Particle engineering of magnesium ethoxide-based Ziegler-Natta catalyst through post-modification of magnesium ethoxide

Abstract A synthetic scheme for particle engineering of magnesium ethoxide (Mg(OEt)2) as a solid precursor for olefin polymerization catalysts was presented based on the exploitation of various organic compounds as a modulator in a post-addition step. It was found that the introduction of a modulator after the particle formation helped to modulate the macroscopic features and the crystalline structure of Mg(OEt)2 to the great extent without destructing the macroparticle morphology. Different types of organic compounds were exploited and their influences on the Mg(OEt)2 structural features were investigated. It was found that organic compounds with higher polarity caused strong modulation of Mg(OEt)2, which allowed particle and pore engineering of the final catalyst, and in turn its performance in propylene polymerization.