IMPROVED PROCESS FOR LINEAR ALPHA-OLEFIN PRODUCTION WITH SUPERCRITICAL ETHYLENE RECYCLE

摘要

Linear alpha olefins are continuously produced by oligomerizing ethylene in a polar phase comprising a solution of transition metal catalyst system at oligomerization conditions including a temperature and pressure greater than the critical temperature and pressure of ethylene. The resulting hydrocarbon phase containing oligomers and unreacted ethylene is subjected to physical treatment which tends to render the ethylene a nonsolvent for oligomers and thereby produce a liquid stream rich in supercritical ethylene which may be recycled to the oligomerization reaction zone by pumping.