Abstract: A pre-catalyst composition comprising a) a silica support comprising silica wherein an amount of silica ranges from about 70 wt. % to about 95 wt. % based upon a total weight of the silica support, b) a chromium-containing compound wherein an amount of chromium ranges from about 0.1 wt. % to about 5 wt. % based upon the amount of silica, c) a titanium-containing compound wherein an amount of titanium ranges from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % based upon the amount of silica, d) a carboxylic acid wherein an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to carboxylic acid ranges from about 1:1 to about 1:10, and e) a nitrogen-containing compound with a molecular formula containing at least one nitrogen atom wherein an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to nitrogen-containing compound ranges from about 1:0.5 to about 1:10.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a solid component of a reactor feed stream in a polymer production system, comprising (a) measuring a turbidity of the reactor feed stream, wherein the reactor feed stream comprises a solid component of a polymerization catalyst system, and (b) translating the turbidity of the reactor feed stream into a concentration of the solid component in the reactor feed stream. A method of monitoring a solid component of a reactor feed stream in a polymer production system, comprising (a) measuring a turbidity of a precontactor feed stream, wherein the precontactor feed stream comprises a solid component of a polymerization catalyst system, and (b) translating the turbidity of the precontactor feed stream into a concentration of the solid component in a precontactor effluent stream, wherein the precontactor effluent stream comprises the reactor feed stream.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for preparing fluorided solid oxides by contacting an acidic fluorine-containing compound with an inorganic base to form an aqueous mixture having a pH of at least 4, followed by contacting a solid oxide with the aqueous mixture to produce the fluorided solid oxide. Also disclosed are methods for preparing fluorided solid oxides by contacting an acidic fluorine-containing compound with a solid oxide to produce a mixture, followed by contacting the mixture with a inorganic base to produce the fluorided solid oxide at a pH of at least about 4. The fluorided solid oxide can be used as an activator component in a catalyst system for the polymerization of olefins.

Abstract: Processes for activating chromium polymerization catalysts, which can use lower maximum activation temperatures and shorter activation times than conventional activation methods, and provide polyethylenes with high melt indices, broader molecular weight distributions, and lower long chain branching content. The activation process can comprise heating a supported chromium catalyst in an inert atmosphere to a first temperature (T1) for a first hold time (tH1), followed by allowing the chromium catalyst to attain a second temperature (T2) in the inert atmosphere, then contacting the chromium catalyst with an oxidative atmosphere for a second hold time (tH2), in which T2 can be less than or equal to T1. Additional activation treatments and conditioning steps are disclosed which can be used to enhance the melt index potential of Phillips (Cr/silica) catalysts.

Abstract: Methods for making a supported chromium catalyst are disclosed, and can comprise contacting a silica-coated alumina containing at least 30 wt. % silica with a chromium-containing compound in a liquid, drying, and calcining in an oxidizing atmosphere at a peak temperature of at least 650° C. to form the supported chromium catalyst. The supported chromium catalyst can contain from 0.01 to 20 wt. % chromium, and typically can have a pore volume from 0.5 to 2 mL/g and a BET surface area from 275 to 550 m2/g. The supported chromium catalyst subsequently can be used to polymerize olefins to produce, for example, ethylene-based homopolymers and copolymers having high molecular weights and broad molecular weight distributions.

Abstract: Supported chromium catalysts with an average valence less than +6 and having a hydrocarbon-containing or halogenated hydrocarbon-containing ligand attached to at least one bonding site on the chromium are disclosed, as well as ethylene-based polymers with terminal alkane, aromatic, or halogenated hydrocarbon chain ends. Another ethylene polymer characterized by at least 2 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000 g/mol and at least 1.5 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol is provided, as well as an ethylene homopolymer with at least 3.5 methyl short chain branches and less than 0.6 butyl short chain branches per 1000 total carbon atoms.

Abstract: Catalyst preparation systems and methods for preparing reduced chromium catalysts are disclosed, and can comprise irradiating a supported chromium catalyst containing hexavalent chromium with a light beam having a wavelength within the UV-visible light spectrum. Such reduced chromium catalysts have improved catalytic activity compared to chromium catalysts reduced by other means. The use of the reduced chromium catalyst in polymerization reactor systems and olefin polymerization processes also is disclosed, resulting in polymers with a higher melt index.

Abstract: Processes for producing an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid, such as acrylic acid, or a salt thereof, using treated solid oxides are disclosed. The treated solid oxides can be calcined solid oxides, metal-treated solid oxides, or metal-treated chemically-modified solid oxides, illustrative examples of which can include sodium-treated alumina, calcium-treated alumina, zinc-treated alumina, sodium-treated sulfated alumina, sodium-treated fluorided silica-coated alumina, and similar materials.

Abstract: A radically coupled polymer having a density of from about 0.915 g/ml to about 0.975 g/ml characterized by a crossover modulus measured in Pascals (Pa) that is equal to or less than ymn where ymn=180,000e?0.15x and x is the number average molecular weight of the radically coupled polymer divided by 1,000. An ethylene polymer having a level of short chain branching ranging from about 0 to about 10 mol. %; a level of long chain branching ranging from about 0.001 LCB/103 carbons to about 1.5 LCB/103 carbons as determined by SEC-MALS; and characterized by a crossover modulus measured in Pa that is equal to or less than ymn where ymn=180,000?0.15x and x is the number average molecular weight of the radically coupled polymer divided by 1,000.

