A method of producing a functionalized material that extracts metal ions from solution, the method comprising: (i) providing a precursor material having nitrile groups appended to its surface; and (ii) reacting said nitrile groups with hydroxylamine or a derivative thereof in the presence of a polar aprotic solvent at a temperature of 60-80° C. for at least 1 hour, to convert at least a portion of said nitrile groups to amidoxime and imide dioxime groups, followed by reaction with a base capable of hydrolyzing any remaining nitrile groups to carboxylic acid groups; wherein said functionalized material has a higher uranium absorption capacity than a functionalized material produced under same conditions except that the nitrile groups are reacted with hydroxylamine in only a protic solvent. The invention is also directed to functionalized materials produced by the above-described method, and methods for using the functionalized material for extracting metal ions from metal-containing solutions.

The invention relates to a propylene homopolymer or copolymer having a comonomer in the copolymer selected from ethylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.20-alpha olefin, said propylene homopolymer or copolymer being free of phthalic compound. It further relates to a long-chain branched propylene homopolymer or copolymer (b-PP) having a comonomer in the copolymer selected from ethylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.20-alpha olefins, said long-chain branched propylene homopolymer or copolymer (b-PP) being free of phthalic compound. As well as their production processes and uses.

The invention relates to a propylene homopolymer or copolymer having a comonomer in the copolymer selected from ethylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.20-alpha olefin, said propylene homopolymer or copolymer being free of phthalic compound. It further relates to a long-chain branched propylene homopolymer or copolymer (b-PP) having a comonomer in the copolymer selected from ethylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.20-alpha olefins, said long-chain branched propylene homopolymer or copolymer (b-PP) being free of phthalic compound. As well as their production processes and uses.

The invention relates to a propylene homopolymer or copolymer having a comonomer in the copolymer selected from ethylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.20-alpha olefin, said propylene homopolymer or copolymer being free of phthalic compound. It further relates to a long-chain branched propylene homopolymer or copolymer (b-PP) having a comonomer in the copolymer selected from ethylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.20-alpha olefins, said long-chain branched propylene homopolymer or copolymer (b-PP) being free of phthalic compound. As well as their production processes and uses.

The present invention relates to a cascade process for the preparation of a graft copolymer comprising a polyolefin main chain and one or a multiple polymer side chains. The process comprising step A) of copolymerizing at least one first type of olefin monomer and at least one second type of metal-pacified functionalized olefin monomer using a catalyst system to obtain a polyolefin main chain having one or multiple metal-pacified functionalized short chain branches, the catalyst system comprising: i) a metal catalyst or metal catalyst precursor comprising a metal from Group 3-10 of the IUPAC Periodic Table of elements; and ii) optionally a co-catalyst; and step B) of forming one or multiple polymer side chains on the polyolefin main chain having one or multiple metal-pacified functionalized short chain branches to obtain the graft copolymer.

The present invention relates to a cascade process for the preparation of a graft copolymer comprising a polyolefin main chain and one or a multiple polymer side chains. The process comprising step A) of copolymerizing at least one first type of olefin monomer and at least one second type of metal-pacified functionalized olefin monomer using a catalyst system to obtain a polyolefin main chain having one or multiple metal-pacified functionalized short chain branches, the catalyst system comprising: i) a metal catalyst or metal catalyst precursor comprising a metal from Group 3-10 of the IUPAC Periodic Table of elements; and ii) optionally a co-catalyst; and step B) of forming one or multiple polymer side chains on the polyolefin main chain having one or multiple metal-pacified functionalized short chain branches to obtain the graft copolymer.

The present invention relates to a cascade process for the preparation of a block copolymer comprising a first type of polyolefin block and at least one type of second polymer block. The process according to the present invention involves the following consecutive steps: A) polymerizing at least one type of olefin monomer using a catalyst system to obtain a first polyolefin block containing a main group metal on at least one chain end; the catalyst system comprising: i) a metal catalyst or metal catalyst precursor comprising a metal from Group 3-10 of the IUPAC Periodic Table of elements; and ii) at least one type of chain transfer agent; and iii) optionally a co-catalyst; B) reacting the first polyolefin block containing a main group metal on at least one chain end obtained in step A) with at least one type of oxidizing agent to obtain a first polyolefin block containing at least one main group metal-functionalized oxidized chain end; and C) forming at least one second polymer block on the first polyolefin block, wherein as a catalytic initiator the main group metal-functionalized oxidized chain end of the first polyolefin block obtained in step B) is used.

The present invention relates to a cascade process for the preparation of a block copolymer comprising a first type of polyolefin block and at least one type of second polymer block. The process according to the present invention involves the following consecutive steps: A) polymerizing at least one type of olefin monomer using a catalyst system to obtain a first polyolefin block containing a main group metal on at least one chain end; the catalyst system comprising: i) a metal catalyst or metal catalyst precursor comprising a metal from Group 3-10 of the IUPAC Periodic Table of elements; and ii) at least one type of chain transfer agent; and iii) optionally a co-catalyst; B) reacting the first polyolefin block containing a main group metal on at least one chain end obtained in step A) with at least one type of oxidizing agent to obtain a first polyolefin block containing at least one main group metal-functionalized oxidized chain end; and C) forming at least one second polymer block on the first polyolefin block, wherein as a catalytic initiator the main group metal-functionalized oxidized chain end of the first polyolefin block obtained in step B) is used.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a graft copolymer comprising a polyolefin main chain and one or multiple polymer side chains, the process comprising the steps of: copolymerizing at least one first type of olefin monomer and at least one second type of metal-pacified functionalized olefin monomer to obtain a polyolefin main chain having one or multiple metal-pacified functionalized short chain branches, and reacting the polyolefm main chain having one or multiple metal-pacified functionalized short chain branches with at least one metal substituting agent to obtain a polyolefin main chain having one or multiple functionalized short chain branches; and fonning one or multiple polymer side chains on the polyolefin main chain, wherein as initiators the functionalized short chain branches on the polyolefin main chain are used to obtain the graft copolymer. The invention also relates to the products obtained therefrom.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a graft copolymer comprising a polyolefin main chain and one or multiple polymer side chains, the process comprising the steps of: copolymerizing at least one first type of olefin monomer and at least one second type of metal-pacified functionalized olefin monomer to obtain a polyolefin main chain having one or multiple metal-pacified functionalized short chain branches, and reacting the polyolefm main chain having one or multiple metal-pacified functionalized short chain branches with at least one metal substituting agent to obtain a polyolefin main chain having one or multiple functionalized short chain branches; and fonning one or multiple polymer side chains on the polyolefin main chain, wherein as initiators the functionalized short chain branches on the polyolefin main chain are used to obtain the graft copolymer. The invention also relates to the products obtained therefrom.