Catalytic Hydrogenolysis at Low Temperature and Pressure of Polyethylene and Polypropylene to Diesels or Lower Alkanes by a Zirconium Hydride Supported on Silica-Alumina: A Step Toward Polyolefin Degradation by the Microscopic Reverse of Ziegler-Natta Polymerization

Abstract

Cleavage and polymerization with the same catalyst: The catalyst system named in the title, which cleaves polyethylene and polypropylene under a hydrogen atmosphere, is also capable of polymerizing ethylene or propylene. This shows the close relationship between olefin insertion and β-alkyl elimination [Eq. (a), (P)=polymer chain(P)].