Abstract: A process for producing crude biodiesel from renewable feedstocks (such as fats, oils, and greases) containing unsaponifiable materials; purifying the crude biodiesel through a purification process; recovering a purified biodiesel distillate stream and a less volatile biodiesel residue stream; and further recovering valuable chemicals from the biodiesel residue. Specifically, the present technology relates to the concentration of valuable chemicals in the biodiesel residue product of biodiesel production and the subsequent recovery of these valuable chemicals. The process may further include the conversion of the biodiesel residue into diesel range hydrocarbons using hydrodeoxygenation and the subsequent purification of the hydrocarbon fraction produced thereby.

Abstract: The present invention provides method for separating contaminants from a liquid mixture comprising the steps of a) providing a feed of said liquid mixture to be purified, b) adding a separation aid to the liquid mixture to be purified, wherein said separation aid is capable of binding said contaminants and c) supplying a flow of compressed air into said feed after step b) has been performed to provide a feed comprising air. The method further comprises steps d) removing air from said feed comprising air to provide a deaerated feed; and e) supplying said deaerated feed to a separator, and f) separating a phase comprising contaminants and said separation aid from said liquid mixture in said separator, wherein the separation aid added in step b) is insoluble in said liquid mixture at the separation conditions in step f). The present invention further provides a system for separating contaminants from a liquid mixture.

Abstract: Processes for increasing an octane value of a gasoline component by dehydrogenating a stream comprising C7 hydrocarbons and methylcyclohexane in a first dehydrogenation zone to form an intermediate dehydrogenation effluent, and then dehydrogenating the intermediate dehydrogenation effluent in a second dehydrogenation zone to form a C7 dehydrogenation effluent. The C7 dehydrogenation effluent has an increased olefins content compared to an olefins content of the intermediate dehydrogenation effluent. The first dehydrogenation zone is operated under conditions to convert methylcyclohexane to toluene and minimize cracking reactions. The intermediate dehydrogenation effluent may be heated before being passed to the second dehydrogenation zone.

Abstract: Processes for the production of high purity isobutylene are disclosed. The processes may include supplying a mixed C4 feed stream to a catalytic distillation column, which may contain a butene isomerization catalyst. 1-butene is isomerized to 2-butene and concurrently in the catalytic distillation column the 2-butene is separated from the isobutane and isobutylene. The overheads fraction comprising the isobutane and isobutylene is then condensed in an overheads system and fed to a splitter, where the isobutane is separated from the isobutylene. The process further includes operating the catalytic distillation column at an overheads temperature greater than a bottoms temperature of the splitter, and heating a portion of the splitter bottoms stream via indirect heat exchange with at least a portion of the catalytic distillation column overheads fraction, thereby producing a heated bottoms stream (reboil vapor) fed to the splitter and a cooled overheads fraction.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to producing olefins and other products by oxidative dehydrogenation cracking of a hydrocarbon feed. In one embodiment, the method includes oxidative cracking a hydrocarbon feed comprised of plastic waste. Methods of the present invention employ dual functional catalyst comprising solid acids and metal oxides, which are capable of selectively oxidizing hydrogen to water rather than combustion of the hydrocarbon feeds or products. Additional aspects of the invention demonstrate catalyst synthetic methods for encapsulating metal oxides in the internal channels and cages of solid acids, thereby improving the selective oxidation of hydrogen to water and decreasing feed and product oxidation. The re-oxidation of the thus reduced metal oxide transfer agents supplies heat to drive the endothermic cracking of the feed.

Abstract: Processes incorporating a common organic chloride decomposition reactor and chloride treater to be used by both the C4 and C5-6 isomerization reaction zones are described. A portion of the C4 isomerization reaction zone off gas is routed to the C4 HCl absorber, which provides about 85% of the HCl requirement for the C4 isomerization reaction zone. A small amount of the C5-6 isomerization reaction zone off gas is mixed with the C4 isomerization reaction zone off gas portion going to the C4 HCl absorber.

Abstract: A process of converting a carbon-carbon double bond on a substrate into a cyclopropane ring, which method comprises the step of treating the substrate with a N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound, a transition metal catalyst and an aqueous base, wherein the N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound is formed by reacting an alkyl amine with an alkali metal nitrite in the presence of a mono-basic or di-basic acid, or a mixture thereof, and wherein the N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound is not distilled before it is mixed with the substrate, catalyst and base.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of a light naphtha feedstock that comprises normal paraffins and iso-paraffins may include separating the feedstock into a first iso-paraffin stream and a normal paraffin stream. The separating may be performed with 5A molecular sieves, a pressure of about 1-3 bars, and a temperature of 100-260° C. A product stream may be provided by subjecting the normal paraffin stream to at least one of steam cracking, isomerizing, and aromatizing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for generating higher hydrocarbon(s) from a stream comprising compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C2+), comprising introducing methane and an oxidant (e.g., O2) into an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor. The OCM reactor reacts the methane with the oxidant to generate a first product stream comprising the C2+ compounds. The first product stream can then be directed to a separations unit that recovers at least a portion of the C2+ compounds from the first product stream to yield a second product stream comprising the at least the portion of the C2+ compounds.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the use of dissolved hydrogen in a purification process for the removal of Bromine Index (BI)-reactive compounds from an aromatic-containing hydrocarbon stream derived from various sources, such as petroleum fractionation, reforming, thermal cracking, catalytic cracking, isomerization, transalkylation, alkylation, coking, conversion of oxygenates, conversion of biomass, etc. The purification process comprises contacting the aromatic-containing hydrocarbon stream in the liquid phase in the presence of dissolved hydrogen with at least one suitable catalytic material under conditions effective to provide a product stream having a lower concentration of BI-reactive compounds than the untreated stream.

