Octenes
| 원료 | nC4 olefin feed |
| 생산물 | octenes |
| 적용 | The Octol process can produce octenes (C8's) and/or C12's as intermediates to plasticizers and surfactants. Made by catalytic dimerization of n-butenes, the olefin products exhibit a low degree of branching and are obtained at high yields. |
| 설명 | Process description: The Octol process, jointly developed by Chemische Werke Huels AG and UOP Inc., was first demonstrated commercially in 1983 at Marl, West Germany. The process employs a highly active solid catalyst, capable of dimerizing n-butenes at high selectivities to octenes or dodecenes. The per-pass yield of octenes is high; however, it is possible to produce dodecenes by adjustment of conditions. Olefins from the Octol process can be used to make nonyl alcohols for plasticizers, alkyl phenols for surfactants, and tridecyl alcohols for detergents. Yields: The Octol process is capable of yields of octenes from n-butenes in excess of 80 percent. Per-pass conversion is high, and the unconverted butenes are recycled so that overall conversion can be as 90%. The octenes produced are predominantly methyl heptenes and normal octenes with a small amount of dimethylhexenes and less than 1% trimethylpentenes, such that the "iso-index" (the average number of methyl groups per molecule - a measure of linearity) of the octene product is 1.1. These measures compare very favorably with olefin products from other sources. Economics: Because the Octol process utilizes a simple plant design constructed completely of carbon steel, operates at moderate conditions, and requires no product treating or chemical additives, the production of plasticizer olefins is very attractive. Because Octol typically utilizes MTBE raffinates or similar isobutene-depleted streams instead of more highly valued feedstocks (i.e., propylene for 2-ethylhexanol), the octene products can be obtained at lower cost. The solid catalyst is safe to handle, requires no chemical addition, and emits no hazardous byproducts or effluents. |