Patent ID: 6939943
Filing Date: 2005-09-06
Classification: C08F

Abstract:
1. A process for deactivating and recovering boron trifluoride in the preparation of polyisobutenes by cationic polymerization of isobutene or isobutene-containing hydrocarbon streams in the liquid phase in the presence of boron trifluoride as such or in the form of a boron trifluoride catalyst complex in a reactor, the catalyst complex separating as a substantially liquid phase from the material discharged from the reactor, comprising: a) adding methanol, ethanol or a mixture of methanol and ethanol to the material discharged from the polymerization reactor at a temperature from −60 to 0°C. in an amount which results in the formation of a boron trifluoride-rich alcohol phase; b) separating the alcohol phase containing boron trifluoride from the material discharged from the reactor; and c) optionally recycling the boron trifluoride of the alcohol phase obtained from (b) to the process in a suitable manner.