Many linear alpha olefin (LAO) syntheses form a range of LAO products when oligomerizing ethylene in the presence of a Ziegler-type catalyst. The range of products typically requires a plurality of distillation columns to separate the LAO products up to a desired carbon count, but such approaches may be energy- and capital-intensive. LAO product separation using at least one dividing wall column may lessen these burdens. Methods for separating LAOs may comprise: providing a pre-processed product stream comprising Cg+ linear alpha olefins (LAOs) to a first of a series of distillation columns, at least one member of the series of distillation columns comprising a dividing wall column; and separating an overhead stream comprising a first LAO from the dividing wall column and one or more side streams from the dividing wall column, each side stream comprising a different LAO that also differs from the first LAO.

Many linear alpha olefin (LAO) syntheses form a range of LAO products when oligomerizing ethylene in the presence of a Ziegler-type catalyst. The range of products typically requires a plurality of distillation columns to separate the LAO products up to a desired carbon count, but such approaches may be energy- and capital-intensive. LAO product separation using at least one dividing wall column may lessen these burdens. Methods for separating LAOs may comprise: providing a pre-processed product stream comprising Cg+ linear alpha olefins (LAOs) to a first of a series of distillation columns, at least one member of the series of distillation columns comprising a dividing wall column; and separating an overhead stream comprising a first LAO from the dividing wall column and one or more side streams from the dividing wall column, each side stream comprising a different LAO that also differs from the first LAO.

Disclosed herein are methods for synthesizing fatty olefin metathesis products of high Z-isomeric purity from olefin feedstocks of low Z-isomeric purity. The methods include contacting a contacting an olefin metathesis reaction partner, such as acylated alkenol or an alkenal acetal, with an internal olefin in the presence of a Z-selective metathesis catalyst to form the fatty olefin metathesis product. In various embodiments, the fatty olefin metathesis products are insect pheromones. Pheromone compositions and methods of using them are also described.

Disclosed herein are methods for synthesizing fatty olefin metathesis products of high Z-isomeric purity from olefin feedstocks of low Z-isomeric purity. The methods include contacting a contacting an olefin metathesis reaction partner, such as acylated alkenol or an alkenal acetal, with an internal olefin in the presence of a Z-selective metathesis catalyst to form the fatty olefin metathesis product. In various embodiments, the fatty olefin metathesis products are insect pheromones. Pheromone compositions and methods of using them are also described.

Provided is a method for preparing an oligomer including: supplying a monomer stream and a solvent stream to a reactor to perform an oligomerization reaction to prepare a reaction product; supplying a discharge stream from the reactor including the reaction product to a separation device and supplying a lower discharge stream from the separation device to a settling tank; adding an organic flocculant to the settling tank to settle and remove a polymer and supplying the lower discharge stream from the separation device from which the polymer is removed to a high boiling point separation column; and removing a high boiling point material from the lower portion in the high boiling point separation column and supplying an upper discharge stream including an oligomer to a solvent separation column.

Provided is a method for preparing an oligomer including: supplying a monomer stream and a solvent stream to a reactor to perform an oligomerization reaction to prepare a reaction product; supplying a discharge stream from the reactor including the reaction product to a separation device and supplying a lower discharge stream from the separation device to a settling tank; adding an organic flocculant to the settling tank to settle and remove a polymer and supplying the lower discharge stream from the separation device from which the polymer is removed to a high boiling point separation column; and removing a high boiling point material from the lower portion in the high boiling point separation column and supplying an upper discharge stream including an oligomer to a solvent separation column.

Provided is a method for preparing an oligomer including: supplying a monomer stream and a solvent stream to a reactor to perform an oligomerization reaction to prepare a reaction product; supplying a discharge stream from the reactor including the reaction product to a separation device and supplying a lower discharge stream from the separation device to a settling tank; adding an organic flocculant to the settling tank to settle and remove a polymer and supplying the lower discharge stream from the separation device from which the polymer is removed to a high boiling point separation column; and removing a high boiling point material from the lower portion in the high boiling point separation column and supplying an upper discharge stream including an oligomer to a solvent separation column.

A process to produce 1-octene and 1-decene includes (a) separating a composition containing an oligomer product—which contains 15 to 80 mol % C.sub.6 olefins, 20 to 80 mol % C.sub.8 olefins, and 5 to 20 mol % C.sub.10+ olefins—into a first oligomer composition containing C.sub.6 alkanes and at least 85 mol % C.sub.6 olefins (e.g., 1-hexene), a second oligomer composition containing at least 20 mol % C.sub.8 olefins (e.g., 1-octene), and a heavies stream containing C.sub.10+ olefins, then (b) contacting a metathesis catalyst system with the first oligomer composition to form a first composition comprising C.sub.10 linear internal olefins, (c) contacting the C.sub.10 linear internal olefins with a catalytic isomerization catalyst system in the presence of photochemical irradiation to form a second composition comprising 1-decene, and (d) purifying the second composition to isolate a third composition comprising at least 90 mol % 1-decene. Processes to produce 1-hexene and 1-decene also are described, as well as related manufacturing systems and processes to produce higher carbon number normal alpha olefins from lower carbon number normal alpha olefins.

A process to produce 1-octene and 1-decene includes (a) separating a composition containing an oligomer product—which contains 15 to 80 mol % C.sub.6 olefins, 20 to 80 mol % C.sub.8 olefins, and 5 to 20 mol % C.sub.10+ olefins—into a first oligomer composition containing C.sub.6 alkanes and at least 85 mol % C.sub.6 olefins (e.g., 1-hexene), a second oligomer composition containing at least 20 mol % C.sub.8 olefins (e.g., 1-octene), and a heavies stream containing C.sub.10+ olefins, then (b) contacting a metathesis catalyst system with the first oligomer composition to form a first composition comprising C.sub.10 linear internal olefins, (c) contacting the C.sub.10 linear internal olefins with a catalytic isomerization catalyst system in the presence of photochemical irradiation to form a second composition comprising 1-decene, and (d) purifying the second composition to isolate a third composition comprising at least 90 mol % 1-decene. Processes to produce 1-hexene and 1-decene also are described, as well as related manufacturing systems and processes to produce higher carbon number normal alpha olefins from lower carbon number normal alpha olefins.

A process to produce 1-octene and 1-decene includes (a) separating a composition containing an oligomer product—which contains 15 to 80 mol % C.sub.6 olefins, 20 to 80 mol % C.sub.8 olefins, and 5 to 20 mol % C.sub.10+ olefins—into a first oligomer composition containing C.sub.6 alkanes and at least 85 mol % C.sub.6 olefins (e.g., 1-hexene), a second oligomer composition containing at least 20 mol % C.sub.8 olefins (e.g., 1-octene), and a heavies stream containing C.sub.10+ olefins, then (b) contacting a metathesis catalyst system with the first oligomer composition to form a first composition comprising C.sub.10 linear internal olefins, (c) contacting the C.sub.10 linear internal olefins with a catalytic isomerization catalyst system in the presence of photochemical irradiation to form a second composition comprising 1-decene, and (d) purifying the second composition to isolate a third composition comprising at least 90 mol % 1-decene. Processes to produce 1-hexene and 1-decene also are described, as well as related manufacturing systems and processes to produce higher carbon number normal alpha olefins from lower carbon number normal alpha olefins.