Abstract: Methods for determining the catalytic activity of an activated chemically-treated solid oxide using a color measurement technique are described, and these methods are integrated into transition metal-based catalyst preparation processes and systems, as well as into olefin polymerization processes and related polymerization reactor systems.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions containing a metallocene compound, a solid activator, and a co-catalyst, in which the solid activator or the supported metallocene catalyst has a d50 average particle size of 15 to 50 ?m and a particle size distribution of 0.5 to 1.5, can be contacted with an olefin in a loop slurry reactor to produce an olefin polymer. A representative ethylene-based polymer produced using the catalyst composition has excellent dart impact strength and low gels, and can be characterized by a HLMI from 4 to 10 g/10 min, a density from 0.944 to 0.955 g/cm3, a higher molecular weight component with a Mn from 280,000 to 440,000 g/mol, and a lower molecular weight component with a Mw from 30,000 to 45,000 g/mol and a ratio of Mz/Mw ranging from 2.3 to 3.4.

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 comprising a) contacting a solvent, a carboxylic acid, and a peroxide-containing compound to form an acidic mixture wherein a weight ratio of solvent to carboxylic acid in the acidic mixture is from about 1:1 to about 100:1; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound and the acidic mixture to form a solubilized titanium mixture wherein an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to carboxylic acid in the solubilized titanium mixture is from about 1:1 to about 1:4 and an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to peroxide-containing compound in the solubilized titanium mixture is from about 1:1 to about 1:20; and c) contacting a chromium-silica support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water and the solubilized titanium mixture to form an addition product and drying the addition product by heating to a temperature in a range of from about 50° C. to about 150° C. and maintaining the temperature in the range of from about 50° C. to about 150° C.

Abstract: A method comprising a) contacting a solvent, a carboxylic acid, and a peroxide-containing compound to form an acidic mixture wherein a weight ratio of solvent to carboxylic acid in the acidic mixture is from about 1:1 to about 100:1; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound and the acidic mixture to form a solubilized titanium mixture wherein an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to carboxylic acid in the solubilized titanium mixture is from about 1:1 to about 1:4 and an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to peroxide-containing compound in the solubilized titanium mixture is from about 1:1 to about 1:20; and c) contacting a chromium-silica support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water and the solubilized titanium mixture to form an addition product and drying the addition product by heating to a temperature in a range of from about 50° C. to about 150° C. and maintaining the temperature in the range of from about 50° C. to about 150° C.

Abstract: Ethylene polymers having a density from 0.908 to 0.925 g/cm3, a melt index from 0.5 to 3 g/10 min, a ratio of Mw/Mn from 2 to 4, a ratio of Mz/Mw from 1.6 to 2.3, a CY-a parameter from 0.45 to 0.6, and an ATREF profile characterized by a single peak at a peak ATREF temperature from 76 to 88° C., and by less than 4.5 wt. % of the polymer eluting above a temperature of 91° C. These ethylene polymers can be used to produce various articles of manufacture, such as blown and cast films with a beneficial combination of high tear resistance and low haze.

Abstract: Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. In addition, these processes can further comprise a step of calcining all or a portion of the reduced chromium catalyst to regenerate the supported chromium catalyst.

Abstract: An ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer having (a) a density of from about 0.910 g/cc to about 0.940 g/cc; (b) a weight average molecular weight of from about 150,000 g/mol to about 300,000 g/mol; and (c) a melt index at a load of 2.16 kg of from about 0.01 dg/10 min. to about 0.5 dg/min.; wherein a 1 mil blown film formed from the polymer composition is characterized by (i) a Dart Impact strength greater than about 175 g/mil; (ii) an Elmendorf machine direction tear strength greater than about 20 g/mil; and (iii) an Elmendorf transverse direction tear strength greater than about 475 g/mil.

Abstract: Ethylene polymers having a density from 0.908 to 0.925 g/cm3, a melt index from 0.5 to 3 g/10 min, a ratio of Mw/Mn from 2 to 4, a ratio of Mz/Mw from 1.6 to 2.3, a CY-a parameter from 0.45 to 0.6, and an ATREF profile characterized by a single peak at a peak ATREF temperature from 76 to 88° C., and by less than 4.5 wt. % of the polymer eluting above a temperature of 91° C. These ethylene polymers can be used to produce various articles of manufacture, such as blown and cast films with a beneficial combination of high tear resistance and low haze.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for catalyst preparation. A method includes heating a mixture of one or more transition metal compounds and an oxide support or a chromium containing oxide support to a temperature or a set of temperatures that enables the a transition metal compound of the one or more transition metal compounds to sublime, melt, or thermally decompose, such that a transition metal of the one or more transition metal compounds reacts with and is deposited onto a surface of the oxide support or the chromium containing oxide support to form a catalyst, and activating the catalyst. The catalyst is configured to facilitate a reaction that produces a target inorganic material.

