Abstract: A flexible process for gasoline refineries is described. The process can vary depending on the available feedstock and the desired products. At one time, the process can involve disproportionating pentanes to a product mixture including isobutane and isohexane. At other times, by switching the feedstock and operating conditions, the process can convert a mixture of C4 and C7 paraffins to a low aromatic blendstock with suitable octane and a vapor pressure lower than butanes. The process can be performed in separate stand-alone units operated at different times, or a single unit can be operated according to one process at one time and according to the other process at another time.

Abstract: Lactamium based ionic liquids and methods of making them are described. The ionic liquids comprise at least one of: the reaction product of a lactam compound having a general formula wherein the ring has at least one C?C double bond, or and a Brønsted acid HX; or a Brønsted acid HX where X is a halide, and a metal halide.

Abstract: Processes for removing sulfur and nitrogen contaminants from hydrocarbon streams are described. The processes include contacting the hydrocarbon stream comprising the contaminant with lean carbenium pseudo ionic liquid or a combination of carbenium pseudo ionic liquid and ionic liquid to produce a mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid or carbenium pseudo ionic liquid and ionic liquid comprising the contaminant. The mixture is separated to produce a hydrocarbon effluent and a rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid or carbenium pseudo ionic liquid and ionic liquid effluent comprising the rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid or carbenium pseudo ionic liquid and ionic liquid comprising the contaminant.

Abstract: Alkylation processes are described. The processes utilize ionic liquid catalysts having a kinematic viscosity range of about 50 cSt to about 100 cSt at 25° C. Catalysts within this range produce alkylate having higher octane than catalysts outside this range, especially at higher process temperatures which are preferable from an operating cost standpoint. The alkylate can have one or more of a research octane number of at least about 93, a selectivity of C8 of at least about 65%, and a mole ratio of trimethylpentane to dimethylhexane of greater than about 7:1.

Abstract: A method for regenerating sulfur rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid is described. The method includes contacting the sulfur rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid containing at least one sulfur compound with at least one silane compound in a regeneration zone under regeneration conditions. The carbenium pseudo ionic liquid comprises an organohalide and a metal halide. The silane compound reacts to form a silyl compound, resulting in a carbenium pseudo ionic liquid phase and an organic phase containing the sulfur and the silyl compound.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The process involves contacting a hydrocarbon feed with a lactamium based ionic liquid catalyst in a reaction zone under reaction conditions to form a mixture comprising reaction products, and the lactamium based ionic liquid catalyst. Typical hydrocarbon conversion processes include alkylation, oligomerization, isomerization, disproportionation, and reverse disproportionation.

Abstract: A process for making an alkylate is presented. The process includes mixing an isoparaffin stream with an olefin stream in an alkylation reactor. The alkylation reactor includes a catalyst for performing the reaction. The catalyst is an ionic liquid that is a quaternary chloroaluminate based ionic liquid, and the reaction is performed at or near ambient temperatures.

Abstract: An integrated alkylation and disproportionation process and apparatus are described. n-C4 and n-C5 are routed to a disproportionation reaction zone for conversion to iso-C4 and C6+ isoparaffin-rich product. The iso-C4 is routed to an alkylation reaction zone and reacted with refinery propylene and butenes to produce alkylate product. The C6+ isoparaffin-rich product and alkylate product are recovered. Unconverted iso-C4 and/or olefins are recycled to the alkylation reaction zone, and unconverted n-C4 and n-C5 are recycled to the disproportionation reaction zone.

Abstract: A process utilizing an ionic liquid is described. The process includes contacting a hydrocarbon feed with an ionic liquid component, the ionic liquid component comprising a mixture of a first ionic liquid and a viscosity modifier, wherein a viscosity of the ionic liquid component is at least about 10% less than a viscosity of the first ionic liquid.

Abstract: A process for removing sulfur and nitrogen contaminants from a hydrocarbon stream using a Brønsted acid or an ionic liquid and a Brønsted acid is described. The process includes contacting the hydrocarbon stream comprising the contaminant with a Brønsted acid or a hydrocarbon-immiscible ionic liquid and the Brønsted acid to produce a mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and the Brønsted acid comprising at least a portion of the removed contaminant or a hydrocarbon-immiscible ionic liquid comprising at least a portion of the removed contaminant; and separating the mixture to produce a hydrocarbon effluent having a reduced level of the contaminant and a Brønsted acid effluent comprising the Brønsted acid comprising at least the portion of the removed contaminant or a hydrocarbon-immiscible ionic liquid effluent comprising the hydrocarbon-immiscible ionic liquid comprising at least the portion of the removed contaminant.

Abstract: A process for removing a contaminant from a kerosene stream using a lactamium based ionic liquid is described. The process includes contacting the kerosene stream comprising the contaminant with a lean kerosene-immiscible lactamium ionic liquid to produce a mixture comprising the kerosene and a rich kerosene-immiscible lactamium ionic liquid comprising at least a portion of the removed contaminant; and separating the mixture to produce a kerosene effluent and a rich kerosene-immiscible lactamium ionic liquid effluent comprising the rich kerosene-immiscible lactamium ionic liquid.

