Patent ID: 7872090
Filing Date: 2011-01-18
Classification: B01J,C08G

Abstract:
1. A process comprising: (a) introducing an initial reaction medium into a heat exchanger, wherein said initial reaction medium comprises PET, (b) heating said initial reaction medium flowing upwardly through said heat exchanger to thereby provide a heated reaction medium; and (c) disengaging a vapor from said heated reaction medium in a horizontally elongated disengagement vessel to thereby provide a predominately liquid product, wherein at least a portion of said vapor is a byproduct of a polycondensation reaction carried out in said heat exchanger and/or in said disengagement vessel, wherein said disengagement vessel has a length-to-diameter (L:D) ratio in the range of from about 1.25:1 to about 8:1 and wherein said disengagement vessel is directly coupled to said heat exchanger.