The invention relates to a process for oligomerization of ethylene, preferably for selective trimerization of ethylene to hex-1-ene, comprising simultaneously bringing ethylene into contact with the components of a catalytic composition based on chromium.

A method for preparing a homogenous catalyst for the production of linear alpha olefins includes: preparing a first pre-catalyst solution comprising a modifier and an organoaluminum compound in a first solvent wherein the first pre-catalyst solution is reacted and stored in a first vessel for a period of time of 1 hour to 90 days; preparing a second pre-catalyst solution comprising a second solvent, a ligand, and a chromium containing compound, wherein the second pre-catalyst solution is stored in a second vessel for a period of time of 1 hour to 90 days; and after a period of time, adding the first pre-catalyst solution to a catalyst pre-formation unit; after the same period of time, adding the second pre-catalyst solution to the catalyst pre-formation unit; forming a homogenous catalyst by mixing the first pre-catalyst solution and the second pre-catalyst solution; adding the homogeneous catalyst to a reaction vessel, wherein the reaction vessel comprises an alpha olefin; and forming the linear alpha olefin by mixing the homogeneous catalyst and the homogenous catalyst.

A method for preparing a homogenous catalyst for the production of linear alpha olefins includes: preparing a first pre-catalyst solution comprising a modifier and an organoaluminum compound in a first solvent wherein the first pre-catalyst solution is reacted and stored in a first vessel for a period of time of 1 hour to 90 days; preparing a second pre-catalyst solution comprising a second solvent, a ligand, and a chromium containing compound, wherein the second pre-catalyst solution is stored in a second vessel for a period of time of 1 hour to 90 days; and after a period of time, adding the first pre-catalyst solution to a catalyst pre-formation unit; after the same period of time, adding the second pre-catalyst solution to the catalyst pre-formation unit; forming a homogenous catalyst by mixing the first pre-catalyst solution and the second pre-catalyst solution; adding the homogeneous catalyst to a reaction vessel, wherein the reaction vessel comprises an alpha olefin; and forming the linear alpha olefin by mixing the homogeneous catalyst and the homogenous catalyst.

A process for the selective dimerization and etherification of isoolefins. The process including feeding a mixed C5 stream to a selective hydrogenation unit to convert dienes to olefins and isoolefins, producing a hydrogenated effluent stream. The hydrogenated effluent stream is fed to a first fixed bed reactor, producing a first reactor effluent. The first reactor effluent is fed to a catalytic distillation reactor system, producing a first overheads including unreacted olefins, isoolefins, oxygenate, and one or more C5 ethers and a first bottoms including dimers of the isoolefins, any produced trimers of the isoolefins, and heavy oxygenates. The first overheads is fed to a second fixed bed reactor, producing a second reactor effluent including dimers of the isoolefins, unreacted C5s, and unreacted oxygenates. The first bottoms stream and the second reactor effluent are combined and fed to a product splitter, producing a second overheads stream including unreacted C5 olefins, isoolefins, and oxygenates and a second bottoms stream including C10+ hydrocarbons.

A process for the selective dimerization and etherification of isoolefins. The process including feeding a mixed C5 stream to a selective hydrogenation unit to convert dienes to olefins and isoolefins, producing a hydrogenated effluent stream. The hydrogenated effluent stream is fed to a first fixed bed reactor, producing a first reactor effluent. The first reactor effluent is fed to a catalytic distillation reactor system, producing a first overheads including unreacted olefins, isoolefins, oxygenate, and one or more C5 ethers and a first bottoms including dimers of the isoolefins, any produced trimers of the isoolefins, and heavy oxygenates. The first overheads is fed to a second fixed bed reactor, producing a second reactor effluent including dimers of the isoolefins, unreacted C5s, and unreacted oxygenates. The first bottoms stream and the second reactor effluent are combined and fed to a product splitter, producing a second overheads stream including unreacted C5 olefins, isoolefins, and oxygenates and a second bottoms stream including C10+ hydrocarbons.

An oligomerization catalyst, oligomer products, methods for making and using same. The catalyst can include a supported nickel phosphate compound. The catalyst is stable at oligomerization temperatures of 500° C. or higher and particularly useful for making oligomer products containing C4 to C26 olefins having a boiling point in the range of 170° C. to 360° C.

An oligomerization catalyst, oligomer products, methods for making and using same. The catalyst can include a supported nickel phosphate compound. The catalyst is stable at oligomerization temperatures of 500° C. or higher and particularly useful for making oligomer products containing C4 to C26 olefins having a boiling point in the range of 170° C. to 360° C.

Methods for recycling ethylene from a reaction zone effluent stream from an oligomerization reaction zone, in which the reaction zone effluent stream contains an oligomer product effluent having at least 20 mass % octene(s), include a step of separating the reaction zone effluent stream into a first stream containing ethylene and less than 5 mass % C.sub.4+ olefins, a second stream containing butene(s) and less than 10 mass % C.sub.6+ olefins, a third stream containing at least 96 mass % hexene(s), and a fourth stream containing at least 96 mass % octene(s). The ethylene-rich first stream is recycled into the oligomerization reaction zone, while the recycle of 1-butene and other butenes is reduced significantly.

Methods for recycling ethylene from a reaction zone effluent stream from an oligomerization reaction zone, in which the reaction zone effluent stream contains an oligomer product effluent having at least 20 mass % octene(s), include a step of separating the reaction zone effluent stream into a first stream containing ethylene and less than 5 mass % C.sub.4+ olefins, a second stream containing butene(s) and less than 10 mass % C.sub.6+ olefins, a third stream containing at least 96 mass % hexene(s), and a fourth stream containing at least 96 mass % octene(s). The ethylene-rich first stream is recycled into the oligomerization reaction zone, while the recycle of 1-butene and other butenes is reduced significantly.

The present disclosure relates to a catalyst composition for the oligomerization of ethylene comprising a zirconium-containing catalyst and an organoaluminum-containing co-catalyst. The disclosure also relates to a process for oligomerization of ethylene in the presence of the catalyst composition according to the disclosure. The disclosed process results in C.sub.4-C.sub.20 linear alpha olefins having improved linearity.