Abstract: A method of producing a catalyst comprises forming a decomposed material comprising a decomposed hydrotalcite, a decomposed hydrocalumite, or a combination of both, combining the decomposed material with a mixture to form a catalyst mixture, and heating the catalyst mixture to convert the metal salt to a metal oxide. The mixture comprises a metal salt and a chelating agent, and the resulting metal oxide combined with the decomposed material forms the catalyst.

Abstract: A method of producing a catalyst comprises forming a decomposed material comprising a decomposed hydrotalcite, a decomposed hydrocalumite, or a combination of both, combining the decomposed material with a mixture to form a catalyst mixture, and heating the catalyst mixture to convert the metal salt to a metal oxide. The mixture comprises a metal salt and a chelating agent, and the resulting metal oxide combined with the decomposed material forms the catalyst.

Abstract: A method of producing a catalyst comprises forming a decomposed material comprising a decomposed hydrotalcite, a decomposed hydrocalumite, or a combination of both, combining the decomposed material with a mixture to form a catalyst mixture, and heating the catalyst mixture to convert the metal salt to a metal oxide. The mixture comprises a metal salt and a chelating agent, and the resulting metal oxide combined with the decomposed material forms the catalyst.

Abstract: A reactive distillation method comprises introducing a feed stream to a reactive distillation column, wherein the feed stream comprises ethanol, contacting the feed stream with one or more catalysts in the reactive distillation column during a distillation, and removing butyl acetate during the distillation from the reactive distillation column as a bottoms stream. The feed stream reacts in the presence of the one or more catalysts to produce a reaction product comprising ethyl acetate, butanol, and water, wherein the butanol and the ethyl acetate react to produce a reaction product comprising the butyl acetate.

Abstract: A reactive distillation method comprises introducing a feed stream to a reactive distillation column, wherein the feed stream comprises ethanol, contacting the feed stream with one or more catalysts in the reactive distillation column during a distillation, and removing butyl acetate during the distillation from the reactive distillation column as a bottoms stream. The feed stream reacts in the presence of the one or more catalysts to produce a reaction product comprising ethyl acetate, butanol, and water, wherein the butanol and the ethyl acetate react to produce a reaction product comprising the butyl acetate.

Abstract: A method of purifying an ethyl acetate stream comprises contacting an inlet stream with a solvent, transferring at least a portion of the impurity compound from the inlet stream into the solvent to form an extract and a purified product, separating the extract from the purified product, separating the portion of the impurity compound from the extract, forming an impurities stream and a regenerated solvent, and recycling at least a portion of the regenerated solvent to contact the inlet stream. The inlet stream comprises ethyl acetate and an impurity compound, and the extract comprises the solvent and the portion of the impurity compound transferred from the inlet stream.

Abstract: A reactive distillation method comprises introducing an feed stream comprising ethanol to a reactive distillation column, contacting the feed stream with a catalyst in the reactive distillation column during a distillation, where the feed stream reacts in the presence of the catalyst to produce a reaction product comprising ethyl acetate and hydrogen, removing ethyl acetate during the distillation from the reactive distillation column as a bottoms stream, and removing hydrogen during the distillation from the reactive distillation column as an overhead stream.

Abstract: A reactive distillation method comprises introducing a feed stream to a reactive distillation column, contacting the feed stream with one or more catalysts in the reactive distillation column during a distillation, and removing one or more higher alcohols during the distillation from the reactive distillation column as a bottoms stream. The feed stream comprises one or more alpha hydrogen alcohols, and the feed stream reacts in the presence of the one or more catalysts to produce a reaction product comprising the one or more higher alcohols.

Abstract: A reactive distillation method comprises introducing a feed stream to a reactive distillation column, contacting the feed stream with one or more catalysts in the reactive distillation column during a distillation, and removing one or more higher alcohols during the distillation from the reactive distillation column as a bottoms stream. The feed stream comprises one or more alpha hydrogen alcohols, and the feed stream reacts in the presence of the one or more catalysts to produce a reaction product comprising the one or more higher alcohols.

Abstract: Process and systems for alkane bromination and, in one or more embodiments, to separate, parallel methane and higher alkanes bromination in a bromine-based process. An embodiment discloses a bromine-based process for converting alkanes to liquid hydrocarbons that includes alkanes bromination, the process comprising: brominating a methane stream comprising methane and having less than about 2 mol % of ethane to form methane bromination products comprising brominated methane and a first fraction of hydrogen bromide; separately brominating a C2+ alkane stream comprising an alkane having 2 or more carbon atoms to form C2+ methane bromination products comprising brominated alkanes having 2 or more carbon atoms and a second fraction of hydrogen bromide; and catalytically reacting at least a portion of the brominated methane and the brominated alkanes to form higher molecular hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method of purifying an ethyl acetate stream comprises contacting an inlet stream with a solvent, transferring at least a portion of the impurity compound from the inlet stream into the solvent to form an extract and a purified product, separating the extract from the purified product, separating the portion of the impurity compound from the extract, forming an impurities stream and a regenerated solvent, and recycling at least a portion of the regenerated solvent to contact the inlet stream. The inlet stream comprises ethyl acetate and an impurity compound, and the extract comprises the solvent and the portion of the impurity compound transferred from the inlet stream.

