Process for isomerization of alpha olefins and compositions resulting therefrom

摘要

A process for the conversion of C16 and/or C8 alpha olefins to internal olefins encompasses passing the C16 and/or C18 alpha olefins through a bed of solid acid silica-alumina catalyst at a maintained operating temperature of between about 70° to about 140° C. The amount of residual alpha olefin content in the isomerized internal olefin mixture is less than 10 weight percent. The isomerized internal olefin mixture further preferably contains less than about 25 weight percent of the C1 and C6-C8 isomers and, optionally, the C9 isomer when a C18 is being converted, the remainder being the C2-C5 olefinic isomers. Such isomerized internal olefin mixtures have particular applicability as paper sizing compositions and as drilling fluids.