Abstract: A catalyst comprising Y2O3 nanorods and gold nanoparticles dispersed on a surface of the nanorods is provided. The gold is present at a concentration of 0.5-2 wt %. A method of forming olefins by oxidative cracking is also provided. The method includes reacting an alkane with a reactant gas mixture in the presence of a catalyst under conditions suitable for forming light olefins (ethtylene and propylene).

Abstract: Para-xylene production processes are disclosed, with such processes being integrated with extractive distillation or other separation to effectively separate, for example to remove and recover, ethylbenzene and other components that co-boil with the isomers of xylene. This allows for xylene isomerization, downstream of the separation of para-xylene from its other isomers, to be operated under milder conditions (e.g., liquid phase, absence of added hydrogen) without the need for ethylbenzene conversion. The associated decreased yields of byproducts such as light gases and non-aromatic hydrocarbons, together with the generation of purified ethylbenzene having value for styrene monomer production, can significantly improve overall process economics.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing 1,3-butadiene that enables 1,3-butadiene to be obtained in a high yield while preventing abnormal reaction of a fraction containing vinylacetylene in high concentration. The method for producing 1,3-butadiene is a method for producing 1,3-butadiene from a fraction produced in separation and recovery of 1,3-butadiene from a C4 hydrocarbon mixture that includes: adding a diluent to a high VA fraction containing vinylacetylene to produce a diluted fraction; and subjecting the diluted fraction to hydrogenation treatment to produce 1,3-butadiene. Substantially only a low VA fraction is used as the diluent. The low VA fraction is a fraction that is produced in separation and recovery of 1,3-butadiene from the C4 hydrocarbon mixture and has a lower vinylacetylene concentration than the high VA fraction.

Abstract: A Process for the purification of renewable oils. The process may also be applied to petroleum oils such as used motor oil and the like. The process involves centrifuging the renewable oil in a centrifugal device producing a minimum of 7000 RCF, then contacting the oil with a mixture containing water, a straight chain hydro-treated ester compound, and a phosphate derivative at a minimum temperature of 100° C. for 10 minutes, then raising temperature to approximately between 120° C. and 130° C. to complete reaction. The mixture is then again centrifuged in a centrifugal device producing a minimum of 7000 RCF.

Abstract: Processes and systems for dehydrogenating ethylbenzene may include mixing a steam stream and an ethylbenzene stream to form a feed mixture. The ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture may then be fed to a dehydrogenation reactor containing an alkali metal promoted catalyst. A liquid, selected from an alkali metal liquid, an alkali metal compound liquid, or a liquid solution comprising an alkali metal, may be injected into a feed stream, such as the steam stream, the ethylbenzene stream, or the ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture. Following injection, the liquid vaporizes and disperses into the feed stream upstream of the dehydrogenation reactor. The liquid may be maintained as a liquid from a point upstream of injection to an injection nozzle. The liquid is dispersed through the injection nozzle, in liquid form, to form droplets of liquid dispersed in the feed stream, which evaporate and/or dissolve into the vaporous feed stream.

Abstract: Provided herein is a unique process that prepares a saturated hydrocarbon mixture with well-controlled structural characteristics that address the performance requirements driven by the stricter environmental and fuel economy regulations for automotive engine oils. The process allows for the branching characteristics of the hydrocarbon molecules to be controlled so as to consistently provide a composition that has a surprising CCS viscosity at ?35° C. (ASTM D5329) and Noack volatility (ASTM D5800) relationship. The process comprises providing a specific olefinic feedstock, oligomerizing in the presence of a BF3 catalyst, and hydroisomerizing in the presence of a noble-metal impregnated, 10-member ring zeolite catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing high-purity para-xylene, comprising a single step of separation by adsorption in an SMB, with a subsequent step of separation by distillation in a first three-fraction distillation column producing at least two raffinates and optionally of two isomerization steps, making it possible to improve the overall para-xylene yield of the aromatic loop and to minimize the economic impact.

Abstract: Processes and multiple-stage catalyst systems are disclosed for producing propene by at least partially isomerizing butene in an isomerization reaction zone having an isomerization catalyst to form an isomerization reaction product, at least partially metathesizing the isomerization reaction product in a metathesis reaction zone having a metathesis catalyst to form a metathesis reaction product, and at least partially cracking the metathesis reaction product in a cracking reaction zone having a cracking catalyst. The isomerization catalyst may be MgO, and the metathesis catalyst may be a mesoporous silica catalyst support impregnated with a metal oxide. The metathesis reaction zone may be downstream of the isomerization reaction zone, and the cracking reaction zone may be downstream of the metathesis reaction zone.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing aromatic hydrocarbons from light alkanes. A light alkane is contacted with catalyst particles in each of reactors, wherein each of the reactors is a fluidized bed reactor arranged in parallel with each other in a furnace. At least a portion of the alkane feed is converted to aromatic hydrocarbons using the catalyst particles, wherein the aromatic hydrocarbons form a part of a reactor effluent stream. The reactor effluent streams from each of the reactors are merged to form a first merged effluent stream. Catalysts particles deactivated through the light alkane conversion are either regenerated inside the reactors or withdrawn from the reactors for regeneration outside the reactors. The furnace comprises multiple furnaces, and the first merged effluent stream from each of the furnaces is further merged with each other to form a second merged effluent stream.

Abstract: A method of making BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene) compounds by feeding a heavy reformate stream to a reactor, where the reactor includes a composite zeolite catalyst, that contains a mixture of a desilicated mesoporous mordenite and ZSM-5, and in which the desilicated mesoporous mordenite, the ZSM-5, or both, comprise one or more impregnated metals. The composite zeolite catalyst is able to catalyze the transalkylation reaction and the dealkylation reaction simultaneously to produce the BTX compounds.