Oligomerization of ethene in supercritical mode

US10189755B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Helene Reeker · Dortmund, DE
• Guido Stochniol · Haltern am See, DE
• Dietrich Maschmeyer · Recklinghausen, DE
• Stephan Peitz · Johannesweg, DE
• Jörg Schallenberg · Dorsten, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 25, 2017
• Grant date: Jan 29, 2019
• Expiry date: May 25, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/54
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The disclosure describes the oligomerization of supercritical ethene. An essential aspect of the invention is that of mixing ethene with an inert medium and setting the conditions in the reaction such that both ethene and the inert medium are supercritical. This is because the solubility for ethene in the inert medium is greater in the supercritical state, such that more ethene is dissolved in the supercritical inert medium than in a liquid solvent. The process regime in the supercritical state therefore enables the use of a much higher proportion of ethene in a homogeneous mixture of ethene and inert medium than is possible on the basis of the thermodynamic solubility restriction in a purely liquid hydrocarbon stream. In this way, the space-time yield is distinctly enhanced. Since a greater amount of ethene can be passed into the reactor, it is possible as a result to better exploit the apparatus volume compared to a liquid phase process. The inert medium used may, for example, be isobutane.