Three-dimensional (3-D), transient numerical simulations of the turbulent reacting flow in the vicinity of the initiator injection point of a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) tubular reactor using a large eddy simulation (LES) approach combined with a filtered density function (FDF) technique are presented. The numerical approach allows for detailed predictions of the turbulent flow field and the associated (passive and reactive) scalar mixing. The aim is to study the influence of the injector geometry and initiator injection temperature on the LDPE process in terms of product quality (average polymer chain length, and polydispersity) and process efficiency (such as initiator consumption). (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.