Effect of preparation condition in one-pot synthesis of MgCl2-supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst on ethylene-1-octene copolymerization

• One-pot synthesis of MgCl 2 -supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst was for ethylene-1-octene copolymerization. • Formation of active Mg support and the active Ti species in the one-pot synthesis. • Effect of alcohol feeding condition during catalyst synthesis on catalytic performance. • Effect of Mg/Al molar ratio in catalyst on catalytic performance and polymer properties. MgCl 2 -supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst was prepared through one-pot synthesis. The effect of feeding conditions of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (EHA) and Mg/Al molar ratio in feed were investigated in the one-pot synthesis. The longer EHA feeding time resulted in a higher concentration of Ti of the final catalyst, and consequently a higher activity in the ethylene polymerization. Moreover, a larger concentration of EHA also resulted in higher activity for ethylene polymerization. A lower Mg/Al molar ratio in feed (M-1) caused a smaller Ti content with a lower Ti binding energy in the final catalyst. However, M-1 catalyst showed very high activity in ethylene-1-octene copolymerizations. It also showed higher molecular weight capability as it produced a higher molecular weight copolymer.