# US 10,246,534 B2 · Apparatus for preparing polybutadiene > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,534 B2 - Document ID: US10246534B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/554,554 - Filed: 2016-10-18 - Published: 2018-02-08 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-22 - Assignees: LG Chem, Ltd. - Applicants: LG Chem, Ltd. - Inventors: Woo Sung Hwang; Jun Seok Ko; Hoi In Jeong; Jong Ku Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246534B2 ## CPC - C08F 136/06: Butadiene - B01J 19/1856: {placed in parallel} - B01J 19/1862: {placed in series} - C08F 2/01: characterised by special features of the polymerisation apparatus used - C08F 36/06: Butadiene - B01J 2219/00038: Processes in parallel - B01J 2219/0004: Processes in series - B01J 2219/00101: Reflux columns - B01J 2219/00159: controlling multiple zones along the direction of flow, e.g. pre-heating and after-cooling - B01J 2219/00247: Fouling of the reactor or the process equipment - C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS ## Abstract Provided is an apparatus for preparing polybutadiene which may improve productivity by minimizing a plugging phenomenon during the preparation of polybutadiene and increasing a conversion rate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for preparing polybutadiene, the apparatus comprising: two first polymerization reactors arranged in parallel to reduce a plugging phenomenon, wherein butadiene monomer, a polymerization catalyst, and a solvent are supplied and the butadiene monomer is polymerized; at least one second polymerization reactor arranged in series with the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors, wherein a first polymerization solution containing a butadiene polymer discharged from the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors is supplied and a butadiene polymerization reaction is performed; and one or more condensers which condense gases discharged from the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors and the second polymerization reactor and supply a condensate to the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors and/or the second polymerization reactor, wherein the gases discharged from the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors and the second polymerization reactor are condensed in different condensers connected to each reactor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, wherein the polymerization reaction is performed at a temperature of 70° C. to 120° C. and a pressure of 0.1 kgf/cm2 to 5 kgf/cm2. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, wherein a conversion rate into the butadiene polymer is increased when a residence time of a feedstock in the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors is increased. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 3, wherein the conversion rate into the butadiene polymer is 85% or more. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, wherein a residence time of a feedstock in the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors is in a range of 35 minutes to 65 minutes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, wherein a residence time of a feedstock in the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors is increased by increasing a bulk volume of the first polymerization solution in the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors or decreasing a flow rate of the feedstock supplied to the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 6, wherein the bulk volume of the first polymerization solution in the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors is in a range of 30% to 70%. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 6, wherein the flow rate of the feedstock is decreased by separately supplying the feed stock to the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, wherein the butadiene, the polymerization catalyst, and the solvent are supplied to the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors through raw material supply pipes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, wherein the catalyst is a Ziegler-Natta catalyst selected from the group consisting of a transition metal compound, a lanthanide compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a mixture thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic hydrocarbon having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, a cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon, an aromatic hydrocarbon, and a mixture thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 11, wherein the aliphatic hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of butane, pentane, hexane, isopentane, heptane, octane, and isooctane, the cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of cyclopentane, methylcyclopentane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, and ethylcyclohexane, and the aromatic hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, wherein a chain transfer agent, a reaction terminator, an antioxidant, a dispersant, a lubricant, and a mixture thereof are further supplied to the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, wherein the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors disperse polymerization heat to reduce an amount of gas generated during the polymerization. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, wherein gas discharge pipes, which supply gas generated by polymerization heat to the condensers, are connected to tops of the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors and the second polymerization reactor, and polymerization solution discharge pipes, which discharge the polymerization solution containing the butadiene polymer or supply the polymerization solution containing the butadiene polymer to a next polymerization reactor, are connected to bottoms of the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors and the second polymerization reactor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, wherein the condensate is supplied to the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors and/or the second polymerization reactor through circulation pipes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, wherein, the condensate condensed therefrom is respectively refluxed to the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors and the second polymerization reactor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, further comprising a polymerization reactor serially connected to the parallel-arranged two first polymerization reactors and the second polymerization reactor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus for preparing polybutadiene of claim 1, wherein the total number of the polymerization reactors is 3 to 5.