Methods for making linear internal olefins from mixtures of linear and branched olefins

Abstract

Processes for producing a linear internal olefin product include the steps of contacting an olefin feed containing C10-C20 vinylidenes and a C10-C20 normal alpha olefin and/or C10-C20 linear internal olefins, a first acid catalyst, and a C1 to C18 carboxylic acid to form a first reaction product containing linear internal olefins, trisubstituted olefins, and secondary esters, then removing all or a portion of the secondary esters from the first reaction product, followed by contacting the secondary esters and a second acid catalyst to form a second reaction product comprising linear internal olefins, and then removing all or a portion of the linear internal olefins from the second reaction product to form the linear internal olefin product. Linear alkanes subsequently can be produced by hydrogenating the linear internal olefin product to form a linear alkane product.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.