Patent ID: 6660898
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: C07C,C10G,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for dimerizing light olefinic hydrocarbons comprising the steps of:feeding a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising light olefins into a first reaction zone containing a solid acidic catalyst; feeding an oxygenate into the first reaction zone; contacting the hydrocarbon feedstock with the solid acidic catalyst in the presence of the oxygenate to dimerize light olefins of the feedstock into the corresponding dimers; recovering the dimers and unreacted light olefins from the first reaction zone; converting the unreacted light olefins into an intermediate product in the presence of the same or a different oxygenate in a recovery section, wherein said intermediate product is an alcohol or an ether formed by the reversible reaction of the light olefins and the oxygenate; separating the intermediate product from the unreacted light olefins; decomposing the intermediate product to form the corresponding light olefins; and recycling the formed light olefins to the first reaction zone.