Temperature programmed decomposition of silica-supported MgCl2/THF/TiCl4 catalyst and effect of thermal treatment on ethylene polymerization rate

Abstract

Silica supported MgCl2/THF/TiCl4 catalyst (SiO2/MgCl2/THF/TiCl4) was prepared, and then decomposed thermally. The amount of produced gas [tetrahydrofuran (THF) and 1,4-dichlorobutane (DCB)] was measured with gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometer. SiO2/MgCl2/THF/TiCl4 catalyst started to decompose around 85 degrees C, and further decomposed at 113, 150 and 213 degrees C. THF was mainly produced, but very small amount of DCB evolved during temperature programmed decomposition (TPD), while unsupported MgCl2/THF/TiCl4 produced DCB significantly. Polymerization rate of ethylene with SiO2/MgCl2/THF/TiCl4 decreased when it was preheated at 85 and 110 degrees C for 5 and 60 min, respectively, while that of unsupported MgCl2/THF/TiCl4 increased after same pretreatment condition. It can be suggested that Mg/Ti bimetallic complex anchored on the surface of silica through OH group of it has weak interaction between Mg and Ti species.