Chemical Engineering & Technology, Vol.17, No.5, 354-357, 1994
PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF PURE 4-METHYL-1-PENTENE
A process for the manufacture of pure 4-methyl-1-pentene by catalytic dimerization of propylene has been developed in three stages. The first stage involves preparation of a new process catalyst, which contains metallic sodium and potassium deposited on a Bulgarian natural zeolite, the support having been passivated previously by potassium carbonate. The experimental results demonstrate the advantages of the resulting catalyst over existing technology, namely 36% conversion and 92% selectivity relevant to liquid isomers. The second development stage concerns the technological regime of chemical reaction for production of 4-methyl-1-pentene. In the third stage, the regime conditions and equipment ensuring desired quality of the product and utilization of the unreacted propylene returned to the reactor are determined. Based on the studies of all stages, a flowsheet is proposed for synthesis and separation of the reaction mixture of isomeric hexenes to give pure 4-methyl-1-pentene.