Shell higher olefin process
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The Shell higher olefin process is an chemical process for the production of linear alpha olefins via olefin metathesis invented and exploited by Royal Dutch Shell [1].
The first step in this process is the ethylene oligomerization at 80 to 120 °C and 70 to 140 bar (7 to 14 MPa) with a phosphine ligand (C6H5)2P(CH2)2COOK to a mixture of even-numbered α-olefins. The fraction containing C10 to C18 olefins already has commercial value and is removed. The remaining higher and lower olefins next undergo isomerization reactions leading to internal double bonds and then to olefin metathesis with externally injected ethylene which causes the internal double bond to break up into new terminal double bonds. The process was commercialized in 1977 and in 1993 global annual production capacity was ten million tons.
In another SHOP application cyclododecatriene is partially hydrogenated to cyclododecene and then subjected to ethynolysis to the terminal linear open-chain diene.
[edit] References
- ^ Industrial Organic Chemistry, Klaus Weissermel, Hans-Jurgen Arpe John Wiley & Sons; 3rd 1997 ISBN 3-527-28838-4
