Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for regenerating adsorbents used in an integrated process for the production of ethers such as methyl tertiary butyl ether by the reaction of an alcohol with an isoolefin. The sorbents are used to remove such compounds as the product ether and the feed alcohol from a hydrocarbon-rich stream withdrawn from the etherification zone. The regeneration procedure includes contacting the sorbent with a heated portion of the treated hydrocarbon stream. The resultant contaminated hydrocarbon stream is passed into a stripping column used to remove light ends from the effluent of a dehydrogenation zone in which the isoolefin fed to the etherification zone is produced. The hydrocarbonaceous compounds collected on the sorbent are thus recycled rather than being destroyed or lost in low purity effluent streams.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons is disclosed. Paraffinic hydrocarbons are dehydrogenated to yield an olefin-containing stream, which is later charged to an alkylation zone for reaction with an aromatic hydrocarbon. The olefin-containing stream is first passed through a selective hydrogenation zone in which diolefins are converted to monoolefins by contact with a selective catalyst. This increases the yield and the quality of the product alkylate by greatly reducing the production of biphenyl compounds and oligomers in the alkylation zone. The selective hydrogenation zone is located between the vapor-liquid separator and stripper column of the dehydrogenation zone.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of linear olefinic hydrocarbons. A feed stream of paraffins is fed to a catalytic dehydrogenation reaction zone. Liquid phase hydrocarbons withdrawn from the dehydrogenation reaction zone are passed through a diolefin selective hydrogenation zone. The effluent of the hydrogenation zone is stripped of light ends and passed into an olefin separation zone, which preferably employs a selective adsorbent. The paraffinic effluent of the separation zone is recycled to the dehydrogenation zone. The paraffinic recycle stream contains some monoolefins, but is essentially free of diolefins. Dehydrogenation catalyst life is lengthened by elimination of diolefins in total charge to dehydrogenation zone. Product quality and yield is improved.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a mixture of mono- and diallkylated aromatic hydrocarbons suitable for use as a detergent or as a surfactant in enhanced oil recovery processes. Two alkylation reaction stages are used in series, with a separate amount of an acyclic olefin being charged to each reaction stage. The effluent of the second alkylation reaction stage is separated by fractionation to form a mixture of mono- and dialkylated hydrocarbons. A portion of this mixture is recycled to the second alkylation reaction stage, with remainder being withdrawn as the product stream.

Abstract: An improved process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of paraffinic hydrocarbons is disclosed. Feed paraffinic hydrocarbons are dehydrogenated to yield an olefin-containing vapor stream, which is partially condensed to produce a liquid phase process stream which contains by-product diolefins along with the intended product monoolefins. The liquid phase process stream and added hydrogen are passed through a selective hydrogenation zone in which diolefins are catalytically converted to monoolefins. This increases the quality of the product monoolefin stream. The selective hydrogenation zone is located between the vapor-liquid separator and stripper column of the dehydrogenation zone.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons by the HF catalyzed reaction of an aromatic hydrocarbon with a C.sub.8 -plus acyclic olefin. A portion of the HF used as catalyst is regenerated by passage into a stripping column which has a primary function of stripping dissolved HF out of a hydrocarbonaceous mixture produced in the alkylation zone. This eliminates the requirement for a separate HF regeneration column and the costs associated with this column.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for regenerating adsorbents used in an integrated process for the production of ethers such as methyl tertiary butyl ether by the reaction of an alcohol with an isoolefin. The sorbents are used to remove such compounds as the product ether and the feed alcohol from a hydrocarbon recycle stream withdrawn from the etherification zone. The regeneration procedure includes contacting the sorbent with a portion of the treated hydrocarbon stream. The resultant contaminated hydrocarbon stream is passed into a stripping column used to remove light ends from the effluent of a dehydrogenation zone in which the isoolefin fed to the etherification zone is produced. The hydrocarbonaceous compounds collected on the sorbent are thus recycled rather than being destroyed or lost in low purity effluent streams. The contaminated hydrocarbon stream may also be passed directly into the etherification zone.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process is disclosed which may be used to produce high purity isobutylene and/or tertiary butyl alcohol and methyl tertiary butyl ether. A mixed C.sub.4 feed stream is divided into two portions with a first portion being passed through a hydration zone to produce the tertiary butyl alcohol. The remaining hydrocarbons withdrawn from the hydration zone and the second portion of the feed stream are changed to an etherification zone. The unconverted hydrocarbons exiting the etherification zone may be subjected to isomerization and/or dehydrogenation to produce additional isobutylene. The high purity isobutylene is obtained by dehydrating the tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: A multi-step hydrocarbon conversion process for producing gasoline from propane or butane is disclosed. The feed hydrocarbon is passed into a dehydrogenation zone and the entire dehydrogenation zone effluent including hydrogen and light by-products is then passed into a catalytic condensation zone wherein the resulting olefins are converted into dimers and trimers. The condensation zone effluent stream is passed into a separation zone in which the dimers and trimers are concentrated into a product stream, with unconverted feed hydrocarbon and hydrogen being recycled to the dehydrogenation zone.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of low molecular weight paraffinic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process is particularly directed to the separation of hydrogen from the olefinic hydrocarbon products and unreacted paraffinic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A multiple reaction zone process for dehydrogenating light hydrocarbons, preferably propane, is disclosed. The feed stream and intermediate streams are first heated by indirect heat exchange to temperatures slightly below the desired inlet temperature of the dehydrogenation catalyst beds. These streams are then transported to a location which is in close proximity of the dehydrogenation catalyst bed and further heated by the selective combustion of hydrogen present in these streams through the use of beds of oxidation catalyst. This eliminates lengthy high temperature reactant residence times in transfer lines extending between fired heaters and the dehydrogenation catalyst beds, thereby reducing thermal cracking of the feed and increasing the selectivity of the process. The process has special utility with stacked moving bed reactors, which have larger volume reactant transfer lines.

