Synthetic Jet Fuel Production by Combined Propene Oligomerization and Aromatic Alkylation over Solid Phosphoric Acid

The oligomerization of propene, as well as the alkylation of benzene and toluene with propene, was evaluated at 160−240 °C, 3.8 MPa, and aromatic to olefin ratios of 1:6 to 6:1 using solid phosphoric acid (SPA) as a catalyst. It was found that steric effects were more important than electronic effects in determining alkylation rate and selectivity. Monoalkylation was favored even at the lowest aromatic to olefin ratio, and the isomer distribution of dialkylated aromatics remained constant irrespective of the conversion or operating conditions. No transalkylation or alkylbenzene isomerization activity was observed. It was shown that olefin oligomerization and aromatic alkylation could be combined in a single SPA catalyzed reaction system to produce a synthetic jet fuel that meets Jet A-1 specifications.