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: A method comprising a) contacting a solvent, a carboxylic acid, and a peroxide-containing compound to form an acidic mixture wherein a weight ratio of solvent to carboxylic acid in the acidic mixture is from about 1:1 to about 100:1; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound and the acidic mixture to form a solubilized titanium mixture wherein an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to carboxylic acid in the solubilized titanium mixture is from about 1:1 to about 1:4 and an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to peroxide-containing compound in the solubilized titanium mixture is from about 1:1 to about 1:20; and c) contacting a chromium-silica support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water and the solubilized titanium mixture to form an addition product and drying the addition product by heating to a temperature in a range of from about 50° C. to about 150° C. and maintaining the temperature in the range of from about 50° C. to about 150° C.

Abstract: A method comprising a) contacting a solvent, a carboxylic acid, and a peroxide-containing compound to form an acidic mixture wherein a weight ratio of solvent to carboxylic acid in the acidic mixture is from about 1:1 to about 100:1; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound and the acidic mixture to form a solubilized titanium mixture wherein an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to carboxylic acid in the solubilized titanium mixture is from about 1:1 to about 1:4 and an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to peroxide-containing compound in the solubilized titanium mixture is from about 1:1 to about 1:20; and c) contacting a chromium-silica support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water and the solubilized titanium mixture to form an addition product and drying the addition product by heating to a temperature in a range of from about 50° C. to about 150° C. and maintaining the temperature in the range of from about 50° C. to about 150° C.

Abstract: Silica-coated alumina activator-supports, and catalyst compositions containing these activator-supports, are disclosed. Methods also are provided for preparing silica-coated alumina activator-supports, for preparing catalyst compositions, and for using the catalyst compositions to polymerize olefins.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are ethylene homopolymers generally characterized by a density of less than 0.94 g/cm3 and an inverse short chain branch distribution. These homopolymers can be further characterized by a ratio of Mw/Mn from 2 to 100, a number of short chain branches from 2 to 20 short chain branches per 1000 total carbon atoms, and wherein at least 50% of the short chain branches are methyl branches.

Abstract: Processes for converting an olefin reactant into a diol compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of contacting the olefin reactant and a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the diol compound. While being contacted, the olefin reactant and the supported chromium catalyst can be irradiated with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum. Optionally, these processes can further comprise a step of calcining at least a portion of the reduced chromium catalyst to regenerate the supported chromium catalyst.

Abstract: Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of forming a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state, irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported chromium catalyst with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The supported chromium catalyst can be formed by heat treating a supported chromium precursor, contacting a chromium precursor with a solid support while heat treating, or heat treating a solid support and then contacting a chromium precursor with the solid support.

Abstract: Processes for cracking an alkane reactant to form a lower aliphatic hydrocarbon product and for converting an alkane reactant into a higher aliphatic hydrocarbon product are disclosed, and these processes include a step of contacting the alkane reactant with a supported chromium (II) catalyst. In addition to the formation of various aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as linear alkanes, branched alkanes, 1-alkenes, and internal alkenes, aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrogen also can be produced.

Abstract: Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. In addition, these processes can further comprise a step of calcining all or a portion of the reduced chromium catalyst to regenerate the supported chromium catalyst.

Abstract: Ethylene polymers having a density from 0.908 to 0.925 g/cm3, a melt index from 0.5 to 3 g/10 min, a ratio of Mw/Mn from 2 to 4, a ratio of Mz/Mw from 1.6 to 2.3, a CY-a parameter from 0.45 to 0.6, and an ATREF profile characterized by a single peak at a peak ATREF temperature from 76 to 88° C., and by less than 4.5 wt. % of the polymer eluting above a temperature of 91° C. These ethylene polymers can be used to produce various articles of manufacture, such as blown and cast films with a beneficial combination of high tear resistance and low haze.