Olefin oligomerization and biodegradable compositions therefrom

1. A process for producing a hydrocarbon fluid composition, the process consisting essentially of:

a. contacting a feed comprising at least one C 3 to C 8 olefin and an olefinic recycle stream with a molecular sieve catalyst in a reaction zone under olefin oligomerization conditions such that the recycle to feed weight ratio is from 0.1 to 3.0, the WHSV is at least 0.5 based on the olefin in the feed, and the difference between the highest and lowest temperatures within said reaction zone is 40° F. (22° C.) or less, said contacting producing a oligomerization effluent stream;

b. separating said oligomerization effluent stream into at least a hydrocarbon product stream having a first difference in initial boiling point and final boiling point temperatures, and said olefinic recycle stream, wherein the olefinic recycle stream contains no more than 10 wt % of C 10 + non-normal olefins, and the hydrocarbon product stream contains at least 1 wt % and no more than 30 wt % of C 9 non-normal olefins; and

c. separating the hydrocarbon product stream into said hydrocarbon fluid composition and at least one remainder separated stream, wherein said hydrocarbon fluid composition has:

i. a second difference in initial boiling point and final boiling point temperatures, wherein said second difference is less than said first difference; and

ii. an aerobic biodegradability of at least 40% at 28 days.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said feed comprises a mixture of C 3 to C 5 olefins comprising at least 5 wt % of C 4 olefin.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein said feed contains C 4 olefin and the contacting (a) is conducted so as to convert from 85 wt % to 96 wt % of the C 4 olefin in the feed.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the highest and lowest temperatures within said at least one reaction zone are between 150° C. and 350° C.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon product stream comprises from 0.5 wt % to 20.0 wt % of C 17 to C 20 hydrocarbons.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon product stream comprises at least 90 wt % C 9 to C 20 non-normal olefins.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon fluid composition comprises non-normal hydrocarbons of at least two different carbon numbers.

8. A process for producing a hydrocarbon fluid composition, the process consisting essentially of:

a. contacting a feed comprising at least one C 3 to C 8 olefin and an olefinic recycle stream with a molecular sieve catalyst in at least one reaction zone under olefin oligomerization conditions such that the recycle to feed weight ratio is from 0.1 to 3.0, the WHSV is at least 0.5 based on the olefin in the feed, and the difference between the highest and lowest temperatures within said reaction zone is 40° F. (22° C.) or less, said contacting producing a oligomerization effluent stream;

b. separating said oligomerization effluent stream into at least a hydrocarbon product stream having a first difference in initial boiling point and final boiling point temperatures, and said olefinic recycle stream, wherein the olefinic recycle stream contains no more than 10 wt % of C 10+ non-normal olefins, and the hydrocarbon product stream contains at least 1 wt % and no more than 30 wt % of C 9 non-normal olefins;

c. producing a hydrocarbon fluid composition from said hydrocarbon product stream by the steps of:

i. separating said hydrocarbon product stream to form at least a first separated hydrocarbon product stream and a remainder separated hydrocarbon product stream, and hydrogenating said first separated hydrocarbon product stream to form said hydrocarbon fluid composition; or

ii. hydrogenating said hydrocarbon product stream to form a hydrogenated hydrocarbon product stream, and separating said hydrogenated hydrocarbon product stream to form said hydrocarbon fluid composition,

 wherein said hydrocarbon fluid composition has a second difference in initial boiling point and dry point temperatures, wherein said second difference is less than said first difference; and an aerobic biodegradability of at least 40% at 28 days.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein said hydrocarbon fluid composition has a Bromine Index of no greater than 1000 mg Br/100 g sample.

10. The process of claim 8 wherein said hydrocarbon fluid composition comprises at least 95 wt % non-normal paraffins.

11. The process of claim 8 wherein said hydrocarbon fluid composition comprises less than 10 wt % naphthenes.