Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation won the 2018 Catalysis Society of Japan Award in the Industrial Field for development of a chromium-based ethylene trimerization catalyst for synthesizing 1-hexene.
The award honored MCC’s achievement in discovering an ultra-high active and selective chromium-based ethylene trimerization catalyst, which contributes to the advancement of selective ethylene oligomerization technology. The award also acknowledged that production of 1-hexene via a simple and environmentally friendly process has been begun on a commercial scale.
According to an MCC press releases, the process eliminates the complicated and expensive catalyst preparation process, simplifies the manufacturing process, and conserves energy consumption during production, achieving stable plant operation as well as increased productivity of 1-hexene.
During this catalytic process, formation of the catalyst and the ethylene trimerization occur simultaneously in the reactor. This simultaneous contact method makes it possible to form the catalytically active species efficiently without destabilization, achieving ultra-high catalytic performance, the company stated.
The ethylene trimerization catalyst developed by MCC uses inexpensive triethylaluminium as a co-catalyst. The selectivity of 1-hexene exceeds 95% and the amount of polyethylene generated as a by-product falls below 0.1%.
MCC has previously introduced process technology using this catalyst, concluding a licensing agreement with a major chemical manufacturer in Thailand in 2014, with production commencing in fiscal 2018.
