Gas-Phase Ethylene Polymerization by Single-Site Cr Centers in a Metal-Organic Framework

Hoyoung D. Park, Robert J. Comito, Zhenwei Wu, Guanghui Zhang, Nathan Ricke, Chenyue Sun, Troy Van Voorhis, Jeffrey T. Miller, Yuriy Román-Leshkov, Mircea Dincǎ

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report a systematic study on the gas-phase polymerization of ethylene by a metal-organic framework (MOF) catalyst. Cr3+-exchanged MFU-4l (Cr(III)-MFU-4l, MFU-4l = Zn5Cl4(BTDD)3, H2BTDD = bis(1H-1,2,3,-triazolo[4,5-b],[4′,5′-i])dibenzo[1,4]dioxin)) serves as an exemplary system to demonstrate prereaction treatment with alkylaluminum species as a simple method to isolate an active MOF catalyst for liquid-free polymerization of ethylene. AlMe3-treated Cr(III)-MFU-4l subjected to 40 bar of ethylene exhibits a polymerization activity of 52 000 molEthylene·molCr -1·h-1, an order of magnitude higher than that observed in a slurry-phase reaction with Cr(III)-MFU-4l and excess alkylaluminum species. Furthermore, product polyethylene exhibits a low polydispersity index of 1.36 and a free-flowing granular morphology favorable for industrial processing, highlighting the advantages conferred by the single-site MOF catalysts in gas-phase ethylene polymerization.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3864-3870
Number of pages7
JournalACS Catalysis
Volume10
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 20 2020
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry

Keywords

  • gas-phase polymerization
  • heterogeneous catalysis
  • metal-organic framework
  • polyethylene
  • single-site catalyst

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