EQUILIBRIUM CONSIDERATIONS IN THE MODELING OF PROPENE OLIGOMERIZATION

Propene was oligomerized at 5000 kPa and 250 degrees C at 5 and 50% co nversion. Equilibrium concentrations for the hexene isomers were predi cted using data from various sources. The data from the NBS gave the b est equilibrium prediction. Comparsions between the low and high conve rsion results and also with equilibrium predictions indicate that at l ow conversions the system attains equilibrium with respect to double b ond isomerization but not with respect to the skeletal structures. At the low conversion conditions chosen only oligomerization reactions oc curred. All this supports the development of a model for oligomerizati on based on skeletal groups at each carbon number.