Patent ID: 6727399
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for separating linear alpha olefins from a feedstock composition comprising linear alpha olefins, saturated hydrocarbons, internal olefins, branched olefins, and alcohol comprising:a) contacting the feedstock composition with a linear polyaromatic compound under conditions effective to form a reaction mixture comprising linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts, saturated hydrocarbons, unreacted olefins, alcohols, and unreacted polyaromatic compound; b) separating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts from the saturated hydrocarbons, unreacted olefins and alcohol in the reaction mixture to form a hydrocarbon stream comprising saturated hydrocarbons, unreacted olefins and alcohols and an adducted stream comprising the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts and unreacted linear polyaromatic compound; c) re-equilibrating the adducted stream by partially and selectively dissociating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts under conditions effective to increase the percentage of the polyaromatic compound reacted with linear alpha olefins over all other olefins reacted with the polyaromatic compound in the stream thereby producing a re-equilibrated stream comprising linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts, dissociated olefins, and unreacted and dissociated linear polyaromatic compound; d) separating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts from the dissociated olefins in the equilibrated stream to form an olefin stream comprising dissociated olefins and a linear alpha-olefin adducted stream comprising the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts and linear polyaromatic compound; e) dissociating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts in the linear alpha olefin adducted stream to form linear polyaromatic compounds and alpha olefin enriched olefin product; and f) separating the alpha olefin enriched olefin product from the polyaromatic compounds, whereby the alpha olefin enriched olefin product is enriched in the concentration of olefins over the concentration of olefins in the feedstock and enriched in the concentration of linear alpha olefins over other olefins in the feedstock.