Patent ID: 7659346

Claim:
A process for the maleation of a distillation residue containing 4 to 10 weight percent hydrocarbon diluent, 5 to 20 weight percent polyethylene having a density of 0.940 to 0.955 g/cm 3 and melt index according to ASTM D 1238-01, condition 190/2.16 of 0.02 to 0.3 g/10 min, 60 to 90 weight percent polyethylene wax having a number average molecular weight from 100 to 30000 and 0.2 to 1 weight percent catalyst residue, comprising: (a) treating the distillation residue to remove hydrocarbon diluent; (b) incorporating 1 to 10 weight percent maleic anhydride, based on the weight of the distillation residue; (c) incorporating 0.25 to 6 weight percent organic peroxide, based on the weight of the distillation residue; (d) heating the mixture above the decomposition temperature of the organic peroxide until the maleic anhydride is reacted; and (e) recovering the maleated product.