Trimerization of isobutene over solid acid catalysts under wide reaction conditions

Oligomerization of isobutene has been investigated using a few solid acid catalysts in order to produce efficiently triisobutenes that are useful chemical feedstocks for heavy alkylates and neo-acids. Several reaction conditions such as space velocity and isobutene concentration are evaluated, and a few cation exchange resins with various acid capacities were compared in the reaction. High trimers selectivity and high conversion can be obtained over a catalyst containing high acid capacity at low space velocity and relatively low isobutene concentration. The stability of a catalyst for the reaction is high when the acid capacity of the catalyst is high (for example Amberlyst-35).