Methods of preparing oligomers of an olefin are provided. The methods can include providing an alkylaluminum compound and irradiating the alkylaluminum compound with microwave radiation to provide an irradiated alkylaluminum compound. The methods can further include mixing the irradiated alkylaluminum compound with a chromium compound, a pyrrole compound, and a zinc compound to provide a catalyst composition. The methods can further include contacting an olefin with the composition to form oligomers of the olefin. The olefin can include ethylene, and the oligomers of the olefin can include 1-hexene.

Methods of preparing oligomers of an olefin are provided. The methods can include providing an alkylaluminum compound and irradiating the alkylaluminum compound with microwave radiation to provide an irradiated alkylaluminum compound. The methods can further include mixing the irradiated alkylaluminum compound with a chromium compound, a pyrrole compound, and a zinc compound to provide a catalyst composition. The methods can further include contacting an olefin with the composition to form oligomers of the olefin. The olefin can include ethylene, and the oligomers of the olefin can include 1-hexene.

Methods of preparing oligomers of an olefin are provided. The methods can include providing an alkylaluminum compound and irradiating the alkylaluminum compound with microwave radiation to provide an irradiated alkylaluminum compound. The methods can further include mixing the irradiated alkylaluminum compound with a chromium compound, a pyrrole compound, and a zinc compound to provide a catalyst composition. The methods can further include contacting an olefin with the composition to form oligomers of the olefin. The olefin can include ethylene, and the oligomers of the olefin can include 1-hexene.

A process for making a poly alpha-olefin (PAO) having a relatively high vinylidene content (or combined vinylidene and tri-substituted vinylene content) and a relatively low vinyl and/or di-substituted vinylene content, as well as a relatively low molecular weight. The process includes: contacting a feed containing a C.sub.2-C.sub.32 alpha-olefin with a catalyst system comprising activator and a bis-cyclopentadienyl metallocene compound, typically a cyclopentadienyl-benzindenyl group 4 transition metal compound.

A process for making a poly alpha-olefin (PAO) having a relatively high vinylidene content (or combined vinylidene and tri-substituted vinylene content) and a relatively low vinyl and/or di-substituted vinylene content, as well as a relatively low molecular weight. The process includes: contacting a feed containing a C.sub.2-C.sub.32 alpha-olefin with a catalyst system comprising activator and a bis-cyclopentadienyl metallocene compound, typically a cyclopentadienyl-benzindenyl group 4 transition metal compound.

The disclosure provides methods for the production of liquefied petroleum gas from sustainable feedstocks, including methods comprising conversion of alcohols produced by gas fermentation for the production of propane and/or butane.

The disclosure provides methods for the production of liquefied petroleum gas from sustainable feedstocks, including methods comprising conversion of alcohols produced by gas fermentation for the production of propane and/or butane.

A method of precipitating polymer and deactivated organometallic catalyst in an olefin oligomerization reaction is provided. The method includes providing an effluent stream from an olefin oligomerization reaction. The effluent stream can include a polymer and an organometallic catalyst. The method can further include introducing sorbent particles into the effluent stream. The sorbent particles can include a deactivating agent. The deactivating agent can be water, an alcohol, an amine, an amino alcohol, or a combination thereof. At least about 10% of the sorbent particles can have a particle size in a range from 10 μm and 60 μm. The method can further include cooling the effluent stream, thereby precipitating polymer and deactivated organometallic catalyst from the effluent stream to provide a precipitate that includes sorbent, polymer, and deactivated catalyst.

A method of precipitating polymer and deactivated organometallic catalyst in an olefin oligomerization reaction is provided. The method includes providing an effluent stream from an olefin oligomerization reaction. The effluent stream can include a polymer and an organometallic catalyst. The method can further include introducing sorbent particles into the effluent stream. The sorbent particles can include a deactivating agent. The deactivating agent can be water, an alcohol, an amine, an amino alcohol, or a combination thereof. At least about 10% of the sorbent particles can have a particle size in a range from 10 μm and 60 μm. The method can further include cooling the effluent stream, thereby precipitating polymer and deactivated organometallic catalyst from the effluent stream to provide a precipitate that includes sorbent, polymer, and deactivated catalyst.

Linear alpha olefins (LAOS) may be formed by oligomerization of ethylene in the presence of a Ziegler-type catalyst. The presence of trace water during oligomerization can result in unwanted formation of insoluble higher oligomers or polymer. Methods for limiting the presence of water during ethylene oligomerization reactions may include separating residual ethylene and 1-butene from an LAO product stream to form a higher LAO-enriched stream comprising C.sub.6+ LAOs, separating 1-hexene as an overhead stream from the higher-LAO enriched stream using a first distillation column, obtaining separated solvent as a side stream from the first distillation column or as a side stream from a first of one or more downstream distillation columns, and returning the separated solvent to a reactor in a recycled solvent stream. The recycled solvent stream passes through one or more driers before returning to the reactor.