Patent ID: 8748559

Claim:
A method for the production of solid polyester polymer particles comprising: a) polycondensing a molten polyester polymer composition in the presence of a polycondensation catalyst composition comprising titanium species; b) adding a catalyst deactivator compound to the molten polyester polymer composition; c) after reaching an It.V. of about 0.69 dL/g or more, solidifying the molten polyester polymer composition into solid polyester polymer particles which do not contain added acetaldehyde scavengers; and d) reducing the amount of residual acetaldehyde in the solid particles to a level of about 10 ppm or less in the solid state without increasing the It.V. of the particles by more than about 0.03 dL/g in the solid state; wherein the catalyst deactivator compound is added to the molten polyester polymer composition in step b) at one or more of the following points: (i) within a final reactor for polycondensing the molten polyester polymer or between said final reactor and before a cutter for cutting the molten polyester polymer composition into said solid particles; or (ii) after the It.V. of the molten polyester polymer composition has risen to at least 0.5 dL/g; or (iii) vacuum applied to the molten polyester polymer melt, if any, is at least partially released; or (iv) following at least 75% of the polycondensation time; or (v) within +/−0.10 dL/g, of the It.V. obtained upon solidification; or (vi) within 30 minutes before solidifying the melt.