Processes for producing poly-alpha-olefins, and poly-alpha-olefins produced thereby
View Patent ↗Process for producing poly-α-olefins are described wherein the processes comprise: (a) providing a primary alcohol; and (b) polymerizing the primary alcohol in the presence of an acidic alumino layer silicate to form a poly-α-olefin. Water formed during the polymerization can be removed, optionally during the polymerization, and subsequent hydrogenation may be performed.
1. A process for producing poly-α-olefins, comprising:
(a) providing a primary alcohol; and
(b) polymerizing the primary alcohol in the presence of an acidic alumino layer silicate to form a poly-α-olefin, wherein the acidic alumino layer silicate has an acid charge of from 3 to 300 mval/100 g.
2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein water formed during the polymerization is removed.
3. The process according to claim 2 , wherein water formed during the polymerization is removed during the polymerization.
4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the polymerization is carried out at a temperature of from 60 to 340° C.
5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the primary alcohol comprises a primary monofunctional alcohol of the general formula (I):
R 1 OH (I)
wherein R 1 represents an alkyl group having from 6 to 72 carbon atoms.
6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the primary alcohol comprises a primary, branched, monofunctional alcohol.
7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the primary alcohol comprises 2-ethylhexyl alcohol.
8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the primary alcohol comprises a primary diol.
9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the primary alcohol comprises a primary dimerdiol.
10. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the acidic alumino layer silicate comprises a component selected from the group consisting of talcums, kaolinites, montmorillonites, bentonites and hectorites.
11. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising hydrogenating the poly-α-olefin.
12. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the primary alcohol comprises an unsaturated alcohol.
13. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the primary alcohol comprises a branched alcohol.
14. A process for producing poly-α-olefins, comprising:
(a) providing a primary alcohol; and
(b) polymerizing the primary alcohol in the presence of an acidic alumino layer silicate to form a poly-α-olefin, wherein the acidic alumino layer silicate comprises an HCI-charged alumino layer silicate.
15. The process according to claim 14 , wherein water formed during the polymerization is removed.
16. The process according to claim 14 , wherein water formed during the polymerization is removed during the polymerization.
17. The process according to claim 14 , wherein the polymerization is carried out at a temperature of from 60 to 340° C.
18. The process according to claim 14 , further comprising hydrogenating the poly-α-olefin.