acid, thereby obtaining purified polylactic acid comprising substantially L-polylactic acid and unreacted L-lactide, unreacted meso-lactide and impurities transferred, at least partially, to the lactide purification step (50); transesterification (80) and hydrolysis (90) of the at least partially transferred first and third residual streams, thereby obtaining a fourth and a fifth residual stream which are used, at least partially, as a base for the synthesis of molecules insensitive to the optical isometry D or L of lactic acid (esters).

A process for separating components of a reactor off gas is provided. A related reactor system is also provided. The reactor system may include a high pressure tubular reactor and/or an autoclave reactor and may be used for the production polyolefin polymers.

A process for separating components of a reactor off gas is provided. A related reactor system is also provided. The reactor system may include a high pressure tubular reactor and/or an autoclave reactor and may be used for the production polyolefin polymers.

A process for separating polymeric and gaseous components of a polymer-monomer mixture at a pressure of from 0.12 MPa to 0.6 MPa and a temperature of from 120 C. to 300 C. in a separation vessel is provided. The separation vessel has a vertically arranged cylindrical shape with a ratio of length to diameter L/D of from 0.6 to 10 and an inlet pipe capable of introducing the polymer-monomer mixture into the separation vessel which the inlet pipe extends vertically from the top of the separation vessel into the separation vessel. Further a process for preparing ethylene homopolymers or copolymers from ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of free-radical polymerization initiators at temperatures from 100 C. to 350 C. and pressures in the range of from 110 MPa to 500 MPa comprising such a process for separating a polymer-monomer mixture is provided.

A system for detecting an interface between polymer-rich phase and solvent-rich phase comprising a liquid-liquid separator configured to receive a polymer solution as an inlet stream produced in a solvent-based polymerization reactor through an inlet feed, wherein the tank is configured to permit the stream to separate into a polymer rich phase and a solvent rich phase; a first sonic transponder for sending a first sonic signal from either a top or bottom of the liquid-liquid separator and for receiving a first reflected portion of the sonic signal, the reflected portion of the sonic signal created by the passage of the sonic signal through a liquid-liquid interface between the solvent rich phase and the polymer rich phase is provided.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a process for discoloration of a colored polymeric material comprising: (i) providing a colored polymeric material and providing a solvent comprising gamma-valerolactone: (ii) contacting the colored polymeric material with a solvent comprising gamma-valerolactone at a temperature in the range of from 40 to 170 C. thereby obtaining a solvent, which is enriched in colorant compared to the solvent provided in (i), and a polymeric material, which is depleted in colorant compared to the colored polymeric material provided in (i). A second aspect of the invention is related to a polymeric material, which is depleted in colorant obtained or obtainable from the process of the first aspect. In a third aspect, the invention is related to a use of the polymeric material, which is depleted in colorant according to the second aspect for textile applications, fiber applications, packaging applications or plastic applications. A fourth aspect of the invention is related to a method for preparing a textile or a packaging comprising (a) providing a polymeric material, which is depleted in colorant, preferably a polymeric material, which is depleted in colorant of the second aspect: (b) preparing a textile or a packaging from the polymeric material provided in (a).

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a process for discoloration of a colored polymeric material comprising: (i) providing a colored polymeric material and providing a solvent comprising gamma-valerolactone: (ii) contacting the colored polymeric material with a solvent comprising gamma-valerolactone at a temperature in the range of from 40 to 170 C. thereby obtaining a solvent, which is enriched in colorant compared to the solvent provided in (i), and a polymeric material, which is depleted in colorant compared to the colored polymeric material provided in (i). A second aspect of the invention is related to a polymeric material, which is depleted in colorant obtained or obtainable from the process of the first aspect. In a third aspect, the invention is related to a use of the polymeric material, which is depleted in colorant according to the second aspect for textile applications, fiber applications, packaging applications or plastic applications. A fourth aspect of the invention is related to a method for preparing a textile or a packaging comprising (a) providing a polymeric material, which is depleted in colorant, preferably a polymeric material, which is depleted in colorant of the second aspect: (b) preparing a textile or a packaging from the polymeric material provided in (a).

Method for the production of cellulose yarns from recycling cellulose material, wherein the method includes the following steps: (a) dissolution of the recycling cellulose material in a molten ionic liquid; (b) adapting the conditions such that active substances dissolved or dispersed in the molten ionic liquid or generated in situ in the molten ionic liquid act to degrade non-cellulose material initially contained in the recycling cellulose material and contained in the molten ionic liquid due to the dissolution of the recycling cellulose material, wherein the active substances can already be present during (a) or can be added after (a) and before or during (b).