The present invention relates to the field of gas/liquid reactors making possible the oligomerization of ethylene to give linear olefins by homogeneous catalysis with a reaction chamber comprising transverse internals capable of slowing down the ascent of the gaseous ethylene in the said reactor.

The present invention relates to the field of gas/liquid reactors making possible the oligomerization of ethylene to give linear olefins by homogeneous catalysis with a reaction chamber comprising transverse internals capable of slowing down the ascent of the gaseous ethylene in the said reactor.

The invention is concerned with the production of 1-hexene and octenes from ethene. 1-Butene is optionally also to be produced. The problem addressed by the present invention is that of developing a process for producing 1-hexene from ethene by MTHxE etherification to achieve better chemical utilization of the employed carbon atoms. This problem is solved by catalytic retrocleavage of MTHxE into the C.sub.6 olefins and the alcohol, reuse of the alcohol in the etherification and reaction of the obtained C.sub.6 olefins with ethene to afford C.sub.8 olefins. In this way the alcohol is not lost from the process but rather is internally recirculated as a derivatizing agent. The less attractive C.sub.6 olefins from the cleavage product are upgraded to octene with further ethene in order to provide a further commercial product.

The invention is concerned with the production of 1-hexene and octenes from ethene. 1-Butene is optionally also to be produced. The problem addressed by the present invention is that of developing a process for producing 1-hexene from ethene by MTHxE etherification to achieve better chemical utilization of the employed carbon atoms. This problem is solved by catalytic retrocleavage of MTHxE into the C.sub.6 olefins and the alcohol, reuse of the alcohol in the etherification and reaction of the obtained C.sub.6 olefins with ethene to afford C.sub.8 olefins. In this way the alcohol is not lost from the process but rather is internally recirculated as a derivatizing agent. The less attractive C.sub.6 olefins from the cleavage product are upgraded to octene with further ethene in order to provide a further commercial product.

The present invention relates to a method for olefin oligomerization and comprising i) injecting an olefin monomer and a solvent into a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR); ii) injecting an oligomerization catalyst system comprising a ligand compound, a transition metal compound, and a co-catalyst into the continuous stirred tank reactor; and iii) performing a multimerization reaction of the olefin monomer, wherein a ratio of the flowing rates of the olefin monomer and the solvent is from 1:1 to 2:1. In the method for olefin oligomerization according to the present invention, high linear alpha-olefin selectivity may be attained even with a small amount of a solvent used by controlling reaction conditions during the multimerization reaction of olefin by a continuous reaction using a continuous stirred tank reactor.

A novel catalyst composition and its use in the oligomerization reaction converting a portion of a C.sub.4 to C.sub.5+ alkene feed stream to C.sub.4 to C.sub.6+ olefin derivatives. The catalyst comprises a Group VIII metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, cobalt, and combinations thereof, on a support. The support can be silica, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, metal modified silica, silica-pillared clays, silica-pillared micas, metal oxide modified silica-pillared mica, silica-pillared tetrasilicic mica, silica-pillared taemolite, zeolite, molecular sieve, and combinations thereof. The catalyst composition is an active and selective catalyst for the catalytic oligomerization of alkenes to olefins and olefin derivatives.

A novel catalyst composition and its use in the oligomerization reaction converting a portion of a C.sub.4 to C.sub.5+ alkene feed stream to C.sub.4 to C.sub.6+ olefin derivatives. The catalyst comprises a Group VIII metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, cobalt, and combinations thereof, on a support. The support can be silica, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, metal modified silica, silica-pillared clays, silica-pillared micas, metal oxide modified silica-pillared mica, silica-pillared tetrasilicic mica, silica-pillared taemolite, zeolite, molecular sieve, and combinations thereof. The catalyst composition is an active and selective catalyst for the catalytic oligomerization of alkenes to olefins and olefin derivatives.

Catalysts for producing a branched aliphatic alkene are described. The catalyst can include a catalytic alkali metal or alkali metal composite on a mixed metal oxide support that includes a Column 1 metal and at least one of a Column 3 metal, a Column 4 metal or a lanthanide. The catalyst can have less than 50 wt. % of a metal carbonate. Methods of producing branched aliphatic alkenes by contacting the catalyst of the present invention with an aliphatic alpha olefin are also described.

Catalysts for producing a branched aliphatic alkene are described. The catalyst can include a catalytic alkali metal or alkali metal composite on a mixed metal oxide support that includes a Column 1 metal and at least one of a Column 3 metal, a Column 4 metal or a lanthanide. The catalyst can have less than 50 wt. % of a metal carbonate. Methods of producing branched aliphatic alkenes by contacting the catalyst of the present invention with an aliphatic alpha olefin are also described.

Catalysts for producing a branched aliphatic alkene are described. The catalyst can include a catalytic alkali metal or alkali metal composite on a mixed metal oxide support that includes a Column 1 metal and at least one of a Column 3 metal, a Column 4 metal or a lanthanide. The catalyst can have less than 50 wt. % of a metal carbonate. Methods of producing branched aliphatic alkenes by contacting the catalyst of the present invention with an aliphatic alpha olefin are also described.