Assessing the Downstream Contamination of Chemically Recycled Ethylene Feed Streams on the Kinetic Behavior of Ziegler‐Natta Catalysts and Microstructural Properties of HDPE and LLDPE

The sustainability of consumer materials, such as plastics, belongs to the most important aspect eco-efficiency analyses. Besides mechanical recycling, chemical recycling represents an interesting waste management pathway. In theory, this technique does not rely on single-grade feedstock maintain product quality. However, cross-contamination feedstocks potentially leads above-specification impurities in obtained pyrolysis oils. This study investigates potential downstream poisoning a fourth-generation Ziegler-Natta catalyst, using selected model poisons at high (worst-case) concentrations. With experimental and computational analysis, economic feasibility factors catalyst activity microstructural properties are evaluated during synthesis high-density polyethylene (HDPE) linear low-density (LLDPE). Noticeable effects can be observed when poison interacts with co-catalyst, whereas lower impact is for interactions activated catalyst-co-catalyst complex. Molecular weight distribution (MWD) comonomer composition (CCD) modeling highlighted marginal no polymer property changes caused by contaminants. Combined applicability post-treatments, these observations show that promising post-consumer plastic treatment.