A Practical Method of Neutralizing Cr(VI) in Phillips Polymerization Catalysts

The Phillips Cr/silica catalyst, which has great worldwide industrial importance, also involves Cr(VI) at one stage in its preparation. Consequently workers must be protected from exposure and strict decontamination procedures are required. In this paper various ways of neutralizing the Cr(VI) in the catalyst are evaluated with regard to efficiency of reduction, cost and other practical considerations. One reducing agent seems especially well suited to this application, ascorbate (vitamin C). A method of detection of ppm levels of hexavalent chromium on work surfaces is also discussed.