Catalyst Paste Preparation via Solvent Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Supported cocatalysts for olefin polymerization in powder form are unstable and lose activity when dried in vacuum, making them difficult to handle and use industrially.
Innovation Solution
A process for preparing a catalyst paste by reacting a support with triethylaluminum and a hydroxyl-containing compound, avoiding vacuum drying, which stabilizes the catalyst and maintains activity during storage and use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If supported cocatalyst is dried in vacuum to remove solvent, then solvent removal is achieved, but catalyst activity is lost and stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful vacuum drying step is completely extracted and removed from the process. Instead of drying the catalyst paste in vacuum which causes instability, the invention uses a solvent exchange process where the original solvent is replaced with a stable storage solvent (mineral oil, paraffin, or silicone oil), eliminating the need for vacuum drying entirely while maintaining catalyst stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the storage medium by replacing volatile solvents (toluene, hexane) with non-volatile or low-volatility storage solvents (mineral oil, paraffin, silicone oil). This parameter change allows the catalyst to be stored without vacuum drying, preventing activity loss while achieving effective solvent removal through the exchange process.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If supported cocatalyst is stored after vacuum drying, then storage is possible, but activity is lost making it difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
A stable storage solvent (mineral oil, paraffin, or silicone oil) is introduced as an intermediary substance that mediates between the catalyst paste and storage conditions. This intermediary protects the catalyst from degradation during storage while maintaining its activity, and it also improves handling by providing a stable, non-volatile medium that prevents the catalyst from becoming unstable or difficult to manage.
3Ease of manufacture
If supported cocatalyst is prepared in powder form, then catalyst can be produced, but it becomes unstable and loses activity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite catalyst system consisting of the supported cocatalyst particles dispersed in a stable storage solvent (mineral oil, paraffin, or silicone oil). This composite structure combines the catalytic activity of the supported cocatalyst with the stability and handling properties of the storage solvent, resulting in a paste form that is both easy to manufacture and highly stable during storage and use.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The catalyst paste exhibits increased activity and longer storage stability without losing effectiveness, improving handling and industrial applicability.
Implementation Method 1
reacting a support with triethylaluminum and a hydroxyl-containing compound
Data Source
AI summary
A process for the preparation of a catalyst paste comprising the following steps: a) obtaining a slurry in an organic solvent containing at least: a1) a support bearing functional groups; a2) a trialkylaluminum of formula (Ra) 3A1 wherein Ra, equal to or different from each other is a C1 -C20 hydrocarbon radical optional containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the periodic table of the elements; a3) a compound of formula (I): (R1)x-A-(OH)y wherein: A is an atom of group 13 or 15 of the Periodic Table; R1 equal to or different from each other, are C1-C40 hydrocarbon radicals optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the periodic table of the elements; Y is 1 or 2; X is 1 or 2; provided that x+y=3; a4) a transition metal organometallic compound; b) washing the resulting slurry one or more times with oil.