Propylene oligomerization process

• Main Authors: BEECKMAN JEAN W, SALEH RAMZI Y, VARTULI JAMES C, LOESCHER MITCHELL E, KEENAN MICHAEL J, LEMON ROBERT C, BOYER CHRISTOPHER C
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.01.2010
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; CHEMISTRY; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION ORPROCESSING OF GOODS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE

A process for the oligomerization of propylene is disclosed wherein a tungstated zirconia catalyst prepared as a distillation structure is used in a reaction distillation zone under conditions of temperature and pressure to concurrently react the propylene to produce oligomers thereof and separate the oligomer products from unreacted propylene by fractional distillation in a distillation column reactor. Compared to the prior art tubular or plug flow reactors, lower temperatures and pressures are used to produce higher conversions and selectivities to preferred isomeric forms useful for preparing neo acids.