Abstract: The invention relates to a conversion process for making olefin(s) using a molecular sieve catalyst composition. More specifically, the invention is directed to a process for converting a feedstock comprising an oxygenate in the presence of a molecular sieve catalyst composition, wherein the feedstock is free of or substantially free of metal salts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conversion process for making olefin(s) using a molecular sieve catalyst composition. More specifically, the invention is directed to a process for converting a feedstock comprising an oxygenate in the presence of a molecular sieve catalyst composition, wherein the feedstock is free of or substantially free of metal salts.

Abstract: This invention is directed to removing contaminants from an oxygenate-containing feedstream for an oxygenate to olefin reaction system. Oxygenate feeds used in the conversion of oxygenates to olefins, and which contain contaminants, are heated to form a vapor stream and a liquid stream. The heating is conducted so that a majority of the metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieve catalyst contaminants is contained in the liquid stream. The vapor stream is separated from the liquid stream, and the separated vapor stream is contacted with the metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieve catalyst to form olefin product. The heating of the feedstream and the separation of the vapor stream can be carried out in one or more stages.

Abstract: A method for producing an olefin stream is provided based on conversion of an initial natural gas stream into a synthesis gas. The resulting synthesis gas is enriched with CO2 previously separated from the natural gas stream. The synthesis gas is then used to form a methanol composition, which can then be used as feedstock for a methanol-to-olefin conversion reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes for producing light olefins from a feedstock comprising methanol and ethanol. The ethanol is converted to ethylene and water over a dehydration catalyst, while the methanol is converted to light olefins and water over a molecular sieve catalyst. These conversion steps may occur in two separate reactors operating in series or in parallel, or in a single reactor containing a mixture of dehydration catalyst and molecular sieve catalyst.

Abstract: A process is provided for converting oxygenate to olefins from a fluidized bed reactor which comprises removal of catalyst fines from a quenched vaporous effluent by contacting with a liquid low in catalyst fines content, e.g., oxygenate feedstock, or by-product water from the oxygenates to olefins conversion which is stripped and/or filtered.

Abstract: This invention is directed to methods for forming an olefin stream from a methanol stream. A lower grade methanol, such as chemical grade or crude methanol, can be used as feed to form the olefin stream. The process uses a relatively simple distillation type step to vaporize a portion of the methanol feed stream and send the resulting vapor stream to a reaction unit to form the olefin stream. In addition, the invention provides the ability to operate the downstream recovery units with reduced fouling or plugging due to the presence of fine solids components.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes for removing CO2 from an effluent stream derived from an oxygenate to olefins reaction system. In one embodiment, the invention comprises contacting the effluent stream with a first CO2 removal medium in a first CO2 removal zone under conditions effective to remove a first portion of the CO2 from the effluent stream and form a first CO2 depleted stream. The first CO2 depleted stream is contacted with a second CO2 removal medium in a second CO2 removal zone under conditions effective to remove a second portion of the CO2 from the first CO2 depleted stream and form a second CO2 depleted stream comprising less than about 0.5 vppm CO2.

Abstract: The invention is to a process for removing contaminants from a compressor and/or compressor intercooler in a methanol to olefin separation system. The process comprises compressing an effluent in a compressor having an inlet and an outlet and a compressor surface, the compressing occurring under conditions effective to form a contaminant on the compressor surface. A contaminant-removal medium is injected into the compressor or intercooler and the contaminant-removal medium contacts the contaminant under conditions effective to remove the contaminant from the compressor or intercooler inner surface thereby forming a mobile contaminant. The mobile contaminant is then removed from the compressor or intercooler.

