Catalyst Handbook - 2020 - 347

2020 CATALYST HANDBOOK
INDUSTRY CATEGORIES

PROCESS CATEGORIES

COMPANY INDEX

Avant catalysts (cont.)
Development: The four catalyst families are based on different internal donors.
Third-generation EB catalysts were commercialized in the early 1980s. Another
catalyst family uses phthalates as the internal donor; these catalysts represent the
workhorse of the PP industry. More recently, LyondellBasell has commercialized
fifth-generation diether and succinate catalysts that are increasingly being used
due to their operational and product property advantages.
A large number of external donors are used in combination with these catalysts.
Whereas EB catalysts would typically use para-ethoxy ethylbenzoate (PEEB) as a
selectivity control agent, the other families typically use dialkyldimethoxysilanes as
external donors. A large variety of donors can be used; C, P and D donors are included
in the formulas shown in Fig. 3. In addition, catalyst systems that use mixtures of
internal or external donors are used, which render the overall picture very complex.
Patent protection is in force for many of the newer internal and external donors.
Avant ZN. LyondellBasell operates three polypropylene plants that utilize
the LIPP process, which uses a continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) to produce
homopolymer and random copolymer grades. Through its JVs, LyondellBasell
also operates several Hypol lines, which use a combination of CSTRs and gas
phase reactors, and a Showa Denka loop plant with two loop reactors. With a
total capacity of 720 kilotons/yr, the plants use LyondellBasell's Avant ZN catalysts.
In addition, LyondellBasell has been supplying Avant ZN catalysts to third-party
bulk plants for decades.

O

O

R

R

Internal donors-catalyst types

O

O

O
O

R

R

O

R

O

R

R

Benzoate

Phthalate

Diether

O

R

O

Succinate

Si

Si

PEEB

O R

External donors

COOC2H5

OC2H5

O
R
R
R
R

O

O

CHMMS (C)

O

Si
O

DPDMS (P)

O

O

DCPDMS (D)

Fig. 3. Basic catalyst components. Many internal/external donor combinations
exist that affect reactor performance and product properties.

References: LyondellBasell, " Optimized Ziegler-Natta catalysts for bulk PP processes, "
LyondellBasell Brochure, online: https://www.lyondellbasell.com/globalassets/
products-technology/technology/bulk-pp-processes.pdf?id=13745
Supplier: LyondellBasell
Website: https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/products-technology/technology/
avant-catalysts1
Contact: https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/utilities/contact-us/container/catalyst/

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Catalyst Handbook - 2020

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