Cr catalysts supported on silica, zeolite NaY, and charcoal were prepared
with two different methods. They were characterized and examined in the polymerization
of ethene. Cyclic voltammetry, electron spin resonance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
and silicon-29 magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
were used to characterize them, demonstrating that Cr is not in a single oxidation state,
that the distribution among the various oxidation states depends on the history of the
sample, and that even for a single oxidation state a variety of different environments
can occur. In the polymerization of ethene, the supported Cr catalysts exhibited activity
values varying from 103 to 105 gPE molCr1 [M]1 h1
, depending on the choice of
the support and on the method by which the Cr is placed on it. Silica seemed to be the
most efficient support for Cr for this reaction. However, the zeolite-supported catalysts
also showed reasonable activity values (Ap 104 units) and presented the advantage of
having a strong interaction between the Cr and the support, which may prevent
leaching of the cation into the surrounding environment. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J
Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3768 –3780, 2003