Production of 1-alkenes from mixed olefin streams using catalytic distillation

A catalytic distillation process for isomerizing and separating 1-alkenes from a mixed alkene stream. The process comprises contacting a mixed alkene stream comprising the 1-alkene and homologs thereof with a supported isomerization catalyst under isomerization/distillation conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the homologs to the 1-alkene, the isomerization/distillation conditions also being effective to produce a distillation overhead comprising a sufficient portion of the 1-alkene to drive isomerization of the homologs to the 1-alkene while maintaining the mixed alkene stream at least partially in liquid phase. The isomerization/distillation conditions are effective to recover a quantity of 1-alkene greater than an equilibrium quantity of 1-alkene recovered under isomerization conditions alone. The 1-alkene is selected from the group consisting of 1-alkenes having from about 4 to about 8 carbon atoms; provided that, when the mixed alkene stream is a C4 stream, the isomerization/distillation conditions comprise an amount of an extraction agent.