This simpler, more efficient alkene polymerization and selective alkene oligomerization catalyst can result in substantial savings for the user. The market for polymerization of ethylene and propylene – common in the development of highly commercial thermoplastics – exceeds 100 million tons, and is growing at an annual rate of about 5 percent. The catalyst industry that supports these products has sales approaching a billion dollars in the United States alone. Additionally, the oligomerization of ethylene to provide 1-hexene or 1-octene selectively, has tremendous market value. The polymerization process typically relies on the use of stoichiometric or greater (sometimes >1000) equivalents of expensive activators to initiate the catalyst. To combat this market inefficiency, researchers at the University of Florida have created a simpler, more efficient single-component catalyst for polymerization and selective oligomerization that can work without a co-catalyst or stoichiometric activator, resulting in substantial savings.
Cost-effective olefin polymerization and oligomerization to streamline the production process and cost
This product has the potential to improve the polymerization and selective oligomerization process of ethylene, offering unparalleled competitive advantages in a multibillion-dollar industry. Besides cost savings from the elimination of expensive activators, the single-component catalyst also presents the potential for an overall improvement in the development of polymers. The new technology involves the use of cheap Cr metal ions bound by a new class of ligands called trianionic pincer ligands. A provisional patent has been filed for this technology.