Process for producing linear alpha olefins

Abstract

Abstract AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR CATALYTIC POLYMERIZATION, OR OLIGOMERIZATION, OF ETHYLENE TO OBTAIN A REACTION PRODUCT MIXTURE CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF C4 TO C200 OLEFINS, INCLUDING ESPECIALLY LINEAR ALPHA OLEFINS. THE OLIGOMERIZATION REACTION IS CONDUCTED BY ADDING ETHYLENE TO A DILUENT AT PRESSURES TO MAINTAIN AN ETHYLENE CONCENTRATION IN THE LIQUID PHASE SUFFICIENT TO SUPPRESS COPOLYMERIZATION REACTIONS INVOLVING THE PRODUCT OLEFINS. IT IS FOUND THAT HIGHER CATALYST ACTIVITY AND STABILITY CAN BE MAINTAINED IF THE TRANSITION METAL HALIDE AND ORGANO ALUMINUM HALIDE CATALYTIC MIXTURE IS MODIFIED, PRIOR TO INITATION OF THE REACTION, WITH A STRONG LWEIS ACID ADDED IN SMALL BUT EFFECTIVE CRITICAL CONCENTRATIONS. MODIFICATION OF THE CATALYTIC MIXTURE ALSO PERMITS OPERATION AT TEMPERATURES RANGING E.G., ABOUT 20 TO 6/ CENTIGRADE DEGREES HIGHER THAN PERMITTED BY USE OF AN UNMODIFIED CATALYST AND HENCE REFRIGERATION NEEDS ARE REDUCED, OR ELIMINATED.

Inventors

• 👤 Arthur W Langer Jr

Bibliographic Details