Process for linear alpha-olefin production
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsPaul A. Sechrist, Brian H. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for the continuous oligomerization of ethylene to produce linear alpha olefins by oligomerizing ethylene in a polar phase comprising a solution of transition metal catalyst system at oligomerization conditions including a temperature and pressure greater than the critical temperature and pressure of ethylene. The resulting hydrocarbon phase containing oligomers and unreacted ethylene is subjected to physical treatment which tends to render the ethylene a nonsolvent for oligomers and thereby produce a liquid stream rich in unreacted ethylene which may be recycled to the oligomerization reaction zone by pumping.
Claims12
A process for the continuous oligomerization of ethylene to produce linear alpha-olefins comprising:
- (a) introducing ethylene at oligomerization conditions including a temperature and pressure greater than the critical temperature and pressure of ethylene into a liquid polar phase comprising a solution of transition metal catalyst system in a polar solvent;
- (b) oligomerizing ethylene in said liquid polar phase to produce oligomers having more than 4 carbon atoms and forming a liquid hydrocarbon phase separate from said liquid polar phase and comprising unreacted ethylene;
- (c) continually withdrawing and subjecting said liquid hydrocarbon phase to physical treatment which tends to render said ethylene a nonsolvent for oligomers to thereby form a two-phase system with a first liquid phase comprising ethylene in a reduced solvent state and a second liquid phase comprising oligomers;
- (d) recycling at least a portion of said first liquid phase comprising ethylene produced in step (c) to provide at least a portion of the ethylene in step (a);
- and
- (e) recovering said second liquid phase comprising oligomers produced in step (c).
A process for the continuous oligomerization of ethylene to produce linear alpha-olefins comprising:
- (a) introducing ethylene at oligomerization conditions including a temperature and pressure greater than the critical temperature and pressure of ethylene into a liquid polar phase comprising a solution of transition metal catalyst system in a polar solvent;
- (b) oligomerizing ethylene in said liquid polar phase to produce oligomers having more than 4 carbon atoms and forming a liquid hydrocarbon phase separate from said liquid polar phase and comprising unreacted ethylene;
- (c) continually withdrawing and subjecting said liquid hydrocarbon phase to physical treatment which tends to render said ethylene a nonsolvent for oligomers to thereby form a two-phase system with a first liquid phase comprising ethylene in a reduced solvent state and a second liquid phase comprising oligomers and ethylene;
- (d) recycling at least a portion of said first liquid phase comprising ethylene produced in step (c) to provide at least a portion of the ethylene in step (a);
- (e) fractionating at least a portion of said second liquid phase comprising oligomers and ethylene produced in step (c) to produce a stream comprising ethylene and a stream comprising oligomers;
- (f) recycling at least a portion of said stream comprising ethylene produced in step (e) to provide at least a portion of the ethylene in step (a);
- and
- (g) recovering said stream comprising oligomers produced in step (e).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.