Abstract: Oxidative dehydrogenation includes: (a) providing a gaseous feed stream to a catalytic reactor, the feed stream comprising a dehydrogenation reactant, oxygen, superheated steam, hydrocarbon moderator gas and optionally nitrogen, wherein the molar ratio of moderator gas to oxygen in feed stream is typically from 4:1 to 1:1 and the molar ratio of oxygen to nitrogen in the feed stream is at least 2; (b) oxidatively dehydrogenating the reactant in the reactor to provide a dehydrogenated product enriched effluent product stream; and (c) recovering dehydrogenated product from the effluent product stream. One preferred embodiment is a process for making butadiene including dimerizing ethylene to n-butene in a homogeneous reaction medium to provide a hydrocarbonaceous n-butene rich feed stream and oxidatively dehydrogenating the n-butene so formed.

Abstract: The present discloses a process and catalyst therefor to selectively remove acetylenes from gaseous streams in the vapor phase. The process is particularly suitable for high yield recovery of olefinic hydrocarbons from gaseous streams in refinery processes.

Abstract: The present discloses a process and catalyst therefor to selectively remove acetylenes from gaseous streams in the vapor phase. The process is particularly suitable for high yield recovery of olefinic hydrocarbons from gaseous streams in refinery processes.

Abstract: Butadiene is formed by dehydrogenation of butenes which are mixed with steam and oxygen then converted to butadiene by oxidative dehydrogenation over a ferritic oxide catalyst, wherein the sensible heat in the oxidative dehydrogenation reaction product is utilized along with heat produced by thermal oxidation of low value volatile products formed to reduce energy requirements and CO2 emissions. Sensible heat is utilized at high temperature for purposes of superheating feed and at somewhat lower temperatures for purposes of vaporizing feed at sequential locations in the process.

Abstract: Butadiene is made from a butene rich feed, passing a superheated butene rich feed including superheated steam and oxygen at a temperature of at least about 343° C. (650° F.) over a catalyst bed having a depth of over about 69 cm (27 inches) of granules of ferritic oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst. Inlet conditions being controlled such that the oxidative dehydrogenation reactions initially occur in the lower most layers of catalyst. Process control includes monitoring the temperature throughout the bed and increasing the inlet temperature in response to a drop in the temperature in the active layer, when the active layer of oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst begins to become deactivated so that the reaction zone moves upwardly in the oxidative dehydrogenation bed.

Abstract: A method of producing butadiene includes: (1) dimerizing ethylene to butene followed by (2) oxidatively dehydrogenating the butene to butadiene and (3) recovering the butadiene by (i) absorbing the product with a hydrocarbon absorber oil and (ii) stripping a crude product stream from the absorber oil. The absorber oil is selected so as to be effective to sequester ethylene dimerization-derived impurities from the system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing a vinyl acetate composition by contacting a vinyl acetate stream with acetic acid, ethylene, and oxygen to form a reaction mixture and reacting the reaction mixture in a reactor under conditions effective to form a crude vinyl acetate composition comprising vinyl acetate, water, acetic acid and at least 0.1 wt % diacetoxyethylene.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a vinyl acetate/diacetoxyethylene copolymer, processes of making the copolymer and processes of hydrolyzing said copolymer to form a copolymerized polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing a vinyl acetate composition by contacting a vinyl acetate stream with acetic acid, ethylene, and oxygen to form a reaction mixture and reacting the reaction mixture in a reactor under conditions effective to form a crude vinyl acetate composition comprising vinyl acetate, water, acetic acid and at least 0.1 wt % diacetoxyethylene.

Abstract: The present discloses a process and catalyst therefor to selectively remove acetylenes from gaseous streams in the vapor phase. The process is particularly suitable for high yield recovery of olefinic hydrocarbons from gaseous streams in refinery processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated, optimized process for the production of ethylene, carbon monoxide and acetic acid from an ethane feed, including reacting ethane with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst to produce ethylene, carbon monoxide and acetic acid in a reactor, wherein the catalyst comprises the elements Mo, Pd, X, and Y in the gram-atomic ratios MOa Pdb Xc Yd, and the oxygen partial pressure in the reactor is about 15 psia to about 50 psia. The partial pressure of ethane in the reactor is about 50 psia to about 150 psia.