The present invention is directed to a process for the production of graft copolymer compositions which are based on acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA) or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) graft copolymers. The graft copolymers compositions are obtained by emulsion polymerization and afterwards precipitation, dewatering, drying and optionally cooling of the dried graft copolymer powder, wherein the graft copolymer B powder obtained is mixed with an aeration gas, preferably air and/or nitrogen, wherein the bulk density of the graft copolymer B powder is equal or less than 98.5% of the bulk density of the non-aerated graft copolymer B, during the whole aeration step. The graft copolymer powders show higher powder flowability and less tendency of caking during storage, for example in a silo.

The present invention is directed to a process for the production of graft copolymer compositions which are based on acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA) or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) graft copolymers. The graft copolymers compositions are obtained by emulsion polymerization and afterwards precipitation, dewatering, drying and optionally cooling of the dried graft copolymer powder, wherein the graft copolymer B powder obtained is mixed with an aeration gas, preferably air and/or nitrogen, wherein the bulk density of the graft copolymer B powder is equal or less than 98.5% of the bulk density of the non-aerated graft copolymer B, during the whole aeration step. The graft copolymer powders show higher powder flowability and less tendency of caking during storage, for example in a silo.

The present invention relates to vapour-solids separations, and in particular provides a process for the separation of a stream comprising vapour and a stream comprising solids from a stream comprising vapour and solids using a separation vessel, said separation vessel having: a. a first inlet for the stream to be separated, b. a liquid outlet, c. a vapour outlet, d. a demister located on the vapour outlet, and e. a second inlet by which liquid can be passed to the demister said process comprising (i) passing the stream comprising vapour and solids through the first inlet and in to the separation vessel, (ii) recovering from the vapour outlet a vapour stream which comprises vapour from the stream comprising vapour and solids and which vapour stream has passed through the demister in the separation vessel, (iii) passing to the separation vessel, via the second inlet, a first liquid stream which contacts the vapour stream in the demister, and (iv) recovering from the liquid outlet a second liquid stream which comprising the solids from the stream comprising vapour and solids, and liquid from the first liquid stream.

Process for deodorization of recycled polyolefin pellets (23) in three steps: In a first step, the moist pellets (23) are contacted with a circulating inert gas at a temperature between 110° C. and 160° C. in a steam stripper (11), and the steam is precipitated in a condensate trap (29). In a second step, the pellets (23) are sent to a vacuum silo (13) under negative pressure and contacted with a gas flowing in countercurrent. In a third step, after the vacuum silo (13) the pellets (23) are sent to a first heat exchanger (15) and contacted with the gas flowing in countercurrent from the second step.

Process for deodorization of recycled polyolefin pellets (23) in three steps: In a first step, the moist pellets (23) are contacted with a circulating inert gas at a temperature between 110° C. and 160° C. in a steam stripper (11), and the steam is precipitated in a condensate trap (29). In a second step, the pellets (23) are sent to a vacuum silo (13) under negative pressure and contacted with a gas flowing in countercurrent. In a third step, after the vacuum silo (13) the pellets (23) are sent to a first heat exchanger (15) and contacted with the gas flowing in countercurrent from the second step.

Provided is a particle drying method capable of sufficiently removing the volatile component and down-regulating the increase of the viscosity of the particles after the removal of the volatile component. There is provided a method for producing heterophasic propylene polymerization material particles, the method including: (1) performing monomer polymerization in the presence of a catalyst including a solid catalyst component so as to obtain a component I; (2) performing monomer polymerization in the presence of the component I so as to obtain the component II, so that particles including a volatile component are produced; and (3) causing the particles to contact with an inert gas-containing stream so as to remove the volatile component from the particles.

Provided is a particle drying method capable of sufficiently removing the volatile component and down-regulating the increase of the viscosity of the particles after the removal of the volatile component. There is provided a method for producing heterophasic propylene polymerization material particles, the method including: (1) performing monomer polymerization in the presence of a catalyst including a solid catalyst component so as to obtain a component I; (2) performing monomer polymerization in the presence of the component I so as to obtain the component II, so that particles including a volatile component are produced; and (3) causing the particles to contact with an inert gas-containing stream so as to remove the volatile component from the particles.

A photovoltaic module comprising: (a) a photovoltaic laminate including: two or more electrically conducting dements extending through the photovoltaic laminate so that power is moved from one photovoltaic module towards another photovoltaic module or towards an inverter; and (b) one or more connectors connected to each of the two or more electrically conducting elements by a connection joint, each of the one or more connectors include: two or more opposing terminals that each are connected to and extend from one of the two or more electrically conducing elements; wherein a dielectric space is located between the two or more opposing terminals and the dielectric space blocks material used to form a connection joint from passing from a first terminal to a second terminal, the material from the connection joint cools before the material passes from one terminal to a second terminal, the material fails to travel from the first terminal to the second terminal, or a combination thereof.

An apparatus (1) and method for drying polymer powders is described. The apparatus has an inlet (2) and an outlet (3) for the polymer powder, heat registers (5) installed in the interior space (4) and lines (7) for a heated gas (6a) for drying the polymer powder. The lines open into the interior space (4) and are connected to heat exchangers (9) for heating gas (6). The heat exchangers (9) are connected to a plant for the preparation of 1,2-dichloroethane (15) and/or for the preparation of vinyl chloride from 1,2-dichloroethane so that thermal energy from the plant can be utilized for heating the gas (6). The method comprises treatment of a polymer powder with a heated gas (6a) in the drying apparatus (1).

This disclosure describes processes for producing polymer using non-polar and condensable stripping agents to remove volatile components, such as solvent and unreacted monomer, from the produced polymer. Systems for performing these processes are also disclosed.