Abstract: A supported polymerization catalyst system is prepared by a method comprising the following steps: (i) addition of a cocatalyst to a porous support, (ii) mixing a polymerisation catalyst with a polymerisable monomer, and (iii) contacting together the components resulting from steps (i) and (ii). The porous support is preferably silica and the polymerisation catalyst is preferably a metallocene. The polymerisable monomer is typically 1-hexene and the supported catalyst system provides advantages a slowly decaying activity profile particularly when operating in the gas phase.

Abstract: A process for the production of a mono-olefin from a feedstock comprising a paraffinic hydrocabon which process comprises a) partially combusting at a pressure of at least (15) barg a mixture of the hydrocarbon feed and a molecular oxygen-containing gas in contact with a catalyst capable of supporting combustion beyond the normal fuel rich limit of flammability where they are reacted to form a product comprising one or more mono-olefin(s), carbon monoxide and hydrogen and b) recovering the one or more olefin(s).

Abstract: Supported catalyst systems are provided comprising (a) a transition metal compound, (b) an activator comprising (iii) an aluminoxane or (iv) a Group lilA metal or metalloid compound, and (c) a support material comprising an inorganic metal oxide, inorganic metal halide or polymeric material or mixtures thereof characterised in that the support material has been pretreated with a source of a transition metal atom. The preferred transition metal compounds are metallocenes and the source of the transition metal atom is typically a ferrous or cupric metal salt. The supported catalyst systems show improved activity and also may reduce fouling in gas phase fluidised bed processes.

Abstract: Supported catalyst systems are provided comprising (a) a transition metal compound, (b) a non aluminoxane activator comprising, and (c) a support material comprising an inorganic metal oxide, inorganic metal halide or polymeric material or mixtures thereof characterised in that the support material has been pretreated with an SO4 containing compound. The preferred transition metal compounds are metallocenes and the SO4 containing compound is typically sulphuric acid. The supported catalyst systems show improved activity and also may reduce fouling in gas phase fluidised bed processes.

Abstract: A polymerisation catalyst comprising (1) a transition metal compound of Formula A, and optionally (2) an activating quantity of a Lewis acid activator. Z is a five-membered heterocyclic group containing at least one carbon atom, at least one nitrogen atom and at least one other hetero atom selected from nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen, the remaining atoms in the ring being nitrogen or carbon; M is a metal from Group 3 to 11 of the Periodic Table or a lanthanide metal; E1 and E2 are divalent groups from (i) aliphatic hydrocarbon, (ii) alicyclic hydrocarbon, (iii) aromatic hydrocarbon, (iv) alkyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon (v) heterocyclic groups and (vi) heterosubstituted derivatives of groups (i) to (v); D1 and D2 are donor groups; X is an anionic group, L is a neutral donor group; n=m=zero or 1; y and z are zero or integers. The catalysts are useful for polymerising or oligomerising 1-olefins.

Abstract: The invention relates to an expandable polystyrene composition in the form of expandable beads, comprising by weight (1) 100 parts of a styrene polymer, (2) from 2.2 to less than 4.0 parts of at least one blowing agent, and (3) from 0.01 to 0.4 part of at least one plasticizing. The composition is particularly useful for manufacturing medium density expanded moulded polystyrene objects, particularly with a density from 40 to 190 g/l. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing such objects, employing an expandable polystyrene composition in the form of beads containing by weight (1) 100 parts of a styrene polymer, (2) from 2.2 to less than 4.0 parts of at least one blowing agent, and (3) from 0 to 0.4 part of at least one plasticizing agent. The process comprises (i) a pre-expansion stage by heating the expandable beads so as to form pre-expanded beads with a bulk density of 40 to 190 g/l, (ii) a stabilization stage by contacting the pre-expanded beads with a gaseous medium at 0 to 40° C.

Abstract: A process for the polymerisation of olefin monomers selected from (a) ethylene, (b) propylene (c) mixtures of ethylene and propylene and (d) mixtures of (a), (b) or (c) with one or more other alpha-olefins is performed in a polymerisation reactor in the presence of a supported polymerisation catalyst characterised in that prior to injection into the reactor said supported polymerisation catalyst in the form of a powder is contacted with an inert hydrocarbon liquid in a quantity sufficient to maintain said catalyst in powder form. The preferred inert hydrocarbon liquid is hexane. The supported polymerisation catalyst is preferably a supported metallocene catalyst. According to the process of the prescrit invention the level of fines associated with the polymer products is reduced in particular the level of fines having a diameter<125 ?m and microfines of diameter<50 ?m.

Abstract: A catalyst system capable of supporting combustion beyond the fuel rich limit of flammability comprising a catalytic component, a first support and a second support and wherein the catalytic component is present on both the first and the second support, and a process for the production of an olefin, said process comprising passing a mixture of a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas over said catalyst system to produce said olefin. The first support and the second support must differ in at least one of the following aspects: support material, support type and/or structural dimension.

