Sodium Oxide-Alumina Isomerization Catalyst

Isomerization of Olefins

Olefins are often isomerized to produce a compound in a chemical synthesis or in a process for making fuel additives. Common isomerization catalysts use liquid bases whose catalytic activity is relatively low, and therefore a large amount of expensive catalysts must be used. Also, catalyst recovery is very difficult, requiring complicated separation and recovery steps, using a large amount of energy. Solid isomerization catalysts are also known but they are difficult to handle due to them usually igniting in air. Their selectivity and conversion are often low as well.

SiGNa’s olefin isomerization catalysts are highly active and highly selective towards isomerization in the presence of reactive impurities, or catalyst poisons. Specifically, these catalysts are used to isomerize vinyl-2-norbornene (VNB) to ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB), which is used commercially in the production of elastomeric polymers and synthetic rubber. This catalyst may also be used to isomerize a terminal olefin to an internal olefin, which may be used as a reactant in the synthesis of chemicals and lubricants.

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