Recovery of straight chain alpha-olefins by urea treatment on feedstocks obtained in secondary processing

As the demand for alpha-olefins increases, the requirements for purity are more stringent. The influence of temperature and the ratio of the molecular weights of adducting alkanes and alkenes on the process of separation of alpha-olefins by urea treatment is studied. Variation of temperature at the upper limit of adducting formation (ULA) of C/sub 8/-C/sub 18/ straight chain 1-alkenes in the presence of straight chain alkanes of smaller atomic weight is recorded. As this presence can only be recorded for pairs of hydrocarbons where the difference between the number of carbon atoms is according to formula, appropriate ureas are chosen. A temperature gradient is discovered. This ultimately shows that the separation of a wide petroleum cut into alkanes and alkenes of acceptable purity is impossible. Urea treatment is also impossible. Stepwise segregation, narrow cutting, etc., must be used.