Wentink A.E., Kuipers N.J.M., De Haan A.B., Scholtz J., Mulder H.
Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 Enschede, Netherlands; Sasol Technology, Sasolburg, South Africa
Wentink, A.E., Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 Enschede, Netherlands; Kuipers, N.J.M., Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 Enschede, Netherlands; De Haan, A.B., Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 Enschede, Netherlands; Scholtz, J., Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 Enschede, Netherlands, Sasol Technology, Sasolburg, South Africa; Mulder, H., Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 Enschede, Netherlands, Sasol Technology, Sasolburg, South Africa
The separation of 1-hexene from Fischer-Tropsch streams is an expensive and difficult separation because of the low relative volatilities encountered. Applying metal-ligand complexes, which π-complex olefins, can increase the selectivity and capacity of these separations. In this paper, potential metal-ligand combinations are screened for this purpose using ethylene as the olefin. Ethylene solubility measurements with the metal-ligand complexes show a qualitative relationship between the stability and ability of the metal-ligand complex. The ligands LIX 26 (a hydroxyquinoline) and LEX 54 (a diketone) do not easily extract silver, and the resulting metalligand complex is unstable as silver precipitates. In contrast, Cyanex 301 and 302, thiophosphoric acids, easily extract silver and are very stable, but here the silver ion no longer forms π complexes. The ligands, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid and dinonylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, result in a stable metal-ligand complex that can also selectively complex ethylene relative to ethane. © 2005 American Chemical Society.