Nonlinear Multiresponse Parameter Estimation Using Simplex Optimization Method

Polyolefin molecular architectures are designed according to customer needs and demands. Hence, it is essential to determine the catalytic behavior that gives the polymer the characteristics it needs to meet the market requirements. Today most of the industrial polyolefin production depends on multiple-site-type catalysts such as Ziegler-Natta catalysts. In this work a methodology to estimate parameters for polyolefin multiple-site-type catalysts was presented. The sequence length distribution data were simulated using Zeroth-order and First-order Markovian models. These simulated data were used to test the robustness of the optimization method. The optimization method used was able to retrieve and comprehend the proper probabilistic models and provide acceptable polymerization parameters estimates.