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Zeolites as catalysts for olefine oligomerization
145 Phase Transfer
Catalysts
The first patent on phase transfer catalysts appeared in 1971 and by 1976 onlv three more had been issued. However, by the end of 1982, 119 had been granted to 40 comoanies worldwide. The history of the development of these materials-and some of their applications are summarised in an article in Chemical Week (May 25, 1983, p.37). The History
of Catalysis
The America1 Chemical Society have just published "Heterogeneous Catalysis: Selected American Histories", Edited by Burtron H. Davis and William P. Hettlinger, the proceedings of a symposium held in Las Vegas from March 28-April 2, 1982. A similar meeting is now planned in August 1984, the topic being "Historical Accounts of Catalytic Oxidations", to be organised by Burtron Davis and George Keulks. Further details are given in the Calendar of Forthcoming Events. Tungsten
Today
AMAX Tungsten, a division of AMAX Inc. has released the latest issue of Tungsten Today, copies of which are available from AMAX Reader Service Departments at P.O. Box 594, Canal Street Station, New York, NY 10013 or P.O. Box 261. Amsterdam 1000. The Netherlands.-One short article in the current issue deals with the use of tungsteln-containing catalysts in the petrochemical industry, listing some of the more important processes using these materials.
Zeolites as Catalysts Oligomerization
In industrial processes for olefin catalysts based on oligomerization, H3P04 or BF3 are mainly being applied. Mobil Oil and Chevron Research (see e.g. US patent application 305 680 (25.9.81)) have demonstrated the use of ZSM-5, ZSM-11, silicalite or other zeolites for the synthesis of high boiling hydrocarbons (naphtha) from C3 and C4 c1olefins. An especially high activity was observed with ZSM-5 or ZSM-11 containing 1% Zn. The olefin oligomerization proceeds at 2200C and 40 bar pressure. Styrene Monomers
for Water-Gas-
Commercial catalysts forthewater-aas shift reaction, used in hydrogen production plants, are based on Fe-oxides and contain various amounts of Cr(6-9%) as promoter. Such catalysts, when spent after handling in air, usually expose operators to dust containing hexavalent chromium, a well-known toxic hazard. ICI patent applications (GB 81 09501 (26.3.81) or Eur.pat.appl. 0062 410 Al) now disclose the preparation and composition of new Fe-catalvsts in which Cr is substituted by CaO", CeO or Zr02. The highest activity was reac i ed with Ce-promoted catalysts. However, the achieved value corresponds to only 81% of that of a Cr-containing material.
ap(llkl#blysls-Volume
8, No. 1 -October,
1983
using ZSM-5 Catalysts
At a symposium on shape-selective catalysis held jointly by the A.C.S. Divisions of Fuel Chemistry, Colloid and Surface Chemistry and Petroleum Chemistry, Warren N. Kaeding discussed the extension of Mobil's ZSM-5 catalysts to the production of styrene-type monomers (see Chem.Eng. News, 61(1983) p. 46 (April 11)). The shape-selective prooerties of the ZSM-5 virtuallv eliminate the production of unwanted isomers of methylstyrene. One of the reasons that styrene itself, produced from benzene, has been used as a monomer rather than methyl-styrene is that there have previously been problems of isomer separation when toluene is alkylated; conventional aluminium chloride catalysts produce about one third of the para isomer and two thirds of the meta isomer.
