Advances in polymerization catalysts based on 4 and 5F groups of periodic table

Abstract

So far, in the development of new catalyst systems, the attention of chemists has been customarily addressed to catalyst activity, regio and stereospecificity. Nowadays, the impact of catalyst systems on other aspects of a chemical process has to be taken in due account, in relation to the increased cost of raw materials and energy. After showing the incidence of materials, utilities, manpower, investment on the production cost of a high density polyethylene process (typical representative of plastics) and of a high cis polybutadiene process (typical representative of a synthetic rubber), the potential impact of the catalyst system on the different cost items is pointed out. as an example, the possible economic advantages of new polymerization catalysts based on actinides and lanthanides are illustrated with reference to an improved high cis polybutadiene process. As a conclusion, the necessity of an even more strict cooperation between scientist investigating new organometallics and catalysts and, on the other side, process technologies and engineers is pointed out. Only by an early cooperation of this type can the advantages offered by 4 and 5f groups transition metals be transferred to improved industrial process and some development mishap can be avoided.