Linear alpha olefins (LAOs) are linear hydrocarbons with a single double bond between the first and second carbon. In general, they are colorless liquids that show decreasing vapor pressure and water solubility with increasing alkyl chain length. Linear alpha olefins are chemical intermediates to a wide variety of industrial and consumer products.
In 2018, the global demand for linear alpha olefins reached more than 5.7 million tons. Linear alpha olefins (LAOs) have a wide range of applications including polyolefin comonomers, synthetic lubricants, detergent intermediates, paper sizing agents, lubricant additives, oil field chemicals, and numerous small fine and performance chemical uses.

1 Executive Summary 1

1.1 Introduction and Overview 1

1.2 Technology Overview 2

1.3 Process Economics 3

1.4 Commercial Overview 6

2 Introduction 9

2.1 Overview 9

      2.1.1 Market Overview 9

      2.1.2 Historical Technology Overview and Industry Developments 11

2.2 Technology Overview 16

      2.2.1 Full-Range Process Technology 16

      2.2.2 On-Purpose Process Technology 17

2.3 Technology Holders and Licensing Status 18

2.4 Strategic and Business Considerations 18

2.5 Physical and Thermodynamic Properties 21

2.6 Specifications 22

2.7 Health and Safety Factors or Health Hazards 25

2.8 Storage and Transportation 25

3 Full-Range Technologies 27

3.1 Overview 27

      3.1.1 Introduction 27

      3.1.2 General Chemistry and Process Types 28

3.2 Chevron Phillips 35

      3.2.1 Process Chemistry 35

      3.2.2 Process Description 35

      3.2.3 Typical Product Distribution 38

3.3 INEOS 40

      3.3.1 Process Chemistry 40

      3.3.2 Process Description 40

      3.3.3 Typical Product Description 42

3.4 Shell (SHOP) 43

      3.4.1 Process Chemistry 43

      3.4.2 Process Description 44

      3.4.3 Typical Product Distribution 51

3.5 Idemitsu (LINEALENE) 53

      3.5.1 Process Chemistry 53

      3.5.2 Process Description 54

      3.5.3 Typical Product Distribution 58

3.6 Axens (AlphaSelect~(TM)) 59

      3.6.1 Process Chemistry 59

      3.6.2 Process Description 60

      3.6.3 Typical Product Distribution 62

3.7 SABIC/Linde (α-SABLIN®) 63

      3.7.1 Process Chemistry 63

      3.7.2 Process Description 64

      3.7.3 Typical Product Distribution 66

3.8 UOP (LINEAR-1) 67

      3.8.1 Process Chemistry 67

      3.8.2 Process Description 67

      3.8.3 Typical Product Distribution 70

4 On-Purpose Technologies 71

4.1 Introduction 71

4.2 On-Purpose Butene-1 Technologies 72

      4.2.1 Axens, Ethylene Dimerization (AlphaButol®) 73

      4.2.1.1 Process Chemistry 73

      4.2.1.2 Process Description 74

      4.2.2 McDermott/Lummus Technology (CPT) 76

      4.2.2.1 Process Chemistry 76

      4.2.2.2 Process Description 77

      4.2.3 Zeon Corporation, Extractive Distillation (GPD Process) 79

      4.2.3.1 Introduction 79

      4.2.3.2 Process Chemistry 81

      4.2.3.3 Process Description 81

4.3 On-Purpose Hexene-1 Technologies 84

      4.3.1 Axens, Ethylene Trimerization (AlphaHexol~(TM)) 85

      4.3.1.1 Process Chemistry 85

      4.3.1.2 Process Description 86

      4.3.2 Chevron Phillips, Ethylene Trimerization 89

      4.3.2.1 Process Chemistry 89

      4.3.2.2 Process Description 90

      4.3.3 McDermott/Lummus Technology (CPT) 93

      4.3.3.1 Process Chemistry 93

      4.3.3.2 Process Description 95

      4.3.4 Mitsui Chemicals, Ethylene Trimerization (MET Process) 98

      4.3.4.1 Process Chemistry 98

      4.3.4.2 Process Description 99

      4.3.5 Sasol, Fischer-Tropsch-Derived, Recovery 101

      4.3.5.1 Process Chemistry 101

      4.3.5.2 Process Description 102

4.4 On-Purpose Octene-1 Technologies 108

      4.4.1 Dow Chemical, Butadiene Telomerization 108

      4.4.1.1 Process Chemistry 108

      4.4.1.2 Process Description 111

      4.4.2 Sasol, Ethylene Tetramerization 113

      4.4.2.1 Process Chemistry 113

      4.4.2.2 Process Description 114

      4.4.3 Sasol, Fischer-Tropsch-Derived, Recovery 117

      4.4.3.1 Process Chemistry 117

      4.4.3.2 Process Description-Octene Train I 117

      4.4.3.3 Process Description-Octene Train II 119

      4.4.4 Sasol, Fischer-Tropsch-Derived, Heptene-Based Recovery 122

      4.4.4.1 Process Chemistry 122

      4.4.4.2 Process Description 122

4.5 On-Purpose Decene-1 Technology 127

      4.5.1 Elevance Renewable Sciences 127

      4.5.1.1 Process Chemistry 127

      4.5.1.2 Process Description 128

5 Process Economics 130

5.1 Costing Basis 130

      5.1.1 Investment Basis 130

      5.1.2 Pricing Basis 132

      5.1.3 Cost of Production Basis 135

5.2 Cost of Production Analysis 135

      5.2.1 Full-Range Linear Alpha Olefins 136

      5.2.2 On-Purpose Butene-1 138

      5.2.3 On-Purpose Hexene-1 139

      5.2.4 On-Purpose Octene-1 141

6 Commercial Applications 142

6.1 Introduction 142

6.2 Polyethylene Comonomers 144

6.3 Detergent Intermediates 145

      6.3.1 Detergent-Range Alcohols 145

      6.3.2 Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) 145

      6.3.3 Alpha Olefin Sulfonates 146

      6.3.4 Alkylamines 146

6.4 Polyalphaolefins (Synthetic Lubricants) and Oilfield Chemicals 146

6.5 Plasticizers 147

6.6 Polybutene-1 147

6.7 Other Applications 147

7 Regional Market Analysis 149

7.1 Global 149

      7.1.1 Demand 149

      7.1.2 Supply 152

      7.1.3 Supply/Demand and Trade 155

7.2 North America 158

      7.2.1 Demand 158

      7.2.2 Supply 160

      7.2.3 Supply/Demand and Trade 161

7.3 Western Europe 164

      7.3.1 Demand 164

      7.3.2 Supply 166

      7.3.3 Supply/Demand and Trade 167

7.4 Asia Pacific 170

      7.4.1 Demand 170

      7.4.2 Supply 171

      7.4.3 Supply/Demand and Trade 173

Appendices

A Cost of Production Estimates for Full-Range Linear Alpha Olefins 177

B Cost of Production Estimates for On-Purpose Butene-1 196

C Cost of Production Estimates for On-Purpose Hexene-1 205

D Cost of Production Estimates for On-Purpose Octene-1 213

E Definitions of Capital Cost Terms Used in Process Economics 224

F Definitions of Operating Cost Terms Used in Process Economics 229

G TECH Program Title Index (2009-2019) 232

H References 236

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