Chitosan microsphere-supported catalysts: design, synthesis and optimization for ethylene polymerization.

Polyolefins are the main building blocks for consumer products. Here, chitosan, a biopolymer that can be derived from abundant fishery waste, is shaped as a microspheroidal support using spray drying to facilitate ethylene polymerization. Definitive screening design was used to optimize synthesis steps efficiently. The generated catalysts were tested for ethylene polymerization, and the effects of MAO loading and generated porosity were assessed using a variety of micro- and spectroscopic techniques.