Hydrotreating ICI-Cr-free Catalysts Shift Reaction
for Olefine
Catalysts
The glut of oil and escalating costs have drastically affected support for coal-to-oil projects. However, the literature still shows evidence of interest in a major problem in the fields of coal liquefaction and its relation, upgrading of heavy petroleum feedstocks; that problem is the inability of present catalysts to withstand the very severe processing conditions which produce heavy carbon lay-down and metals deposition in the catalyst pore system. Two patents (Belg. BE 893,160 and 893,161) both to Chevron Research Co. illustrate two approaches to the problem. In BE 893,160, ingenuity is displayed in improving the surface to volume ratio of a hydrotreating catalyst in order to improve diffusion characteristics. The
Catalysts
The first patent on phase transfer catalysts appeared in 1971 and by 1976 onlv three more had been issued. However, by the end of 1982, 119 had been granted to 40 comoanies worldwide. The history of the development of these materials-and some of their applications are summarised in an article in Chemical Week (May 25, 1983, p.37). The History
of Catalysis
The America1 Chemical Society have just published "Heterogeneous Catalysis: Selected American Histories", Edited by Burtron H. Davis and William P. Hettlinger, the proceedings of a symposium held in Las Vegas from March 28-April 2, 1982. A similar meeting is now planned in August 1984, the topic being "Historical Accounts of Catalytic Oxidations", to be organised by Burtron Davis and George Keulks. Further details are given in the Calendar of Forthcoming Events. Tungsten
Today
AMAX Tungsten, a division of AMAX Inc. has released the latest issue of Tungsten Today, copies of which are available from AMAX Reader Service Departments at P.O. Box 594, Canal Street Station, New York, NY 10013 or P.O. Box 261. Amsterdam 1000. The Netherlands.-One short article in the current issue deals with the use of tungsteln-containing catalysts in the petrochemical industry, listing some of the more important processes using these materials.
Zeolites as Catalysts Oligomerization
In industrial processes for olefin catalysts based on oligomerization, H3P04 or BF3 are mainly being applied. Mobil Oil and Chevron Research (see e.g. US patent application 305 680 (25.9.81)) have demonstrated the use of ZSM-5, ZSM-11, silicalite or other zeolites for the synthesis of high boiling hydrocarbons (naphtha) from C3 and C4 c1olefins. An especially high activity was observed with ZSM-5 or ZSM-11 containing 1% Zn. The olefin oligomerization proceeds at 2200C and 40 bar pressure. Styrene Monomers
for Water-Gas-
Commercial catalysts forthewater-aas shift reaction, used in hydrogen production plants, are based on Fe-oxides and contain various amounts of Cr(6-9%) as promoter. Such catalysts, when spent after handling in air, usually expose operators to dust containing hexavalent chromium, a well-known toxic hazard. ICI patent applications (GB 81 09501 (26.3.81) or Eur.pat.appl. 0062 410 Al) now disclose the preparation and composition of new Fe-catalvsts in which Cr is substituted by CaO", CeO or Zr02. The highest activity was reac i ed with Ce-promoted catalysts. However, the achieved value corresponds to only 81% of that of a Cr-containing material.
ap(llkl#blysls-Volume
8, No. 1 -October,
1983
using ZSM-5 Catalysts
At a symposium on shape-selective catalysis held jointly by the A.C.S. Divisions of Fuel Chemistry, Colloid and Surface Chemistry and Petroleum Chemistry, Warren N. Kaeding discussed the extension of Mobil's ZSM-5 catalysts to the production of styrene-type monomers (see Chem.Eng. News, 61(1983) p. 46 (April 11)). The shape-selective prooerties of the ZSM-5 virtuallv eliminate the production of unwanted isomers of methylstyrene. One of the reasons that styrene itself, produced from benzene, has been used as a monomer rather than methyl-styrene is that there have previously been problems of isomer separation when toluene is alkylated; conventional aluminium chloride catalysts produce about one third of the para isomer and two thirds of the meta isomer.
Hydrotreating ICI-Cr-free Catalysts Shift Reaction
for Olefine
Catalysts
The glut of oil and escalating costs have drastically affected support for coal-to-oil projects. However, the literature still shows evidence of interest in a major problem in the fields of coal liquefaction and its relation, upgrading of heavy petroleum feedstocks; that problem is the inability of present catalysts to withstand the very severe processing conditions which produce heavy carbon lay-down and metals deposition in the catalyst pore system. Two patents (Belg. BE 893,160 and 893,161) both to Chevron Research Co. illustrate two approaches to the problem. In BE 893,160, ingenuity is displayed in improving the surface to volume ratio of a hydrotreating catalyst in order to improve diffusion characteristics. The