Purity aspects of higher alpha olefins

The various processes which are used commercially to manufacture detergent range alpha olefins are compared in terms of the quality of the products obtained. Thermal cracking ofn-paraffins gives the least pure olefins. Processes based on ethylene oligomerization are superior and, of these, the Shell SHOP (Shell Higher Olefins Process) process gives alpha olefins which are somewhat better in quality than those obtained from processes based on aluminum alkyl chemistry. The practical consequences of the presence of internal and vinylidene olefins, dienes and paraffins in alpha olefins are considered for the manufacture of alpha olefin sulfonates, linear alkyl-benzene, epoxides, alkyl bromides, rnercaptans and copolymers with ethylene (linear low density polyethylene). Low levels of impurities are desirable in most cases to minimize formation of unwanted byproducts, or to reduce the cost of bleeding of inert components, or to ensure that the quality of the final product meets the requirements of the marketplace. Presented at the AOCS Meeting in Toronto, May 1982.