Patent ID: 7112646

Claim:
In a process for the continuous manufacture of an aromatic alkylene polymer in which an aromatic alkylene monomer is bulk polymerized to form a mass of polymer which is then subjected to a devolatilization process in at least two successive steps to separate polymer from unreacted monomer and oligomers formed at least partially during the polymerization, the improvement comprising: separating a first gas stream from the polymer in a first step of the devolatilization process, conveying the separated first gas stream to a first zone Z 1 for direct condensation and fractionation, removing a gas stream G 1 comprising essentially monomer from a top zone of Z 1 , while removing a liquid stream L 1 rich in oligomers from a bottom of zone Z 1 , cooling a portion of the liquid stream L 1 and then returning the cooled portion to zone Z 1 so as to partially condense by direct contact the first gas stream in zone Z 1 , and separating a second gas stream from the polymer in a second step of the devolatilization process, conveying the separated second gas stream to a second zone Z 2 for direct condensation and fractionation, feeding another portion of the liquid stream L 1 from zone Z 1 to zone Z 2 so as to partially condense by direct contact the second gas stream in zone Z 2 , and removing a gas stream G 2 comprising monomer from a top of zone Z 2 , while removing a liquid stream L 3 comprising oligomers from a bottom of zone Z 2 .