Polymerization of olefins with single-site catalyst anchored on amine-functionalized surface of SBA-15

Catalysis Today, Available online 13 January 2012, In Press, Corrected Proof
Polymerization of olefins with single-site catalyst anchored on amine-functionalized surface of SBA-15
Jeong Suk Lee^a,
Jin-Heong Yim^b,
Jong-Ki Jeon^a,
Young Soo Ko^a
ysko@kongju.ac.kr
^a Department of Chemical Engineering, Kongju National University, 275 Budae-dong, Cheonan, Chungnam 331-717, Republic of Korea
^b Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, Kongju National University, 275 Budae-dong, Cheonan, Chungnam 331-717, Republic of Korea
Abstract
Mesoporous silica SBA-15 functionalized with amine or nitrile group have been synthesized.  (n-BuCp)₂ZrCl₂ and methylaluminoxane (MAO) were subsequently immobilized on the functionalized SBA-15 for the further evaluation as a catalyst of ethylene polymerization. Five silanes were compared as functional groups for the immobilization (n-BuCp)₂ZrCl₂ and methylaluminoxane (MAO). Zr contents in the final supported catalysts were observed to be strongly dependent on the nitrogen content on the surface of functionalized SBA-15.
This indicates that the more Zr could be immobilized due to the interaction between (n-BuCp)₂ZrCl₂ and amine or nitrile groups presented on the surface of SBA-15. 2NIm, 2NS and 3NS were shown to interact with (n-BuCp)₂ZrCl₂ strongly compared to 1NCy and 1NS due to larger number of amine groups and formation of stable active species. The ethylene homo- and copolymerization activities of (n-BuCp)₂ZrCl₂ supported on the amine or nitrile-functionalized SBA-15 were increased with an increase in the nitrogen and Zr content in the supported catalyst.
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