Abstract: A method of making an olefin oligomerization catalyst, comprising contacting a chromium-containing compound, a heteroatomic ligand, and a metal alkyl, wherein the chromium-containing compound comprises less than about 5 weight percent chromium oligomers. A method of making an olefin oligomerization catalyst comprising a chromium-containing compound, a nitrogen-containing compound, and a metal alkyl, the method comprising adding a composition comprising the chromium-containing compound to a composition comprising the metal alkyl. A method of making an olefin oligomerization catalyst comprising a chromium-containing compound, a nitrogen-containing compound, and a metal alkyl, the method comprising abating all or a portion of water, acidic protons, or both from a composition comprising the chromium-containing compound, a composition comprising the nitrogen-containing compound, or combinations thereof prior to or during the preparation of the catalyst.

Abstract: Provided is a method of oligomerizing alpha olefins. In an embodiment, an oligomerization catalyst system is contacted in at least one continuous reactor with a feed comprising olefins; an effluent comprising product olefins having at least four carbon atoms is withdrawn from the reactor; the oligomerization catalyst system comprises iron or cobalt, or combinations thereof; and the single pass conversion of ethylene is at least about 40 weight percent among product olefins having at least four carbon atoms. In another embodiment, the single pass conversion of ethylene comprises at least about 65 weight percent among product olefins having at least four carbon atoms. In another embodiment, product olefins of the effluent having twelve carbon atoms comprise at least about 95 weight percent 1-dodecene. In another embodiment, product olefins comprise at least about 80 weight percent linear 1-alkenes.

Abstract: A method of separating an oligomerization reactor effluent, comprising: flashing the oligomerization reactor effluent into a liquid portion and a vapor portion, distilling the liquid and the vapor portions of the oligomerization reactor effluent and recovering an oligomerization product stream. A system for separating an oligomerization reactor effluent comprising liquid and vapor portions: a vapor/liquid separator to flash the oligomerization reactor effluent into a vapor portion and a liquid portion, and a distillation column in fluid communication with the vapor/liquid separator, wherein the distillation column has a side draw for withdrawing an oligomerization product stream and receives as separate feeds the vapor portion and the liquid portion from the vapor/liquid separator.

Abstract: A method of making a catalyst for use in oligomerizing an olefin, comprising a chromium-containing compound, a pyrrole-containing compound, a metal alkyl, a halide-containing compound, and optionally a solvent, the method comprising abating all or a portion of water, acidic protons, or both from a composition comprising the chromium-containing compound, a composition comprising the pyrrole-containing compound, a composition comprising a non-metal halide-containing compound, a composition comprising the solvent, or combinations thereof prior to contact thereof with a composition comprising a metal halide-containing compound.

Abstract: A method of making a catalyst for use in oligomerizing an olefin comprising a chromium-containing compound, a pyrrole-containing compound, a metal alkyl, a halide-containing compound, and optionally a solvent, the method comprising contacting a composition comprising the chromium-containing compound and a composition comprising the metal alkyl, wherein the composition comprising the chromium-containing compound is added to the composition comprising the metal alkyl.

Abstract: A method of modifying the activity of a solid acid catalyst by contact with a carboxylic acid is presented. The modified catalyst is exposed to a feed mixture including olefins in a reaction zone, and an effluent including an isomerized olefin product is withdrawn from the reaction zone. The isomerized olefin product includes a more random distribution of internal olefins than the olefins of the feed mixture. The feed mixture and the isomerized olefin product include linear olefins. The isomerization results in no more than about 10 weight percent additional branched, compared to the olefins of the feed mixture, among the olefins of the isomerized olefin product. The isomerized olefin product includes no more than about 20 weight percent dimer. The olefin monomers of the feed mixture and the isomerized olefin product include from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms. The effluent includes no more than about 20 weight percent ester. The solid acid catalyst may be an acidic ion exchange resin.

Abstract: A process is provided to stabilize and/or reactivate an olefin production catalyst system which comprises contacting an olefin production catalyst system, either before or after use, with an aromatic compound.

