(762b) Olefin Oligomerization over Cobalt Catalysts: Effect of Catalyst Support

The decreasing price and increasing supply of light olefins are driving renewed interest in heterogeneous, oligomerization catalysts for the upgrading of light olefins to oligomer products for use in the production of polyethylene, plasticizers and surfactants. While commercially-viable, homogeneous catalysts are currently employed, the ability to operate with heterogeneous catalysts has the potential to decrease both operational costs and the environmental impact of the industry. Common problems associated with heterogeneous, oligomerization catalysts, compared to homogeneous complexes, include lower activity, fast deactivation, and poor selectivity towards linear products. In this presentation we will discuss the linear oligomerization of 1-butene over cobalt-based catalysts. Liquid-phase oligomerization of 1-butene was carried out at low temperatures in a continuous flow reactor (<100°C). Complex reaction product mixtures were accurately characterized by two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC-MS). A selectivity of >70% linear oligomers was achieved at conversion as high as 50%. We will describe the effects that support materials have on catalyst activity and selectivity. The dynamic nature of the active site was characterized by XRD, XAS, and in-situ Raman spectroscopy.