A Dual Functional Tuneable‐Lewis Acid/Sulfur Scavenging Catalyst System for Alpha Olefin Oligomerization

Abstract

A novel cost effective tuneable Lewis acid/sulfur scavenging system, comprising of various ratios of group 13 stronger Lewis acid AlCl 3 and transition metal weak Lewis acid FeCl 3 , were developed for oligomerization of alpha olefins to form polyalphaolefins (PAOs). The residence time and temperature dependent oligomer ratio of 1-decene is studied in the presence of Lewis acid catalysts containing various ratios of AlCl 3 /FeCl 3 [AlCl 3 , AlCl 3 /FeCl 3 (0.7:0.3), AlCl 3 /FeCl 3 (0.5:0.5), AlCl 3 / FeCl 3 (0.3:0.7), FeCl 3 ]. The transition metal based weak Lewis acid FeCl 3 yielded oligomer ratio comparable to commercial PAO 2 cst to PAO 6 cst viscosity grade. With an increase in AlCl 3 concentration in the catalyst system, the equilibrium oligomer ratio is shifted towards higher oligomers. With increase in temperature, due to faster termination kinetics in comparison with the propagation, the oligomer ratio is shifted towards lighter dimer and trimer oligomers. The sulfur scavenging abilities of AlCl 3 /FeCl 3 is studied in the presence of model mixture containing thiol in decene. The catalyst system showed superior sulfur scavenging abilities.

A Rapid Py‐GC/MS Study for Linear Alpha Olefin Production from Fast Pyrolysis of Wax and Waste Polyethylene

“…It can be seen from Table that the PAO produced from model synthetic mixture of C6 to C14 olefins is meeting the lubricant properties of commercial 1‐decene PAOs, indicating the potential of application of C6‐C14 olefins without the necessity of separation. Furthermore, similar reports appeared in the literature with the mixed olefins stock and exhibited the lubricant properties comparable to commercial lubricants …”