Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc.

Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company

Brian W Heins

Paul Hamilton

Terrance C Osby

Michael Louis Hergenrother

Robert Piszczek

Brian D Albert

Jose X Simonetty

Vikram Singh

Dion Zhang

Zhongcheng Wang

Jason A Nichols

Zhonghcheng Wang

Michael Hergenrother

Many linear alpha olefin (LAO) syntheses form a range of LAO products when oligomerizing ethylene in the presence of a Ziegler-type catalyst. The range of products typically requires a plurality of distillation columns to separate the LAO products up to a desired carbon count, but such approaches may be energy- and capital-intensive. LAO product separation using at least one dividing wall column may lessen these burdens. Methods for separating LAOs may comprise: providing a pre-processed product stream comprising Cg+ linear alpha olefins (LAOs) to a first of a series of distillation columns, at least one member of the series of distillation columns comprising a dividing wall column; and separating an overhead stream comprising a first LAO from the dividing wall column and one or more side streams from the dividing wall column, each side stream comprising a different LAO that also differs from the first LAO.

Process for the separation of linear alpha-olefins using a dividing wall column

Linear alpha olefins (LAOS) may be formed by oligomerization of ethylene in the presence of a Ziegler-type catalyst. The presence of trace water during oligomerization can result in unwanted formation of insoluble higher oligomers or polymer. Methods for limiting the presence of water during ethylene oligomerization reactions may include separating residual ethylene and 1-butene from an LAO product stream to form a higher LAO-enriched stream comprising CLAOs, separating 1-hexene as an overhead stream from the higher-LAO enriched stream using a first distillation column, obtaining separated solvent as a side stream from the first distillation column or as a side stream from a first of one or more downstream distillation columns, and returning the separated solvent to a reactor in a recycled solvent stream. The recycled solvent stream passes through one or more driers before returning to the reactor.

Methods for limiting water in recycled solvent during linear alpha olefin syntheses

Systems and methods are provided for separating a feedstock into a plurality of separation products using dividing wall column technology that includes a plurality of dividing walls. Including a plurality of dividing walls in the column can provide reduced energy consumption and reduced equipment footprint for production of a plurality of high purity distillation products. The systems and methods can allow for separation of a large number of products from a feed while having a reduced or minimized number of liquid splits and/or vapor splits.

Dual-dividing wall column with multiple products

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Humble, TX, United States of America

Brian W Heins