Continuous oligomerization process
AssigneePearsall Chemical Corporation
InventorsN. Lee Allphin, Fred S. Valentine, Gary W. Grams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Alpha-olefins are oligomerized to a product useful as a synthetic lubricant in a continuous process utilizing a promoted boron trifluoride catalyst. The oligomerization is carried out in a system comprising a plurality of loop recycle reactors arranged in series, the reaction being preferably carried out such that: (A) The total residence time of alpha-olefin monomer/oligomerization product in the system is from about 1 to about 2 hours; and (B) The flow rate through each of the plurality of loop recycle reactors effects a turnover of reactor contents of each reactor at least once every 5 minutes.
Claims15
In a process for the continuous production of an oligomer product having a desirable oligomer distribution, said process involving the oligomerization of a C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 alpha-olefin monomer in the presence of a promoted boron trifluoride catalyst, the improvement wherein the oligomerization is carried out in a system comprising a plurality of loop recycle reactors in series, such that:
- (a) the total residence time of alpha-olefin monomer/oligomer product in said system is from about one to two hours;
- and
- (b) the flow rate through each of said plurality of loop recycle reactors affects a turnover of contents in each reactor at least once every five minutes.
A process for the continuous production of an oligomer product having a desirable oligomer distribution which comprises:
- (a) continuously introducing into a first loop recycle reactor of a plurality of loop recycle reactors, in, series:
- (i) alpha-olefin feedstock;
- (ii) boron trifluoride;
- and
- (iii) a promoter for the boron trifluoride
- (b) establishing in said first loop recycle reactor a turnover of contents at least once every five minutes;
- (c) continuously withdrawing a portion of the contents of said first loop recycle reactor and forwarding said withdrawn portion to at least one additional loop recycle reactor;
- (d) continuously introducing into each of said additional loop recycle reactors further amounts of boron trifluoride;
- (e) establishing in each of said additional loop recycle reactors a turnover of contents at least once every five minutes;
- and
- (f) continuously withdrawing oligomer product from the last of said additional loop recycle reactors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.