Patent ID: 8349264

Claim:
A method comprising: (a) introducing a catalyst comprising chromium into a continuous catalyst activator; (b) introducing a fluidizing gas into the continuous catalyst activator comprising a fluidized bed of the catalyst; (c) heating the catalyst within the continuous catalyst activator while maintaining flow of the catalyst through the continuous catalyst activator such that the catalyst is maintained at a hold temperature for an average hold time; (d) contacting the catalyst with at least one agent to convert at least a portion of the chromium from Cr(III) to Cr(VI) to produce a valence-converted catalyst; and (e) controlling a continuous catalyst activator discharge process variable by adjusting a continuous catalyst activator inlet process variable, wherein the continuous catalyst activator discharge process variable is a conversion of Cr(III) to Cr(VI), a conversion of Cr(VI) to Cr(II), a catalyst color, a catalyst activity, or combinations thereof.