Lightly Branched Higher Olefin Oligomerization with Surface Modified Zeolite Catalyst

Abstract

A substantially surface-deactivated catalyst composition that is stable at least to 300° C. The catalyst includes a zeolite catalyst (e.g., ZSM-22, ZSM-23, or ZSM-57) having active internal Brönsted acid sites and a surface-deactivating amount of a rare earth or yttrium oxide (e.g., chosen from lanthanum oxide or lanthanides oxide). This to catalyst is preferably used in a process for producing a higher olefin by oligomerizing a light olefin, wherein the process includes contacting a light olefin under oligomerization conditions with the substantially surface-deactivated catalyst composition.

1 . A surface-deactivated catalyst composition comprising a zeolite catalyst having active internal Brönsted acid sites and containing a surface-deactivating amount of a rare earth or yttrium oxide, and wherein the amount ranges from greater than 0.84 wt. % to less than 2.52 wt. %. 
   
   
       2 . The catalyst composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said catalyst composition is stable at least to 300° C. 
   
   
       3 . The catalyst composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said zeolite catalyst is chosen from ZSM-22, ZSM-23, or ZSM-57. 
   
   
       4 . The catalyst composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said rare earth oxide is chosen from lanthanum oxide or lanthanides oxide. 
   
   
       5 . The catalyst composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said zeolite catalyst is a 10-ring zeolite. 
   
   
       6 - 17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A method of making a surface-deactivated catalyst composition comprising: a zeolite catalyst with a surface-deactivating amount of a rare earth or yttrium oxide for rendering the surface of said zeolite catalyst substantially inactive for acidic reaction, and wherein the amount ranges from greater than 0.84 wt. % to less than 2.52 wt. %. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said substantially surface-deactivated catalyst composition is stable at least to 300° C. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said zeolite catalyst is chosen from ZSM-22, ZSM-23, or ZSM-57. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said rare earth oxide is chosen from lanthanum oxide or lanthanides oxide. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said zeolite catalyst is a 10-ring zeolite.