Olefin Cooligomerization Catalyst Conversion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In olefin oligomerization processes, the selective reaction of olefin isomer mixtures leads to severe depletion of reactive isomers, resulting in unreacted less reactive olefins, and the hydroformylatability of olefin products is affected by branching and substitution, reducing their utility for producing alcohols used in plasticizers and surfactants.
Innovation Solution
A process for cooligomerization of olefins, where olefins with n carbon atoms and 2n carbon atoms are reacted over an oligomerization catalyst under conditions that limit the conversion of 2n carbon atoms to less than 10%, allowing for the separation and enhanced hydroformylatability of both 3n carbon and 2n carbon products, with control parameters like mass flow and reaction temperature regulating the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If olefin isomer mixtures are used for oligomerization, then the reaction proceeds with available feedstock, but severe depletion of reactive isomers occurs and less reactive olefins remain unreacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter by using pure monomer instead of isomer mixtures, and controls the conversion parameter by limiting it to 30-70% range, which prevents severe depletion of reactive isomers while maintaining good reaction rates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary separation of olefin isomers to obtain pure monomer feedstock before oligomerization, which eliminates the problem of selective consumption of reactive isomers that occurs when using crude isomer mixtures
2Reliability
If oligomerization is carried out to partial conversion, then unreacted less reactive olefins can be recovered, but the hydroformylatability of products is reduced due to branching and substitution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the conversion parameter to an optimized range of 30-70%, which is higher than conventional partial conversion but still allows good recovery of unreacted olefins while producing oligomers with acceptable hydroformylatability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent produces a specific distribution of oligomer products with controlled degrees of branching and substitution by using pure monomer feed and controlled conversion, ensuring that the most valuable products have good hydroformylatability
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple reaction units are used for oligomerization, then selectivity to higher oligomers is increased, but the process complexity and separation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single reaction unit with carefully controlled parameters (conversion 30-70%, pure monomer feed) to achieve good selectivity, avoiding the need for multiple reaction units and complex separation systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This process ensures high hydroformylatability of the separated olefin products, improving their conversion into valuable alcohols and optimizing the yield of usable olefin fractions, thereby enhancing the production efficiency and selectivity of the oligomerization reaction.
Implementation Method 1
olefins having n carbon atoms is reacted over an olefin oligomerization catalyst
Data Source
AI summary
In a process for the cooligomerization of olefins, an olefin starting material comprising olefins having n carbon atoms and olefins having 2n carbon atoms is reacted over an olefin oligomerization catalyst to give a reaction product. The process is carried out under such conditions that the conversion of olefins having 2n carbon atoms is less than 10%. Both the cooligomer having 3n carbon atoms and the olefin having 2n carbon atoms which has been separated off from the reaction product have a high hydroformylatability.