Isomerized olefin products are produced by contacting an olefin feed containing a C.sub.10 to C.sub.20 normal alpha olefin, a solid acid catalyst, and a C.sub.2 to C.sub.15 primary ester to form the isomerized olefin product. Typical primary esters used in the processes include formates and acetates. Linear olefin compositions are produced that contain at least 80 wt. % C.sub.10 to C.sub.20 linear internal olefins, less than 8 wt. % C.sub.10 to C.sub.20 normal alpha olefins, less than 8 wt. % dimers of C.sub.10 to C.sub.20 olefins, less than 15 wt. % C.sub.10 to C.sub.20 branched olefins, and at least 1 wt. % C.sub.2 to C.sub.15 primary ester and less than 8 wt. % secondary esters.

A method for purifying 1-hexene is disclosed. The method can include contacting a first stream containing 1-hexene and 2-ethyl-1-butene with an isomerization catalyst containing an comprising an alumina, silica-alumina, a zeolite, or an ion exchange resin, or any combinations thereof, under conditions sufficient to selectively isomerize at least a portion of 2-ethyl-1-butene into 3-methyl-2-pentene and form a second stream containing 1-hexene and 3-methyl-2-pentene, and separating the second stream into a third stream containing 1-hexene and a fourth stream containing 3-methyl-2-pentene.

A method for purifying 1-hexene is disclosed. The method can include contacting a first stream containing 1-hexene and 2-ethyl-1-butene with an isomerization catalyst containing an comprising an alumina, silica-alumina, a zeolite, or an ion exchange resin, or any combinations thereof, under conditions sufficient to selectively isomerize at least a portion of 2-ethyl-1-butene into 3-methyl-2-pentene and form a second stream containing 1-hexene and 3-methyl-2-pentene, and separating the second stream into a third stream containing 1-hexene and a fourth stream containing 3-methyl-2-pentene.

Processes for producing a linear internal olefin product include the steps of contacting an olefin feed containing C.sub.10-C.sub.20 vinylidenes and a C.sub.10-C.sub.20 normal alpha olefin and/or C.sub.10-C.sub.20 linear internal olefins, a first acid catalyst, and a C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 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.

Processes for producing a linear internal olefin product include the steps of contacting an olefin feed containing C.sub.10-C.sub.20 vinylidenes and a C.sub.10-C.sub.20 normal alpha olefin and/or C.sub.10-C.sub.20 linear internal olefins, a first acid catalyst, and a C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 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.

Processes for producing a linear internal olefin product include the steps of contacting an olefin feed containing C.sub.10-C.sub.20 vinylidenes and a C.sub.10-C.sub.20 normal alpha olefin and/or C.sub.10-C.sub.20 linear internal olefins, a first acid catalyst, and a C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 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.

Processes for producing a linear internal olefin product include the steps of contacting an olefin feed containing C.sub.10-C.sub.20 vinylidenes and a C.sub.10-C.sub.20 normal alpha olefin and/or C.sub.10-C.sub.20 linear internal olefins, a first acid catalyst, and a C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 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.

A process isomerizes 2,4,4-trimethylpent-2-ene to 2,4,4-trimethylpent-1-ene over a heterogeneous catalyst based on a zeolite or an ion-exchange resin. The process includes providing an input stream containing 2,4,4-trimethylpent-2-ene and 2,4,4-trimethylpent-1-ene and performing the isomerization with the input stream using a heterogeneous catalyst based on a zeolite or an ion-exchange resin. A proportion of 2,4,4-trimethylpent-2-ene in the total stream is at least 25 mol % based on the total input stream.

A process isomerizes 2,4,4-trimethylpent-2-ene to 2,4,4-trimethylpent-1-ene over a heterogeneous catalyst based on a zeolite or an ion-exchange resin. The process includes providing an input stream containing 2,4,4-trimethylpent-2-ene and 2,4,4-trimethylpent-1-ene and performing the isomerization with the input stream using a heterogeneous catalyst based on a zeolite or an ion-exchange resin. A proportion of 2,4,4-trimethylpent-2-ene in the total stream is at least 25 mol % based on the total input stream.

A process provides a tops stream K containing more than 85% by weight of 2,4,4-trimethylpent-1-ene, wherein both an isomerization of 2,4,4-trimethylpont-2-ene to 2,4,4-trimethylpont-1-ene and a distillation to obtain the tops stream K are performed. The isomerization is at least partially fed with the bottoms stream of the distilation where a tops stream K is withdrawn overhead.