Preparation, characterization and testing of Cr/AlSBA-15 ethylene polymerization catalysts Original Research Article

Ethylene polymerization catalysts have been prepared by grafting chromium(III) acetylacetonate onto AlSBA-15 (Si/Al = ∞, 156, 86 and 30) mesoporous materials. A combination of XRD, nitrogen adsorption, TEM, ICP-atomic emission spectroscopy, H2-TPR, TGA, UV–vis and FT-IR spectroscopy, were used to characterize the prepared Cr–AlSBA-15 catalysts. By reducing the Si/Al ratio of the AlSBA-15 supports increases the amount of chromium anchored, promotes the stabilization of chromium species as chromate and decreases the reduction temperature of Cr6+ ions determined by H2-TPR. Attachment of Cr species onto AlSBA-15 surface results from the interaction of hydroxyl groups with the acetylacetonate ligands through H-bonds. On the contrary, a ligand exchange reaction may occur over siliceous SBA-15.The polymerization activity of Cr–AlSBA-15 catalysts is significantly improved by increasing aluminium content of the AlSBA-15 supports. Particularly, the chromium catalyst prepared with AlSBA-15 (Si/Al = 30) support is almost four times more active than a conventional Cr/SiO2 Phillips catalyst. Polymers obtained with all the catalysts showed melting temperatures, bulk densities and high load melt indexes indicating the formation of linear high-density polyethylene.