A steady state model for propylene polymerization in an industrial loop reactor and its application in melt index prediction

A mechanistic steady state model for the polymerization of propylene through an heterogeneous supported catalyst in an industrial loop reactor is developed. It is based on the simplified kinetics of polymerization and gas-liquid equilibrium. To predict the melt index, an end use property of polypropylene, an empirical relation is used on the basis of the steady state model. Applications to some loop reactors of an industrial Spheripol process verified the viability of the model and MI predictions.