US 6,982,305 B2
Olefin polymerization in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst
Sandor Nagy, Naperville, Ill. (US)
Assigned to Equistar Chemicals, LP, Houston, Tex. (US)
Filed on Jan. 26, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/764,941.
Prior Publication US 2005/0165180 A1, Jul. 28, 2005
Int. Cl. C08F 4/60 (2006.01); C08F 4/64 (2006.01); C08F 4/70 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 526—115 18 Claims
 
1. A process which comprises polymerizing an olefin in the presence of: (a) a single-site or Ziegler-Natta olefin polymerization catalyst; (b) a low-temperature dehydrogenation catalyst comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, iridium, nickel, and rhenium; and (c) an optional hydrocarbon solvent, under conditions effective to promote:
(i) olefin polymerization;
(ii) catalytic dehydrogenation of the solvent and/or the resulting saturated oligomer or polymer chains to produce short and/or long-chain alkenes; and
(iii) copolymerization of additional olefin with the alkenes; to produce a polyolefin having long-chain branching and/or a density less than about 0.96 g/cm3.