As a method for producing a copolymer with a high oil absorption rate by separating a solvent from a copolymer solution containing a copolymer in a simple manner with a less energy consumption, the present invention relates to a production method for obtaining a copolymer by separating a solvent from a copolymer solution, the method including the following Steps A to C. Step A: a step of regulating a solid component concentration (Ts) of the copolymer solution to a range of (5≦Ts≦60) in terms of a mass %, Step B: a step of heating the copolymer (P) solution obtained in the Step A such that a temperature T (° C.) is in a specified range, and Step C: a step of discharging the copolymer solution heated in the Step B from a specified nozzle at a linear velocity of 1 to 100 m/sec to separate the solvent in an inert gas stream at 0 to 200° C.

As a method for producing a copolymer with a high oil absorption rate by separating a solvent from a copolymer solution containing a copolymer in a simple manner with a less energy consumption, the present invention relates to a production method for obtaining a copolymer by separating a solvent from a copolymer solution, the method including the following Steps A to C. Step A: a step of regulating a solid component concentration (Ts) of the copolymer solution to a range of (5≦Ts≦60) in terms of a mass %, Step B: a step of heating the copolymer (P) solution obtained in the Step A such that a temperature T (° C.) is in a specified range, and Step C: a step of discharging the copolymer solution heated in the Step B from a specified nozzle at a linear velocity of 1 to 100 m/sec to separate the solvent in an inert gas stream at 0 to 200° C.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for suppressing the precipitation of polymers with a high concentration dissolved in a solvent in the operation termination step and suppressing the blockage of the apparatus by the polymers even when the polymers with a high concentration are precipitated, and the invention relates to a method for producing an α-olefin low polymer comprising a production operation step and an operation termination step, wherein the supply position of a supply liquid to a distillation column in the operation termination step is changed to a position lower than the supply position of a supply liquid to the distillation column in the production operation step.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for suppressing the precipitation of polymers with a high concentration dissolved in a solvent in the operation termination step and suppressing the blockage of the apparatus by the polymers even when the polymers with a high concentration are precipitated, and the invention relates to a method for producing an α-olefin low polymer comprising a production operation step and an operation termination step, wherein the supply position of a supply liquid to a distillation column in the operation termination step is changed to a position lower than the supply position of a supply liquid to the distillation column in the production operation step.

A method can be used for manufacturing an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer for a fuel cell. A polymerization step includes subjecting an organic chelate compound forming a coordinate bond, a vanadium-based Ziegler-Natta catalyst, an organoaluminum compound, and ethylene, propylene, and diene monomers, together with a solvent, to polymerization in a reactor. A separation step includes recovering residual catalysts and unreacted monomers from the stream discharged from the reactor. An acquisition step includes recovering the solvent from the stream deprived of the residual catalysts and unreacted monomers to acquire the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.

A method can be used for manufacturing an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer for a fuel cell. A polymerization step includes subjecting an organic chelate compound forming a coordinate bond, a vanadium-based Ziegler-Natta catalyst, an organoaluminum compound, and ethylene, propylene, and diene monomers, together with a solvent, to polymerization in a reactor. A separation step includes recovering residual catalysts and unreacted monomers from the stream discharged from the reactor. An acquisition step includes recovering the solvent from the stream deprived of the residual catalysts and unreacted monomers to acquire the ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, provided is a process for polymerizing molecular weight—adjustable polymer, comprising: a reactant supply step of supplying a gaseous monomer, a surfactant, and an initiator; a polymerization reaction step of performing a polymerization reaction in which the monomer, the surfactant, and the initiator participate; and a product discharging step of discharging the polymer compound produced by the polymerization reaction, wherein the flow rate of the supplied initiator is inversely proportional to the molecular weight of the polymer compound, and the molecular weight of the polymer compound produced by the polymerization reaction is adjusted by controlling the flow rate of the initiator.

A method for minimizing the amount of catalyst inactivating agent that is present in a liquid fraction recovered from a slurry-based polymer production process, the liquid fraction comprising diluent used in the polymer production process, is disclosed. The method includes steps for controlling the pressure over the liquid fraction collected during diluent recovery so as to minimize the concentration of catalyst inactivating agent that is retained in the recovered liquid fraction. Embodiments of apparatus suitable for conducting the disclosed method are also provided.

A method for minimizing the amount of catalyst inactivating agent that is present in a liquid fraction recovered from a slurry-based polymer production process, the liquid fraction comprising diluent used in the polymer production process, is disclosed. The method includes steps for controlling the pressure over the liquid fraction collected during diluent recovery so as to minimize the concentration of catalyst inactivating agent that is retained in the recovered liquid fraction. Embodiments of apparatus suitable for conducting the disclosed method are also provided.

Disclosed is a method for precipitating a polymer by adding a precipitation agent into a first suspension to form a second suspension; wherein the first suspension comprises a polymer and an aqueous solvent; and wherein the polymer comprises a copolymer comprising a structural unit derived from an acid group-containing monomer and a structural unit derived from a hydrophobic group-containing monomer. The method for precipitation of a polymer disclosed herein is developed to initiate the bond disruption and/or breakage between the polymer and the aqueous solvent within the second suspension. This is accompanied with the structural transformation of the polymer driven by the intermolecular and intramolecular interactions of the polymer chains which brings about the precipitation of the polymer. The method circumvents both complex separation process and contamination of the polymer, enables excellent materials recovery and allows the precipitation of the polymer to be achieved within a short time frame. An application of the method for precipitating a polymeric binder in a battery electrode is disclosed herein.