Oligomerisation process
AssigneeThe Queen's University of Belfast
InventorsMartin Philip Atkins, Kenneth Richard Seddon, Malgorzata Swadzba-Kwasny, Fergal Coleman
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Abstract
This invention relates to base oils for lubricating compositions. In particular, the present invention provides a process for the selective oligomerisation of C5 to C20 alpha-olefins to produce polyalphaolefin oligomers with a molecular weight distribution that is suitable for use in lubricant base oils.
Claims30
A process for the preparation of alpha-olefin oligomers, comprising contacting an olefinic feedstock comprising C5 to C20 alpha-olefins with a liquid complex catalyst comprising:
- (i) at least one metal halide salt of the formula MX3, wherein M is selected from aluminium and gallium, and each X is independently selected chlorine, bromine and iodine;
- and
- (ii) at least one Lewis basic donor ligand containing a donor atom selected from oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, phosphorus arsenic and selenium;
- wherein the molar ratio of the at least one metal halide salt to the at least one Lewis basic donor ligand is in the range of from 1:1 to 4:1.
A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein X represents bromine or chlorine, preferably chlorine.
A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one Lewis basic donor ligand is selected from ligands containing a donor atom selected from oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen and phosphorus.
A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the olefinic feedstock comprises at least 50 wt % of one or more C5 to C20 alpha-olefins, more preferably at least 60 wt % of one or more C5 to C20 alpha-olefins, more preferably at least 70 wt % of one or more C5 to C20 alpha-olefins, more preferably at least 80 wt % of one or more C5 to C20 alpha-olefins, more preferably at least 90 wt % of one or more C5 to C20 alpha-olefins, and most preferably at least 95 wt % of one or more C5 to C20 alpha-olefins.
A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the olefinic feedstock comprises at least 30 wt % C8 to C14 alpha-olefins, preferably at least 50 wt % C8 to C14 alpha-olefins, more preferably at least 70 wt % C8 to C14 alpha-olefins, still more preferably at least 80 wt % C8 to C14 alpha-olefins, and most preferably at least 90 wt % C8 to C14 alpha-olefins.
A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the olefinic feedstock comprises a minor amount of paraffins.
A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the olefinic feedstock is contacted with the liquid complex catalyst at a temperature of from 0 to 160° C., more preferably 40 to 140° C., more preferably 80 to 140° C., still more preferably 100 to 140° C., and most preferably about 120° C.
A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the olefinic feedstock is contacted with the liquid complex catalyst at a pressure of from 10 to 1000 kPa, preferably from 20 to 500 kPa, more preferably from 50 to 200 kPa, still more preferably from 80 to 120 kPa, and most preferably about 100 kPa.
A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the olefinic feedstock is contacted with at least 0.01 wt % of the liquid complex catalyst, more preferably at least 0.05 wt % of the liquid complex catalyst, still more preferably at least 0.1 wt % of the liquid complex catalyst, and most preferably at least 0.2 wt % of the liquid complex catalyst, based on the total weight of the liquid complex catalyst and olefinic feedstock.
A process according to any one of the preceding claims which is selective for the preparation of dimers, trimers and tetramers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.