Synthesis of poly-alpha olefin and use thereof
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorsWei Song, William J. Heilman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One or more oligomers of an olefin are prepared in the presence of a single-site catalyst. Preferably, the olefin is an α-olefin, and the oligomers are a poly-alpha-olefin (PAO). The PAO so prepared is completely or substantially free of tertiary hydrogen resulting from isomerization. Consequently, the PAO possesses improved biodegradability, improved oxidation resistance, and/or a relatively higher viscosity index. The PAO has many useful applications, such as a component of a lubricant.
Claims32
A hydrogenated poly-alpha-olefin composition, comprising:
- one or more hydrogenated oligomers of an alpha-olefin, the oligomers having a molecular weight of about 10,000 or less and characterized by a substantially regio-regular structure, 14% by weight or greater of trimer, tetramer and higher oligomers, and being substantially free of tertiary hydrogen resulting from isomerization, said alpha olefin is represented by the formula CH2═CHR wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group.
A method of making a hydrogenated non-isomerized oligomer comprising:
- contacting an olefin monomer in the presence of a single site catalyst, said olefin monomer is represented by the formula CH2═CHR wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group;
- effecting oligomerization of the olefin monomer to produce a substantially regio-regular oligomer having a molecular weight of about 10,000 or less and 14% by weight or greater of trimer, tetramer and higher oligomers;
- contacting the oligomer with hydrogen under hydrogenation conditions to produce a hydrogenated non-isomerized oligomer;
- and recovering the hydrogenated non-isomerized oligomer.
The method of 14, wherein the oligomerzation yield is 66% by weight or greater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.