1-butene and 2-butenes production using the positional isomerization of butenes catalyzed by sulfonic acid cation exchangers

Pure 1-butene and 2-butenes can be efficiently obtained from butane-butene fractions by combining the positional isomerization of n-butenes on sulfonic acid cation exchanger catalysts with sharp distillation. At 50–60°C, an equilibrium 2-butenes: 1-butene ratio of ∼25: 1 is attained. The 2-butenes, which are comparatively high-boiling compounds, can be sufficiently completely separated from detrimental impurities (1,3-butadiene and isobutene), 1-butene, and isobutane by distillation. The back isomerization of the purified 2-butenes into 1-butene with continuous removal of the latter as distillate affords pure 1-butene at a relatively low cost.