ABSORPTION PROCESS FOR REJECTION OF REACTOR BYPRODUCTS AND RECOVERY OF MONOMERS FROM WASTE GAS STREAMS IN OLEFIN POLYMERIZATION PROCESSES

摘要

A process for recovering unreacted monomers and rejecting reactor byproductfrom a polymerization reactor in an olefins polymerization process whereinreactor waste gas stream(s) comprising unreacted monomers, reactor byproductand light components are treated in an absorption process to additionallyrecover the monomers. The absorption process comprises contacting the reactorwaste gas stream(s) with an absorption solvent in an absorption zone toproduce a gas stream comprising the light components, and a liquid streamcomprising the absorption solvent, absorbed reactor byproduct and absorbedmonomers. The liquid stream is fractionated in a distillation column toproduce a distillation column bottoms stream that is the absorption solventwhich is conveyed to the absorption zone, and an overhead stream comprisingthe monomers and reactor byproduct which is further fractionated in a splittercolumn to reject the reactor byproduct as a bottoms stream. The recoveredmonomers from the splitter overhead can be conveyed to the reactor. In apreferred embodiment, the absorption solvent consists essentially ofcomponents derived from the reactor waste gas stream(s) so that no externalsolvent is required.