Process for separating olefins from saturated hydrocarbons

Abstract

This invention relates to a process for separating and isolating olefins from saturated hydrocarbons, and in particular, to a process for separating and isolating olefins from saturated hydrocarbons in a Fisher-Tropsch stream. There is provided a process for separating olefins from saturated hydrocarbons in a feedstock, comprising: contacting a feedstock comprising olefins and saturated hydrocarbons, such as paraffins, with a linear polyaromatic compound under conditions effective to form a reaction mixture comprising linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts and saturated hydrocarbons; separating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts from the saturated hydrocarbons in the reaction mixture to form a saturated hydrocarbon stream and an adducted olefin stream; dissociating the linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts to form linear polyaromatic compounds and an olefin composition; and optionally separating the linear polyaromatic compound formed in step c) from the olefin composition; whereby the olefin composition is enriched in the concentration of olefins over the concentration of olefins in the feedstock and the saturated hydrocarbon stream is enriched in saturated hydrocarbons over the concentration of saturated hydrocarbons in the feedstock.

1 - 45 . (canceled)  
   
   
       46 . A Fisher-Tropsch composition comprising odd and even numbered olefins, said composition having an average carbon number ranging from C 6  to C 18 , comprising: 
 a) at least two linear alpha olefin species having different carbon chain lengths;    b) the two most predominant linear alpha olefin species of said at least two linear alpha olefin species are each within the range of C 6  to C 18 , inclusive;    c) said two most predominant linear alpha olefin species are present in an amount of at last 20 wt. % based on the weight of the olefins in the composition;    d) cumulatively, the total amount of linear alpha olefins present in the composition within said range, inclusive, is at least 40 wt. %, based on the weight of the olefins in the composition;    e) one or more odd numbered olefins within said range present in an amount of at least 10 wt. %, cumulative; and    f) a cumulative amount of aromatics, saturated hydrocarbons, and oxygenates of 5 wt. % or less, each based on the weight of the composition.    
   
   
       47 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the composition additionally comprises branched olefins in an amount of at least 5 wt. % based on the weight of the olefins in the composition.  
   
   
       48 . The composition of  claim 48 , wherein the composition additionally comprises branched olefins in an amount of at least 10 wt. %.  
   
   
       49 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the composition comprises internal olefins present in an amount ranging from 5 wt. % to 20 wt. %.  
   
   
       50 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the amount of said two most predominately linear alpha olefins is at least 30 wt. %.  
   
   
       51 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the amount of odd numbered olefins is at least 20 wt. %, cumulative.  
   
   
       52 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein one of said two most predominant linear alpha olefin species is an odd numbered linear alpha olefin.  
   
   
       53 . The composition of  claim 52 , wherein said total cumulative amount of linear alpha olefins is at least 60 wt. %.  
   
   
       54 . The composition of  claim 52 , wherein said total amount of aromatics, saturated hydrocarbons, and oxygenates is 2 wt. % or less.  
   
   
       55 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the carbon number range of the composition ranges from C 6  to C 12 , and the composition further comprises branched olefins in an amount of at least 10 wt. %.  
   
   
       56 . A Fisher-Tropsch composition having an average carbon number ranging from C 6  to C 18  comprising at least two linear alpha olefin species having different carbon chain lengths within said range, inclusive, at least 50 wt. % of linear alpha olefins, said composition comprising a most predominant olefin species represented by n carbon numbers, wherein the next most predominant olefin species has either n+1 or n−1 carbon numbers; and wherein said composition comprises 2 wt. % or less of saturated hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       57 . The composition of  claim 56 , wherein the composition comprises 1 wt. % or less of saturated hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       58 . The composition of  claim 56 , further comprising branched olefin present in an amount of at least 5 wt. %.  
   
   
       59 . The composition of  claim 56 , further comprising internal olefins present in an amount of at least 5 wt. %.