Solubility of Polyethylene in n-Hexane and Cyclohexane: Experimental Determination and Comparison with Solid–Liquid Equilibria-Based Predictions

Abstract

In polyethylene (PE) production, the slurry process, in which the polymer is suspended as a slurry in a diluent, is particularly relevant. In the slurry state, partial solubilization of the polymer may occur. This may ultimately lead to wax formation, reactor fouling and polymer agglomeration. These issues may be alleviated by empirically adapting polymerization conditions, but a rational approach to that necessitates detailed information about polymer solubility. This information can be obtained through quantification of solid–liquid equilibria (SLE), which, in turn, necessitate input from experimental data. With an experimental setup for cloud point temperature determinations, the necessary data input was obtained to estimate the SLE of different PE (high-density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)) in typical slurry process diluents. The cloud point temperatures predicted by the developed models were checked against experimental results. It was established that the behavior of solvent mixtures can be predicted based on that of their components.

Coronas of micro/nano plastics: a key determinant in their risk assessments

“…The PE is merely made up of an ethyl chain, while PP, PVC and PS have methyl, chloride and phenyl side groups on the carbon skeleton, respectively. The PE can be further divided into high–density PE (HDPE), low–density PE (LDPE) and linear low–density PE (LLDPE) according to the degree of branching in the polymer [ 90 ]. Due to its wide application and poor biodegradability, PE has been reported to be the most abundant plastic accumulated in the environment [ 91 ].…”

Pioneering Aromatic Generation from Plastic Waste via Catalytic Thermolysis: A Minireview

“…Global annual production of plastic is estimated to be over 300 million tons with no considerable decline. Plastics mostly comprise petrochemical hydrocarbons comprising different chemicals such as flame retardants, stabilizers, and oxidants. , These chemicals render the natural degradation of plastics difficult. Although plastics can be recycled in numerous ways, the most common method for managing plastic waste is to dump it in open or landfill sites.…”