Abstract: An improved multiconversion zone process which results in an increased yield of motor fuel blending stocks from butanes is disclosed. A butane mixture is fractionated into isobutane-rich and normal butane-rich process streams, with the normal butane-rich stream being passed into an isomerization zone. All of the C.sub.4 's in the isomerization zone effluent and the normal butane-rich process stream are passed through a dehydrogenation zone. The entire dehydrogenation zone effluent stream is passed into an alkylation zone, and the alkylation zone effluent is fractionated. An alkylate-containing normal butane stream is recycled to the feed fractionator, and alkylate from the feed fractionator is admixed with an alkylate stream from the alkylation zone product fractionator to produce a product stream.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process for producing C.sub.8 hydrocarbons suitable for use as motor fuel blending components from normal butane or a mixture of isobutane and normal butane. A butane feed stream is fractionated to produce a normal butane stream which is passed through a butane isomerization zone. The effluent of the isomerization zone is admixed with isobutane and passed into a butane dehydrogenation zone. The C.sub.4 effluent of the dehydrogenation zone is passed into an HF alkylation zone in which C.sub.8 hydrocarbons are produced. The alkylation zone effluent stream is passed into the feed stream fractionator. Preferably, an isobutane stream is withdrawn from the feed stream fractionator and divided into a portion which is passed into the dehydrogenation zone and a portion passed into the alkylation zone based on a measurement of the isobutane inventory of the process.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process for the production of motor fuel blending stocks from propane and butane is disclosed. Preferably a charge stream comprising a mixture of C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 saturated hydrocarbons is split into a C.sub.3 stream passed into a dehydrogenation zone and a C.sub.4 stream passed into an isostripper column. Normal butanes are removed from the isostripper and passed into an isomerization zone, with product isobutane being concentrated by fractionation in the isostripper. Isobutane and propylene from the dehydrogenation zone are then reacted in an alkylation zone which produces C.sub.5 -plus product hydrocarbons. The effluent of the alkylation zone enters the isostripper. The product stream and a propane-containing stream are withdrawn from the isostripper, with the propane-containing stream being passed into a second separation zone. Alternative butane fractionation systems are disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-step hydrocarbon conversion process for producing gasoline from butane is disclosed. Butane is passed into a dehydrogenation zone and the entire dehydrogenation zone effluent is then passed into a catalytic condensation zone wherein butylene is converted into C.sub.8 and C.sub.12 hydrocarbons. The condensation zone effluent, a stripper overhead stream and an absorber bottoms stream are commingled and then separated into vapor and liquid portions. The liquid is passed into the stripper, and the vapor portion is contacted with stripper bottoms liquid in an absorber. The absorber overhead stream is contacted with liquid butane in a second absorber to remove C.sub.8 hydrocarbons and is then recycled to the dehydrogenation zone. Debutanizing a portion of the stripper bottoms yields the liquid butane and a gasoline product.

Abstract: A multi-step hydrocarbon conversion process for producing gasoline from propane is disclosed. Propane is passed into a dehydrogenation zone and the entire dehydrogenation zone effluent is then passed into a catalytic condensation zone wherein propylene is converted into C.sub.6 and C.sub.9 hydrocarbons. The condensation zone effluent, a stripper overhead stream and an absorber bottoms stream are commingled and then separated into vapor and liquid portions. The liquid is passed into the stripper, and the vapor portion is contacted with stripper bottoms liquid in an absorber. The absorber overhead stream is contacted with liquid propane in a second absorber to remove C.sub.6 hydrocarbons and is then recycled to the dehydrogenation zone. Depropanizing a portion of the stripper bottoms yields the liquid propane and a gasoline product.

Abstract: A process for the separation of isobutane from an alkylation reaction zone hydrocarbon effluent stream comprising isobutane, n-butane, propane and alkylate is disclosed. The hydrocarbon effluent stream is charged to an isostripper column. An isobutane vapor stream from the column is condensed in indirect heat exchange with the lower liquid stream from said column comprising n-butane. The lower liquid stream is flashed in indirect heat exchange with said vapor stream at conditions to provide a vapor phase, said vapor phase being compressed and recycled to said column at a temperature to promote vapor formation therein.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process for the production of motor fuel blending stocks from butanes is disclosed. The butane feed stream enters a deisobutanizer column. A normal butane-rich stream removed from the deisobutanizer is passed into an isomerization zone, with isomerization zone effluent being returned to the deisobutanizer. An isobutane-rich deisobutanizer overhead stream is passed through a dehydrogenation zone which contains a depropanizer and then into an alkylation zone. The effluent of the alkylation zone is fractionated into a product stream and recycle streams passed into the deisobutanizer and the depropanizer. The utilities cost of operating the process is lowered by integration of the heat exchange required in the process.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic liquid-phase oxidation of xylenes to produce benzene dicarboxylic acids. An off-gas stream which remains after a partial condensation of the oxidation zone vapor-phase effluent stream and the off-gas streams of an acetic acid fractionation column and a methyl acetate fractionation column are scrubbed by internally generated water streams. The aqueous scrubbing liquids are then processed in fractionation columns used in the process to recover acetic acid and methyl acetate.

Abstract: A motor fuel HF alkylation system which eliminates the overhead system of the HF acid regenerator is disclosed. The overhead vapors from the regenerator are injected directly into the main fractionator used to separate alkylation reactor effluent into alkylate, isoparaffins and propane.