Synthesis of Novel Catalysts to Produce LLDPE from Ethylene Monomer

This project falls under the umbrella of collaboration between KFUPM and Caltech. This project is a model of diverse background, where multi-disciplinary teams consisting of engineering and science are going to work hand to hand to achieve the scope of the collaboration. The science members of the team will focus on the catalyst side and the engineering members will focus on the polymerization and polymer characterization. In my lab, I am going to lead the engineering part and below are the objectives that will be under the chemical engineering department; The specific objectives of this projects are to: 1. Synthesize linear low density Polyethylene (LLDPE) by using the catalysts that will be produced in the chemistry departments at both KFUPM and Caltech. 2. Compare the productivity of the new catalysts with the existing ones. 3. Study the activity of catalysts at different conditions (mainly pressure and temperature). 4. Characterize the produced LLDPE. 5. Study and model the crystallization kinetics of the produced LLDPE. 6. Evaluate the activation energies for the crystallization process by iso-conversional method or Kissinger method. 7. Study the effect of catalysts on the thermal degradation kinetics of the synthesized LLDPE. 8. Evaluate the activation energies for the degradation kinetics.