This invention relates to a self cleaning reactor and to a process for the oligomerization of ethylene that employs a self-cleaning reactor. The reactor includes a mass of inert, particulate cleaning bodies that are entrained by the liquid in the reactor and scour the internal surfaces of the reactor during normal operation. This scouring action reduces the level of fouling on the reactor surfaces. Foulant material (polyethylene) is removed from the process on a continuous basis but the cleaning bodies remain within the reactor.

This invention relates to a self cleaning reactor and to a process for the oligomerization of ethylene that employs a self-cleaning reactor. The reactor includes a mass of inert, particulate cleaning bodies that are entrained by the liquid in the reactor and scour the internal surfaces of the reactor during normal operation. This scouring action reduces the level of fouling on the reactor surfaces. Foulant material (polyethylene) is removed from the process on a continuous basis but the cleaning bodies remain within the reactor.

Embodiments of polyethylene formulations and articles comprising polyethylene formulations are disclosed. The polyethylene formulation may include from 45 wt. % to 90 wt. % of an MDPE having a density of from 0.930 g/cc to 0.950 g/cc and a melt index (I.sub.2) from 0.05 g/10 min to 0.5 g/10 min; from 10 wt. % to 50 wt. % of a polyethylene composition having a density from 0.910 g/cc to 0.936 g/cc and a melt index (I.sub.2) from 0.7 g/10 min to 1.0 g/10 min; and from 0.5 wt. % to 5% of a masterbatch composition. The polyethylene composition may comprise a first polyethylene fraction area in a temperature range of 45° C. to 87° C. of an elution profile via improved comonomer composition distribution (iCCD) analysis method and a second polyethylene fraction area in a temperature range of 95° C. to 120° C. of an elution profile via iCCD.

Embodiments of polyethylene formulations and articles comprising polyethylene formulations are disclosed. The polyethylene formulation may include from 45 wt. % to 90 wt. % of an MDPE having a density of from 0.930 g/cc to 0.950 g/cc and a melt index (I.sub.2) from 0.05 g/10 min to 0.5 g/10 min; from 10 wt. % to 50 wt. % of a polyethylene composition having a density from 0.910 g/cc to 0.936 g/cc and a melt index (I.sub.2) from 0.7 g/10 min to 1.0 g/10 min; and from 0.5 wt. % to 5% of a masterbatch composition. The polyethylene composition may comprise a first polyethylene fraction area in a temperature range of 45° C. to 87° C. of an elution profile via improved comonomer composition distribution (iCCD) analysis method and a second polyethylene fraction area in a temperature range of 95° C. to 120° C. of an elution profile via iCCD.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a catalyst, and in particular provides a method for preparing a catalyst suitable for the polymerisation of ethylene and/or propylene, said catalyst comprising a compound of yttrium, neodymium or scandium supported on a silica support, and wherein the method comprises: a) Treating a silica support by heating at a temperature of at least 550° C., b) Contacting the treated silica support with a complex of the following formula: D.sub.mMX.sup.1X.sup.2R wherein M is selected from Y, Sc and Nd, R is a hydrocarbyl group, X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are anionic groups, D is a neutral donor group, and m is 0 or greater.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a catalyst, and in particular provides a method for preparing a catalyst suitable for the polymerisation of ethylene and/or propylene, said catalyst comprising a compound of yttrium, neodymium or scandium supported on a silica support, and wherein the method comprises: a) Treating a silica support by heating at a temperature of at least 550° C., b) Contacting the treated silica support with a complex of the following formula: D.sub.mMX.sup.1X.sup.2R wherein M is selected from Y, Sc and Nd, R is a hydrocarbyl group, X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are anionic groups, D is a neutral donor group, and m is 0 or greater.

This invention relates to a method comprising contacting C3-C32 alpha olefin with catalyst system comprising activator and catalyst of the formula wherein: M is Hf or Zr; T is a bridging group; each X is independently a leaving group; R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, or a Ci-Gto optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group, halide, or siloxyl group; R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently a Ci-Gto optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, silylcarbyl, aminocarbyl, or siloxyl group; and A is an aliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic ring, optionally bearing one or more additional fused rings which may be aliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic; obtaining a plurality of vinyl-terminated polyalphaolefins (PAOs) having at least 30 mol % vinyl terminated PAO's.

##STR00001##

This invention relates to a method comprising contacting C3-C32 alpha olefin with catalyst system comprising activator and catalyst of the formula wherein: M is Hf or Zr; T is a bridging group; each X is independently a leaving group; R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, or a Ci-Gto optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group, halide, or siloxyl group; R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently a Ci-Gto optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, silylcarbyl, aminocarbyl, or siloxyl group; and A is an aliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic ring, optionally bearing one or more additional fused rings which may be aliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic; obtaining a plurality of vinyl-terminated polyalphaolefins (PAOs) having at least 30 mol % vinyl terminated PAO's.

##STR00001##

An apparatus for preparing polyalpha-olefins includes a mixing unit, a microchannel reaction unit, a high-pressure separation unit, a low-pressure separation unit, a gas circulation unit, a post-treatment unit and a pressure control unit, the mixing unit, the microchannel reaction unit, the high-pressure separation unit, the low-pressure separation unit that are successively connected. The gas circulation unit, the microchannel reaction unit is provided with the BF.sub.3 gas inlet, the mixing unit is provided with the auxiliary feed inlet, and the olefin raw material inlet, the gas circulation unit is connected with the BF.sub.3 gas inlet, the low-pressure separation unit is further connected with the post-treatment unit, and the high-pressure separation unit, the pressure control unit, and the gas circulation unit are further successively connected. The apparatus has the advantages of high polymerization reaction speed, high reaction conversion and good product selectivity, and is suitable for large-scale industrial production.

An apparatus for preparing polyalpha-olefins includes a mixing unit, a microchannel reaction unit, a high-pressure separation unit, a low-pressure separation unit, a gas circulation unit, a post-treatment unit and a pressure control unit, the mixing unit, the microchannel reaction unit, the high-pressure separation unit, the low-pressure separation unit that are successively connected. The gas circulation unit, the microchannel reaction unit is provided with the BF.sub.3 gas inlet, the mixing unit is provided with the auxiliary feed inlet, and the olefin raw material inlet, the gas circulation unit is connected with the BF.sub.3 gas inlet, the low-pressure separation unit is further connected with the post-treatment unit, and the high-pressure separation unit, the pressure control unit, and the gas circulation unit are further successively connected. The apparatus has the advantages of high polymerization reaction speed, high reaction conversion and good product selectivity, and is suitable for large-scale industrial production.