Abstract: An integrated process for gasoline production is described. The process includes introducing a feed comprising n-C5 hydrocarbons into a disproportionation reaction zone in the presence of a disproportionation catalyst to form a disproportionation mixture comprising iso-C4 and C6+ disproportionation products and unreacted n-C5 hydrocarbons. An iso-C4 hydrocarbon stream and an olefin feed are introduced into an alkylation reaction zone in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylation mixture comprising alkylate and unreacted iso-C4 paraffins. The disproportionation mixture and the alkylation mixture are combined, and the combined mixture is separated into at least a stream comprising the alkylate product, an iso-C4 stream, and an unreacted n-C5 hydrocarbon stream. The iso-C4 stream is recycled to the alkylation reaction zone, and the unreacted n-C5 hydrocarbon stream is recycled to the disproportionation reaction zone. The stream comprising the alkylate product is recovered.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon disproportionation process is described. The process includes contacting a hydrocarbon feed in a disproportionation reaction zone with a disproportionation catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and an added chloride promoter under disproportionation conditions including to obtain disproportionation products, wherein the disproportionation catalyst comprises a solid catalyst comprising a refractory inorganic oxide having a metal halide dispersed thereon.

Abstract: A flexible hydrocarbon conversion process utilizing the same reaction zone for isomerization and disproportionation is described. The feed and type of products are selected. The hydrocarbon feed is contacted with a catalyst and in the presence of hydrogen and an added chloride promoter. The catalyst comprises a solid catalyst comprising a refractory inorganic oxide having a metal halide dispersed thereon. The operating conditions are varied depending on whether isomerization or disproportionation is desired.

Abstract: Methods for selectively hydrogenating substituted arenes with a supported organometallic hydrogenating catalyst are provided. An exemplary method includes contacting a substituted arene-containing reaction stream with hydrogen in the presence of a supported organometallic hydrogenating catalyst under reaction conditions effective to selectively hydrogenate the substituted arenes to the cis isomer with high selectivity. In this method, the supported organometallic hydrogenating catalyst includes a catalytically active organometallic species and a Brønsted acidic sulfated metal oxide support.

Abstract: Processes for removing sulfur and nitrogen contaminants from hydrocarbon streams are described. The processes include contacting the hydrocarbon stream comprising the contaminant with lean halometallate ionic liquid an organohalide resulting in a mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and rich halometallate ionic liquid comprising the contaminant. The mixture is separated to produce a hydrocarbon effluent and a rich halometallate ionic liquid effluent comprising the rich halometallate ionic liquid comprising the contaminant.

Abstract: Processes for removing sulfur and nitrogen contaminants from hydrocarbon streams are described. The processes include contacting the hydrocarbon stream comprising the contaminant with lean carbenium pseudo ionic liquid or a combination of carbenium pseudo ionic liquid and ionic liquid to produce a mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid or carbenium pseudo ionic liquid and ionic liquid comprising the contaminant. The mixture is separated to produce a hydrocarbon effluent and a rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid or carbenium pseudo ionic liquid and ionic liquid effluent comprising the rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid or carbenium pseudo ionic liquid and ionic liquid comprising the contaminant.

Abstract: A process for making linear alkyl aromatics is described. The process involves preparing the paraffin feed by dehydrogenating normal paraffins, selectively hydrogenating any diolefins, and adsorbing any aromatics to form an olefin feed. The olefin feed is contacted with an aromatic feed in the presence of an ionic liquid catalyst to form a mixture of alkylated aromatics. The ionic liquid catalyst is separated from the mixture of alkylated aromatics by gravity, and any ionic liquid retained in the alkylated aromatics is removed by adsorption or extraction. The mixture of alkylated aromatics is then separated into monoalkylated aromatics and dialkylated aromatics.

Abstract: Recycle of an extract stream containing a contaminant is used to improve recovery of hydrocarbons in a contaminant removal process. At least a portion of an extract stream is recycled to a contaminant extraction zone and contacted with rich ionic liquid. Contaminants in the recycle extract stream are transferred to the rich ionic liquid.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The process includes contacting a hydrocarbon feed with an acidic catalyst under hydrocarbon conversion conditions in a hydrocarbon conversion zone. The hydrocarbon feed reacts to form a mixture comprising reaction products, the acidic catalyst, and deactivated acidic catalyst containing conjunct polymer. The mixture is separated into at least two streams, a first stream comprising the reaction products and a second stream comprising the deactivated acidic catalyst. The reaction products are recovered. The deactivated acidic catalyst is contacted with at least one silane or borane compound in a regeneration zone under regeneration conditions, the conjunct polymer reacting with the at least one silane or borane compound resulting in a catalyst phase and an organic phase containing the conjunct polymer and at least one silyl or boryl compound.