Abstract: A technique for recovering heat from a high temperature effluent stream from catalyst regeneration or the like, comprising processes and means for: (a) passing the effluent stream in heat exchange relationship in a steam generator with boiler feed water to produce high pressure steam and partially cool the effluent stream; (b) passing the partially cooled effluent stream from the steam regenerator in heat exchange relationship to preheat high pressure boiler feed water and further cool the effluent stream; and (c) passing the preheated boiler feed water to the steam generator. The apparatus and processes for thermal energy recovery may be used to treat hot regenerator effluent from FCC or OTO-type processes, thereby producing a cooled flue gas stream to discharge to ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: This invention provides an integrated system and process for forming light olefins and polymers from oxygenates, and optionally from natural gas. The integrated system includes an air separation unit, which separates air components into an oxygen stream and a nitrogen stream, and which also forms a compressed air stream. According to the present invention, the oxygen stream, the nitrogen stream and/or the compressed air stream from the air separation unit may serve as a reactant in syngas generation, as a regeneration medium in the methanol-to-olefins reaction system, as a fluidizing stream, as a blanketing medium, as a stripping medium, as instrument air, and/or as a reactant in a sulfur removal unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for converting an oxygenate feedstock into an olefin product stream comprising (a) contacting an oxygenate feedstock with a molecular sieve catalyst in a reactor under conditions effective to convert the feedstock into an olefin product stream and to form carbonaceous deposits on the catalyst; (b) contacting at least a portion of the catalyst having said carbonaceous deposits with an oxygen containing gas under conditions effective to obtain a regenerated catalyst having a reduced carbonaceous deposit level and having an increased molecular oxygen content; (c) removing at least 60% by volume of said molecular oxygen from the regenerated catalyst based upon the total volume of molecular oxygen; (d) returning said regenerated catalyst to said reactor; and (e) repeating steps (a)-(d).

Abstract: This invention is directed to processes (i.e., methods) for making methanol compositions, and to processes (i.e., methods) of using the methanol compositions. The methanol compositions contain ethanol and are particularly suitable for contacting with an olefin forming catalyst to form an olefin stream.

Abstract: This invention concerns using an intermediate grade propylene stream as feed to a polypropylene forming reaction system. The intermediate grade propylene stream is preferably recovered form the olefin product of an oxygenate to olefins reaction process, and low in dimethyl ether content.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for cleaning and using byproduct water from an oxygenate to olefin process to satisfy the water requirement of the oxygenate to olefin process.

Abstract: The present invention is a heat-integrated process for obtaining an ethylene and propylene enriched stream from an oxygenate to olefin reactor. The process comprises providing an effluent stream from an oxygenate to olefins reactor. The effluent stream comprises ethylene, propylene and one or more byproducts selected from the group consisting of propane, methyl acetylene, propadiene, dimethyl ether, acetaldyhyde and butylene. The process further includes quenching the effluent stream with the quench medium to provide an olefin stream. The olefin stream is separated into a heavy fraction and a remaining fraction. The remaining fraction is directed to a distillation column which separates the remaining fraction into a first fraction comprising a majority of both ethylene and a propylene and a second fraction comprising at least a majority of one or more heavier fraction. The bottoms of the distillation column is reboiled by the quench medium.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for selectively removing isobutene and butadiene from a stream, the process comprising contacting the stream with a hydrogenation catalyst to hydrogenate butadiene and an oligomerization catalyst to oligomerize isobutene.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated system for producing ethylene and propylene from an oxygenate to olefin (OTO) reaction system and a steam cracking system. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of an effluent stream from a steam cracking furnace is combined with at least a portion of an effluent stream from an OTO reaction system. Preferably the combined effluent stream is processed by one or more quench units, compression units, and/or fractionation columns. By integrating a steam cracking system with an OTO reaction system, equipment count can be reduced at a significant commercial savings. Compressor efficiency per pound of ethylene and propylene can also be advantageously increased over conventional steam cracking systems. Moreover, the amount of pollutants produced per pound of ethylene and propylene produced can be significantly reduced over the amount of pollutants produced per pound of ethylene and propylene produced in a steam cracking system.

Abstract: The present invention provides new highly-efficient separation processes and systems for separating polymerization-grade ethylene and propylene from an initial effluent stream comprising ethane, ethylene, propylene, dimethyl ether, and one or more of propane, acetylene, methyl acetylene, propadiene, methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and C4+ components. In one embodiment, the initial effluent stream is provided from a methanol-to-olefin reaction system. It has been discovered that an efficient separation of these components is realized when DME is partially removed in a first separation step comprising methanol and water washing steps, followed by separation of the remaining components in additional separation steps.

Abstract: A process is provided for converting oxygenate to olefins from a fluidized bed reactor which comprises removal of catalyst fines from a quenched vaporous effluent by contacting with a liquid low in catalyst fines content, e.g., oxygenate feedstock, or by-product water from the oxygenates to olefins conversion which is stripped and/or filtered.