Ethylene oligomerization to olefins on supported nickel catalyst
[Thesis]
A. M. A. Sani
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Saudi Arabia)
1995
146
M.S.
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Saudi Arabia)
1995
Ethylene oligomerization to olefins over supported nickel catalyst was studied in a fixed bed tubular reactor system. Nickel was supported on a prepared amorphous silica-alumina (ASA) by ion exchange and impregnation. Nitrogen was used for catalyst in-situ calcination, hydrogen for reduction and ethylene for reaction. Oligomerization experiments were carried out at various temperatures (100-300C), space velocities (2-6 h WHSV), 4 hours time-on stream for each run and a pressure of 500 psi. Catalyst performance, products distribution, and other side-by reactions were determined. The Ni-ASA (ion exchanged) was found to be more active than the Ni/ASA (impregnated) at the conditions operated. High olefins (oligomers) up to C were obtained at high temperatures (usd\geusd200C) and also at low temperature (150C) by extending the run period. All the catalysts tested were found to exhibit cracking activity as a result of the support acidity (Si/Al ratio) and at high temperature yielding some traces of paraffins. Increasing the space velocity at high temperature decreased catalyst performance as a result of the reduction in the contact time and lighter products were produced. Nickel was also supported on a prepared sodium silica-alumina (SSA) by ion exchange. This supported catalyst suppressed cracking activity by lowering the acidity of the support. Cobalt was used as a promoter on one of the prepared catalysts (Co/Ni-ASA) and it was found to be active. At low temperatures it produced about 12% paraffins. All the catalysts exhibited high selectivity to butene-1 at low temperatures (100-150C).