Abstract: A transition metal complex having the following Formula (A): wherein the monovalent groups R1 and R2 are —Ra, —ORb, —NRcRd, and —NHRe: the monovalent groups Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd and Re, and the divalent group R3 are (i) aliphatic hydrocarbon, (ii) alicyclic hydrocarbon, (iii) aromatic hydrocarbon, (iv) alkyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon (v) heterocyclic groups and (vi) heterosubstituted derivatives of said groups (i) to (v); M is a Group (3) to (11) or lanthanide metal; E is phosphorus or arsenic; X is an anionic group, L is a neutral donor group; n is (1) or (2), y and z are independently zero or integers, such that the number of X and L groups satisfy the valency and oxidation state of the metal M. n is preferably (2) and the two resulting R1 groups are preferably linked. The complex can be used with optional activator to polymerise olefins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of an olefin derivative, which process comprises the steps of: (a) cracking a paraffinic hydrocarbon containing feedstock to produce a first dilute olefins stream comprising both olefins and alkanes, (b) reacting at least a portion of said first dilute olefins stream produced in step (a) to produce a first olefin derivative stream, comprising a first olefin derivative, and a second dilute olefins stream, comprising alkanes and at least 5 mol % unreacted olefins, (c) auto-thermally cracking at least a portion of said second dilute olefins stream produced in step (b), said portion comprising alkanes and at least 5 mol % unreacted olefins.

Abstract: A transition metal complex having the following Formula (A): wherein the monovalent groups R1 and R2 are —Ra, —ORb, —NRcRd, and —NHRe; the monovalent groups Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd and Re, and the divalent group R3 are (i) aliphatic hydrocarbon, (ii) alicyclic hydrocarbon, (iii) aromatic hydrocarbon, (iv) alkyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon (v) heterocyclic groups and (vi) heterosubstituted derivatives of said groups (i) to (v); M is a Group (3) to (11) or lanthanide metal; E is phosphorus or arsenic; X is an anionic group, L is a neutral donor group; n is (1) or (2), y and z are independently zero or integers, such that the number of X and L groups satisfy the valency and oxidation state of the metal M. n is preferably (2) and the two resulting R1 groups are preferably linked.

Abstract: Process for the production of olefins such as ethylene from a hydrocarbon such as ethane. The process involves passing a mixture of the hydrocarbon and an oxagen-containing gas through a catalyst zone which is capable of supporting combustion beyond the fuel rich limit of flammability to produce the olefin. The catalyst zone comprises at least a first catalyst bed and a second catalyst bed. The second catalyst bed is located downstream of the first catalyst bed, is of a different composition to the first catalyst bed and comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, and groups IB, IIB, IIIB, IVB, VB, VIIB and VIII of the Periodic Table. Suitably, the first catalyst bed comprises platinum and the second catalyst bed comprises tin- or copper-promoted nickel, cobalt or iridium catalyst or a copper-only catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for improving the start up of polymerization or copolymerization of ethylene in a gas phase reactor, preferably a fluidized bed gas phase reactor.

Abstract: Process for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon comprising partially oxidizing in a reaction zone, a mixture comprising a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting oxidation of the hydrocarbon. Prior to the partial oxidation, the mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and the oxygen-containing gas is passed through a heat exchanger which provides a pressure drop which acts to even the velocity profile and ensure that the reactants flow uniformly over the catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the production of olefins from a hydrocarbon comprising the steps of: a) passing a first feed stream comprising gaseous reactants to a first reaction zone wherein said gaseous reactants react exothermically to provide a product stream b) producing a mixed feed stream comprising oxygen by passing the product stream produced in step (a) and a second feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon feedstock to a mixing zone, oxygen being passed to the mixing zone via (i) the product stream produced in step (a), (ii) the second feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon feedstock and/or (iii) a third stream comprising an oxygen-containing gas c) passing the mixed feed stream directly to an essentially adiabatic second reaction zone wherein in the absence of a supported platinum group metal catalyst at least a part of the oxygen is consumed and a stream comprising olefins is produced e) cooling the stream comprising olefins exiting the second reaction zone to less than 650° C.

Abstract: A catalyst support consisting mainly of synthetic silica, with 0.5-10 parts by weight of one or more oxides or phosphates of the elements of group IIA, IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII, IB, IIB, IIIA, IVA and the lanthanides, wherein the support preparation method comprises mixing particulate synthetic silica with particulate oxides or phosphates of the elements of Groups IIA, IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII, IB, IIB, IIIA, IVA and the lanthanides, or with precursors thereof, a forming step and calcinations. The catalyst support is used together with phosphoric acid in the production of alcohols from olefins by hydration.