Abstract: A method of modifying the activity of a solid acid catalyst by contact with a carboxylic acid is presented. The modified catalyst is exposed to a feed mixture including olefins in a reaction zone, and an effluent including an isomerized olefin product is withdrawn from the reaction zone. The isomerized olefin product includes a more random distribution of internal olefins than the olefins of the feed mixture. The feed mixture and the isomerized olefin product include linear olefins. The isomerization results in no more than about 10 weight percent additional branched, compared to the olefins of the feed mixture, among the olefins of the isomerized olefin product. The isomerized olefin product includes no more than about 20 weight percent dimer. The olefin monomers of the feed mixture and the isomerized olefin product include from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms. The effluent includes no more than about 20 weight percent ester. The solid acid catalyst may be an acidic ion exchange resin.

Abstract: A processes is provided to inhibit or limit the decomposition of a halide-containing olefin oligomerization catalyst system during recovery of an oligomerization product. The process includes deactivation of an olefin oligomerization catalyst system present in an olefin oligomerization reactor effluent stream by contact with an alcohol under conditions that minimize potential for deactivated catalyst system decomposition. Such conditions include minimization of the water content of the deactivation agent and concentration of the deactivation agent.

Abstract: A process is provided to stabilize and/or reactivate an olefin production catalyst system which comprises contacting an olefin production catalyst system, either before or after use, with an aromatic compound.

Abstract: A process is provided to stabilize and/or reactivate an olefin production catalyst system which comprises contacting an olefin production catalyst system, either before or after use, with an aromatic compound.

Abstract: A process is provided which comprises preparing an olefin oligomerization or trimerization catalyst system and producing olefins in the presence of the olefin oligomerization or trimerization catalyst system and a solvent, wherein said catalyst system preparation comprises the steps of first contacting a chromium source and a pyrrole-containing compound to form a chromium/pyrrole mixture; second, contacting said chromium/pyrrole mixture with a metal alkyl to form a catalyst system; and then contacting said catalyst system with an alpha-olefin, preferably ethylene.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method for cleaning an oligomerization reactor after making a higher olefin in the reactor. An olefin is reacted in the presence of a catalyst comprising an aluminum alkyl to form an olefin reaction product. For example, ethylene can be trimerized in the reaction to produce 1-hexene. The reaction also causes a co-product residue of the catalyst to form on the interior surface of the reactor. The interior surface of the reactor is then contacted with an alcohol under conditions effective to remove at least a substantial amount of the catalyst residue from the interior surface of the reactor. The catalyst-removing step can be carried out by combining an alcohol with the process medium used in the reactor. The combined medium can be used to remove both the accumulated polymer co-product and the accumulated catalyst residue from the reactor.

Abstract: A process to recycle diluent while capturing such other compounds is provided.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for recovering diluent, unreacted monomer, and unreacted comonomer from a polymerization reactor effluent. The comonomer has a boiling point higher than the boiling point of the monomer and the diluent has a boiling point between the boiling points of the monomer and comonomer. The process and apparatus employ at least one flash tank, a first fractionation stage including a first column and operating at a first fractionation pressure, and a second fraction stage including a second column and operating at a higher second fractionation pressure. Comonomer is withdrawn from the first column as a fractionation product, and overhead vapor containing diluent and monomer is substantially condensed to yield a substantially condensed overhead stream. Liquid and vapor from the stream are separated in an accumulator.

Abstract: A process is provided comprising copolymerizing, under copolymerizing conditions, ethylene with one or more alpha-olefins, using a catalyst system, where said catalyst system has been sized, to produce a lower-density-copolymer, where said lower-density-copolymer has a density lower than a similar copolymer produced by copolymerizing, under said copolymerizing conditions, ethylene with said one or more alpha-olefins, using said catalyst system, where said catalyst system has not been sized, where said catalyst system that has been sized has had substantially all particles removed that produce, under said copolymerizing conditions, a higher-density-copolymer, where said higher-density-copolymer has a density higher than said similar copolymer.