Patent ID: 7847140
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: C07C,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A process for making linear higher olefins of a general formula C n H 2n , wherein n is an integer greater than two, comprising: (a) providing an apparatus including a catalytic distillation column comprising an upper first portion, a condenser connected to the upper first portion, a middle second portion having a catalyst bed containing an oligomerization catalyst having a good selectivity to formation of linear higher olefins a lower third portion, and a reboiler connected to the lower third portion of the column, (b) providing a feed composition comprising a lower olefin having a general formula C (c) introducing the feed composition in liquid form at its boiling point into the upper first portion, (d) passing the feed composition from the upper first portion to the middle second portion, wherein the temperature and pressure are sufficiently high that the feed composition is present as gas and liquid in equilibrium within a refluxing reaction mixture, such that the lower olefin is oligornerized by reacting the lower olefin over the oligomerization catalyst so as to form a liquid reaction mixture containing higher olefins which mixes with the lower olefin to form a liquid phase product solution that descends to collect in the lower third portion and a gas phase reaction mixture that ascends to the upper first portion, (e) passing the gas phase reaction mixture from the upper first portion to the condenser for condensation of the condensable components for their return as liquids to the upper first portion, and (f) passing the liquid phase product solution to the reboiler, wherein the lower olefin is separated and returned as vapor to the lower third portion and the linear higher olefins are recovered as liquid.