Abstract: A pre-catalyst composition comprising a) a silica support comprising silica wherein an amount of silica ranges from about 70 wt. % to about 95 wt. % based upon a total weight of the silica support, b) a chromium-containing compound wherein an amount of chromium ranges from about 0.1 wt. % to about 5 wt. % based upon the amount of silica, c) a titanium-containing compound wherein an amount of titanium ranges from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % based upon the amount of silica, d) a carboxylic acid wherein an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to carboxylic acid ranges from about 1:1 to about 1:10, and e) a nitrogen-containing compound with a molecular formula containing at least one nitrogen atom wherein an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to nitrogen-containing compound ranges from about 1:0.5 to about 1:10.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a solid component of a reactor feed stream in a polymer production system, comprising (a) measuring a turbidity of the reactor feed stream, wherein the reactor feed stream comprises a solid component of a polymerization catalyst system, and (b) translating the turbidity of the reactor feed stream into a concentration of the solid component in the reactor feed stream. A method of monitoring a solid component of a reactor feed stream in a polymer production system, comprising (a) measuring a turbidity of a precontactor feed stream, wherein the precontactor feed stream comprises a solid component of a polymerization catalyst system, and (b) translating the turbidity of the precontactor feed stream into a concentration of the solid component in a precontactor effluent stream, wherein the precontactor effluent stream comprises the reactor feed stream.

Abstract: A method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) contacting a non-aqueous solvent, a carboxylic acid, and a chromium-containing compound to form an acidic mixture; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound with the acidic mixture to form a titanium treatment solution; c) contacting a pre-formed silica-support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water with the titanium treatment solution to form a pre-catalyst; and d) thermally treating the pre-catalyst to form the catalyst. A method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) contacting a non-aqueous solvent and a carboxylic acid to form an acidic mixture; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound with the acidic mixture to form a titanium treatment solution; c) contacting a pre-formed chrominated silica-support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water with the titanium treatment solution to form a pre-catalyst; and d) thermally treating the pre-catalyst to form the catalyst.

Abstract: A method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) contacting a non-aqueous solvent, a carboxylic acid, and a chromium-containing compound to form an acidic mixture; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound with the acidic mixture to form a titanium treatment solution; c) contacting a pre-formed silica-support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water with the titanium treatment solution to form a pre-catalyst; and d) thermally treating the pre-catalyst to form the catalyst. A method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) contacting a non-aqueous solvent and a carboxylic acid to form an acidic mixture; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound with the acidic mixture to form a titanium treatment solution; c) contacting a pre-formed chrominated silica-support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water with the titanium treatment solution to form a pre-catalyst; and d) thermally treating the pre-catalyst to form the catalyst.

Abstract: A pre-catalyst composition comprising a) a silica support comprising silica wherein an amount of silica ranges from about 70 wt. % to about 95 wt. % based upon a total weight of the silica support, b) a chromium-containing compound wherein an amount of chromium ranges from about 0.1 wt. % to about 5 wt. % based upon the amount of silica, c) a titanium-containing compound wherein an amount of titanium ranges from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % based upon the amount of silica, d) a carboxylic acid wherein an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to carboxylic acid ranges from about 1:1 to about 1:10, and e) a nitrogen-containing compound with a molecular formula containing at least one nitrogen atom wherein an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to nitrogen-containing compound ranges from about 1:0.5 to about 1:10.

Abstract: A method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) drying a chrominated-silica support followed by contacting with a titanium(IV) alkoxide to form a metalized support, b) drying a metalized support followed by contacting with an aqueous alkaline solution comprising from about 3 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of a nitrogen-containing compound to form a hydrolyzed metalized support, and c) drying the hydrolyzed metalized support followed by calcination at a temperature in a range of from about 400° C. to about 1000° C. and maintaining the temperature in the range of from about 400° C. to about 1000° C. for a time period of from about 1 minute to about 24 hours to form the catalyst.

Abstract: Methods for reinforcing chromium catalysts by the deposition of additional silica are disclosed herein. The resultant silica-reinforced chromium supported catalysts can be used to polymerize olefins to produce, for example, ethylene based homopolymers and copolymers with higher molecular weights and additional long chain branching.

Abstract: A method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) contacting a titanium-containing compound, a solvating agent, and a solvent to form a solution; b) contacting the solution with a chrominated silica-support to form a pre-catalyst; and c) thermally treating the pre-catalyst by heating to a temperature of from about 400° C. to about 1000° C. for a time period of from about 1 minute to about 24 hours to form the catalyst.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing a water-soluble titanium-silicon complex are disclosed herein. The titanium-silicon complex can be utilized to produce titanated solid oxide supports and titanated chromium supported catalysts. The titanated chromium supported catalysts subsequently can be used to polymerize olefins to produce, for example, ethylene based homopolymer and copolymers.

Abstract: A polymer having a long chain branching content peaking at greater than about 20 long chain branches per million carbon atoms, and a polydispersity index of greater than about 10 wherein the long chain branching decreases to approximately zero at the higher molecular weight portion of the molecular weight distribution. A polymer having a long chain branching content peaking at greater than about 8 long chain branches per million carbon atoms, a polydispersity index of greater than about 20 wherein the long chain branching decreases to approximately zero at the higher molecular weight portion of the molecular weight distribution. A polymer having a long chain branching content peaking at greater than about 1 long chain branches per chain, and a polydispersity index of greater than about 10 wherein the long chain branching decreases to approximately zero at the higher molecular weight portion of the molecular weight distribution.

Abstract: A method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) contacting a titanium-containing compound, a solvating agent, and a solvent to form a solution; b) contacting the solution with a chrominated silica-support to form a pre-catalyst; and c) thermally treating the pre-catalyst by heating to a temperature of from about 400° C. to about 1000° C. for a time period of from about 1 minute to about 24 hours to form the catalyst.