Continuous process for making polymers in carbon dioxide

An apparatus for the continuous polymerization of a monomer in carbon dioxide;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a continuous reaction vessel;
• an effluent line connected to said reaction vessel;
• a separator connected to said effluent line;
• a return line connecting said separator to said reaction vessel so that liquid or supercritical reaction medium is returned to said reaction vessel from said separator while solid polymer is retained in said separator;
• and
• control means for maintaining said reaction medium as a liquid or supercritical fluid in said separator and said return line and at a pressure not more than 100 psi different from the pressure in said reaction vessel during polymerization of monomer therein.

An apparatus for the continuous polymerization of a monomer in carbon dioxide;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a continuous reaction vessel;
• an inlet line connected to the reaction vessel;
• an effluent line connected to said reaction vessel;
• an inlet control valve connected to said effluent line;
• a first separator and a second separator connected to said inlet control valve, said control valve switchable between (i) a first position in which said first separator is in fluid communication with said effluent line while said second separator is not, and (ii) a second position in which said second separator is in fluid communication with said effluent line while said first separator is not;
• and
• a return line connecting each of said first and second separators to said reaction vessel so that liquid or supercritical reaction medium is returned to said reaction vessel from said separators while solid polymer is retained in said separator;
• and
• control means operatively associated with said return line for maintaining said reaction medium as a liquid or supercritical fluid in said first and second separators;
• whereby effluent from said continuous reaction vessel can be (i) continuously passed through said first separator while polymer may be removed from said second separator by switching said inlet control valve to said first position, and (ii) continuously passed through said second separator while polymer may be removed from said first separator by switching said inlet control valve to said second position