Experimental proof of the existence of mass‐transfer resistance during early stages of ethylene polymerization with silica supported metallocene/MAO catalysts

The size of a silica supported metallocene/MAO (methylaluminoxane) catalyst plays an important role in determining its productivity during ethylene polymerization. From a chemical engineering point of view, this size dependency of catalytic activity of supported metallocenes is mathematically connec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIChE journal 2017-10, Vol.63 (10), p.4476-4490
Main Authors: Bashir, Muhammad Ahsan, Monteil, Vincent, Boisson, Christophe, McKenna, Timothy F. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amine oxidase (flavin-containing)
Catalysis
catalyst particle size
Catalysts
Catalytic activity
Chemical engineering
Chemical Sciences
Ethylene
in situ hydrogen
mass‐transfer resistance
Material chemistry
Metallocenes
olefin polymerization
Particulates
Polymerization
Polymers
Silica
silica supported metallocene
Silicon dioxide
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Summary:The size of a silica supported metallocene/MAO (methylaluminoxane) catalyst plays an important role in determining its productivity during ethylene polymerization. From a chemical engineering point of view, this size dependency of catalytic activity of supported metallocenes is mathematically connected with the different levels of mass‐transfer resistance in big and small catalyst particles but no experimental evidence has been provided to date. The results of this systematic experimental study clearly demonstrate that the intraparticle monomer diffusion resistance is high in bigger catalyst particles during initial instants of ethylene polymerization and diminishes with the polymer particle growth. Two different silica supported metallocene/MAO catalysts provided the same results while highlighting the fact that catalyst chemistry should be carefully considered while studying complex chemical engineering problems. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 4476–4490, 2017
ISSN:0001-1541
1547-5905
DOI:10.1002/aic.15806