Abstract: A process for the production of high purity ethyl acetate from ethanol is described. The process involves reacting ethanol over a suitable catalyst in a reactive distillation column. The reactive distillation setup allows overcoming the reaction equilibrium for increased conversion of ethanol. Hydrogen is removed as the distillate and ethyl acetate is obtained as a bottoms product from the reactive distillation column. A feed of hydrogen at the bottom of the column and a suitable hydrogenation catalyst placed at the bottom of the column allows for a significant reduction of impurities such as butan-2-one and/or n-butyraldehyde in the ethyl acetate product. Adding side reactors to the reactive distillation column allows additional catalyst holdup for improved reactant conversion.

Abstract: A process for the production of high purity ethyl acetate from ethanol is described. The process involves reacting ethanol over a suitable catalyst in a reactive distillation column. The reactive distillation setup allows overcoming the reaction equilibrium for increased conversion of ethanol. Hydrogen is removed as the distillate and ethyl acetate is obtained as a bottoms product from the reactive distillation column. A feed of hydrogen at the bottom of the column and a suitable hydrogenation catalyst placed at the bottom of the column allows for a significant reduction of impurities such as butan-2-one, butyraldehyde in the ethyl acetate product. Adding side reactors to the reactive distillation column allows additional catalyst holdup for improved reactant conversion.

Abstract: A reactive distillation method comprises introducing an feed stream comprising ethanol to a reactive distillation column, contacting the feed stream with a catalyst in the reactive distillation column during a distillation, where the feed stream reacts in the presence of the catalyst to produce a reaction product comprising ethyl acetate and hydrogen, removing ethyl acetate during the distillation from the reactive distillation column as a bottoms stream, and removing hydrogen during the distillation from the reactive distillation column as an overhead stream.

Abstract: A method comprising providing a halogen stream; providing a first alkane stream; reacting at least a portion of the halogen stream with at least a portion of the first alkane stream to form a halogenated stream, wherein the halogenated stream comprises alkyl monohalides, alkyl polyhalides, and a hydrogen halide; providing a second alkane stream; and reacting at least a portion of the second alkane stream with at least a portion of the alkyl polyhalides to create at least some additional alkyl monohalides.

Abstract: A process for the production of high purity ethyl acetate from ethanol is described. The process involves reacting ethanol over a suitable catalyst in a reactive distillation column. The reactive distillation setup allows overcoming the reaction equilibrium for increased conversion of ethanol. Hydrogen is removed as the distillate and ethyl acetate is obtained as a bottoms product from the reactive distillation column. A feed of hydrogen at the bottom of the column and a suitable hydrogenation catalyst placed at the bottom of the column allows for a significant reduction of impurities such as butan-2-one and/or n-butyraldehyde in the ethyl acetate product. Adding side reactors to the reactive distillation column allows additional catalyst holdup for improved reactant conversion.

Abstract: A process for the production of high purity ethyl acetate from ethanol is described. The process involves reacting ethanol over a suitable catalyst in a reactive distillation column. The reactive distillation setup allows overcoming the reaction equilibrium for increased conversion of ethanol. Hydrogen is removed as the distillate and ethyl acetate is obtained as a bottoms product from the reactive distillation column. A feed of hydrogen at the bottom of the column and a suitable hydrogenation catalyst placed at the bottom of the column allows for a significant reduction of impurities such as butan-2-one, butyraldehyde in the ethyl acetate product. Adding side reactors to the reactive distillation column allows additional catalyst holdup for improved reactant conversion.

Abstract: A method comprising providing a halogen stream; providing a first alkane stream; reacting at least a portion of the halogen stream with at least a portion of the first alkane stream to form a halogenated stream, wherein the halogenated stream comprises alkyl monohalides, alkyl polyhalides, and a hydrogen halide; providing a second alkane stream; and reacting at least a portion of the second alkane stream with at least a portion of the alkyl polyhalides to create at least some additional alkyl monohalides.

Abstract: A method comprising providing a halogen stream; providing a first alkane stream; reacting at least a portion of the halogen stream with at least a portion of the first alkane stream to form a halogenated stream, wherein the halogenated stream comprises alkyl monohalides, alkyl polyhalides, and a hydrogen halide; providing a second alkane stream; and reacting at least a portion of the second alkane stream with at least a portion of the alkyl polyhalides to create at least some additional alkyl monohalides.

Abstract: A process is provided for separating one or more light gases from bromine or chlorine using one or more physical separations and contact with a chemical scrubber to recover additional halogen. In one aspect, the process comprises (a) providing a feed of halogen containing one or more light gases to a distillation column or flash vaporizer; (b) operating the distillation column or flash vaporizer to separate the feed into (i) a first liquid containing a major amount of halogen and no more than a minor amount of light gas(es), and (ii) a first vapor containing a major amount of light gas(es) and no more than a minor amount of halogen; and (c) providing the vapor to a chemical scrubber to recover halogen from the vapor.