Patent ID: 7153803

Claim:
A method of making a catalyst support for a catalyst system used for the production of polyethylene, comprising: contacting a magnesium compound, an alkyl silicate, and a monoester in a liquid medium to form a mixture, wherein the monoester is selected from the group consisting of methyl formate, butyl formate, ethyl acetate, vinyl acetate, propyl acetate, octyl acetate, cyclohexyl acetate, ethyl propionate, methyl butyrate, ethyl butyrate, isobutyl butyrate, ethyl valerate, ethyl stearate, methyl chloroacetate, ethyl dichloroacetate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl crotonate, ethyl cyclohexanecarboxylate, methyl benzoate, ethyl benzoate, propyl benzoate, butyl benzoate, octyl benzoate, cyclohexyl benzoate, phenyl benzoate, benzyl benzoate, ethyl p-methoxybenzoate, methyl p-methylbenzoate, ethyl p-t-butylbenzoate, ethyl naphthoate, methyl toluate, ethyl toluate, amyl toluate, ethyl ethylbenzoate, methyl anisate, ethyl anisate, and ethyl ethoxybenzoate; and heating the mixture to form a catalyst support having a diameter from about 5 microns to about 60 microns (on a 50% by volume basis).