Oligomerization of ethylene in a slurry reactor using a nickel/sulfated alumina catalyst

During the oligomerization of ethylene over heterogeneous catalysts, the production of α-olefins may be lowered because of an accompanying deactivation of catalyst resulting from strong adsorption of products, by isomerization or by a tendency to copolymerize into branched products. The oligomerization of ethylene was studied using Ni(II)/sulfated alumina catalysts prepared with a nonporous fumed alumina (ALON) support. The influences of methods of catalyst preparation and activation upon oligomerization activity were screened using a gas - solid microreactor. On the basis of the test results obtained in the microreactor, a modified form of the superior catalyst was prepared and its performance was examined in more detail using a well-agitated gas - liquid - solid slurry reactor. This catalyst exhibited very good oligomerization activity with no apparent deactivation in the slurry reactor at temperatures at or below 298 K and at near-atmospheric pressure. Complete conversion of the ethylene with the production of mainly two oligomers, 1-butene and 1-hexene, was attained. After 34 h in the slurry, formation of a significant amount of two branched C6 isomers was observed.