Catalytic polymerization of ethylene in toluene using a Pd-organometallic catalyst

The kinetics of the ethylene polymerization of ethylene in toluene using a monometallic palladium catalyst containing phosphine ligands was investigated. The effect of both external and internal mass transfer limitations was assessed. The influence of several factors (temperature, monomer concentration, catalyst concentration) on the polymerization rate, molecular weights and crystallinity was studied. A polymerization mechanism was proposed and a mathematical model for the process was developed.