Process and system for production of polypropiolactone
First Claim
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1. A continuous method for producing polypropiolactone (PPL), comprising:
- providing feedstock streams of ethylene oxide (EO) and carbon monoxide, wherein the feedstock streams are optionally combined;
directing the feedstock streams to a first reaction zone;
contacting the feedstock streams with a carbonylation catalyst in the presence of a carbonylation solvent in the first reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the EO to a beta propiolactone (BPL) product stream, wherein the BPL product stream comprises BPL, carbonylation catalyst, and carbonylation solvent;
separating at least a portion of carbonylation catalyst from the BPL product stream to produce a carbonylation catalyst recycling stream and a processed BPL product stream, wherein the processed BPL product stream comprises BPL and carbonylation solvent;
directing the processed BPL product stream to a carbonylation solvent removal zone;
removing at least a portion of the carbonylation solvent from the processed BPL product stream to produce a polymerization feed stream, wherein the polymerization feed stream comprises BPL;
directing the polymerization feed stream to a second reaction zone;
introducing a polymerization solvent into the polymerization feed stream, prior to contacting the polymerization feed stream with a polymerization catalyst in the second reaction zone, wherein the polymerization solvent is different from the carbonylation solvent; and
contacting BPL in the polymerization feed stream with the polymerization catalyst in the second reaction zone to produce PPL.
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Abstract
Provided are integrated processes for the conversion of ethylene oxide to polypropiolactone. Systems for the production of polypropiolactone are also provided.
59 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A continuous method for producing polypropiolactone (PPL), comprising:
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providing feedstock streams of ethylene oxide (EO) and carbon monoxide, wherein the feedstock streams are optionally combined; directing the feedstock streams to a first reaction zone; contacting the feedstock streams with a carbonylation catalyst in the presence of a carbonylation solvent in the first reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the EO to a beta propiolactone (BPL) product stream, wherein the BPL product stream comprises BPL, carbonylation catalyst, and carbonylation solvent; separating at least a portion of carbonylation catalyst from the BPL product stream to produce a carbonylation catalyst recycling stream and a processed BPL product stream, wherein the processed BPL product stream comprises BPL and carbonylation solvent; directing the processed BPL product stream to a carbonylation solvent removal zone; removing at least a portion of the carbonylation solvent from the processed BPL product stream to produce a polymerization feed stream, wherein the polymerization feed stream comprises BPL; directing the polymerization feed stream to a second reaction zone; introducing a polymerization solvent into the polymerization feed stream, prior to contacting the polymerization feed stream with a polymerization catalyst in the second reaction zone, wherein the polymerization solvent is different from the carbonylation solvent; and contacting BPL in the polymerization feed stream with the polymerization catalyst in the second reaction zone to produce PPL. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification