Dimerization and trimerization of C5 olefins via catalytic distillation

A process for the selective dimerization and etherification of isoolefins, the process comprising:

• feeding a mixed C5 stream, comprising isoolefins, olefins, and dienes to a selective hydrogenation unit to convert the dienes to olefins, isoolefins, and paraffins, producing a hydrogenated effluent stream;
• feeding the hydrogenated effluent stream with a moderator to a first fixed bed reactor containing a first catalyst, producing a first reactor effluent comprising dimers of the isoolefin, unreacted C5s, one or more oxygenates, and unreacted moderator;
• feeding the first reactor effluent to a catalytic distillation reactor system containing a second catalyst, the second catalyst being configured for etherification and/or dimerization of isoolefins, producing a first overheads comprising unreacted olefins, isoolefins, oxygenate, and one or more C5 ethers and a first bottoms comprising dimers of the isoolefins, any produced trimers of the isoolefins, heavy oxygenates and unreacted moderator,
• feeding the first overheads to a second fixed bed reactor containing a third catalyst, the third catalyst being the same or different as the first catalyst, producing a second reactor effluent comprising dimers of the isoolefins, unreacted C5s, the one or more oxygenates and unreacted moderator;
• combining the first bottoms stream and the second reactor effluent, forming a combined feed stream;
• and
• feeding the combined feed stream to a product splitter, producing a second overheads stream comprising unreacted C5 olefins, isoolefins, moderator, and oxygenates, and a second bottoms comprising the dimers of the isoolefins and any produced trimers of the isoolefins and heavier oligomers.