Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for upgrading a raffinate butene (C4 Raffinate) stream to propylene which can produce polymer grade propylene (PGP) by a metathesis process, without consuming fresh ethylene as a feedstock. By recycling ethylene byproduct in the metathesis equilibrium, propylene selectivity can be further improved without negatively impacting butene conversion. Additionally, upon PGP separation, this technology can provide an effluent acceptable for alkylate production by achieving a balanced butene conversion and heavies coproduction. The disclosed process is a relatively low temperature process which can be deployed as a drop-in option for conventional ethylene/butene metathesis unit and provide additional flexibility to existing operations to balance the supply and demand of C2-C4 light olefins.

Abstract: A process of producing allyl alcohol by reacting glycerin with ReO3—Al2O3 in the presence of gamma-valerolactone (GVL) in a reactor is described. More specifically, a process to produce allyl alcohol, comprising the step of: a) reacting glycerin with ReO3—Al2O3 in the presence of an inert solvent, GVL, in a reactor, and b) collecting the product comprising allyl alcohol.

Abstract: A low temperature on-purpose propylene production method is described. The method includes autometathesis of butene streams without an initial ethylene feedstock stream using supported autometathesis catalysts that are active at low temperatures. The low temperature allows for liquid phase reactions, which increases the selective production of propylene. The lack of an initial ethylene feedstock stream and low reaction temperature also reduces coking on the autometathesis catalysts, thus extending its lifetime.

Abstract: Methods of drying streams that include propylene oxide. The methods may include contacting a stream that includes propylene oxide with molecular sieves. The molecular sieves may be in a drying unit, and may be regenerated. The streams that include propylene oxide may include one or more other organic compounds.

Abstract: Electrodeionization apparatuses, systems including a reactor system and an electrodeionization system, and methods of purifying acetic acid are provided herein. In some embodiments, the electrodeionization apparatus includes an anode, and three spaced apart membranes located between the anode and the cathode: a first cation exchange membrane, a first anion exchange membrane, a second cation exchange membrane, defining: a first electrode rinse passage between the anode and the first cation exchange membrane, a first concentrate passage between the first cation exchange membrane and the first anion exchange membrane, a feed stream passage located between the first anion exchange membrane and the second cation exchange membrane, and a second electrode rinse passage between the second cation exchange membrane and the cathode. In some embodiments, the electrodeionization apparatus also includes at least one propionate-selective ion exchange resin wafer within the feed stream passage.

Abstract: Methods of reducing a phosphorus content of a liquid hydrocarbon. The liquid hydrocarbon may be co-fed with an olefin to an alkylation unit to produce a low-phosphorus content liquid hydrocarbon product.

Abstract: Provided are methods of treating a mixture, such as a hydrocarbon mixture, that includes one or more C2-C4 carbonyl containing organic compounds. The methods may include contacting a hydrocarbon mixture with an aqueous liquid including an agent. The agent may reduce the amount of one or more C2-C4 carbonyl containing organic compounds in the mixture.

Abstract: Methods of depolymerizing polyolefin-based material into useful petrochemical products using metal oxides and heat are described. The metal oxides improve the depolymerization reaction by decreasing the onset temperature for the depolymerization, which results in a higher depolymerization rate and a shorter residence time in the depolymerization unit, allowing for a predictable depolymerization reaction, and decreasing the branching or aromatic formations in the product.

Abstract: A method of depolymerizing plastics using a halloysite catalyst is described herein. The method reduces the energy required for the depolymerization process while achieving improved depolymerization results.

Abstract: A method of depolymerizing plastics using a fluorinated alumina catalyst is described herein. The method reduces the energy required for the depolymerization process while achieving improved depolymerization results.

Abstract: A catalyst system for the conversion of glycerin to allyl alcohol, the catalyst system comprising: a rhenium compound selected from rhenium dioxide, rhenium trioxide, and a combination thereof. A method of producing allyl alcohol from glycerin via the catalyst system, the method comprising exposing glycerin to a temperature of greater than 140° C. in the presence of a catalyst comprising rhenium trioxide, rhenium dioxide, or a combination thereof to produce a product comprising allyl alcohol.

Abstract: A method including hydroformylating, with syngas, allyl alcohol in an allyl alcohol feed, to produce a hydroformylation product comprising 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde and 3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionaldehyde; and producing a 1,4-butanediol (BDO) product comprising BDO and 1,3-methylpropanediol via hydrogenation of at least a portion of the hydroformylation product. A method including hydroformylating, with syngas, allyl alcohol in a feed comprising bio-allyl alcohol, to produce a hydroformylation product comprising 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde and 3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionaldehyde; and producing a BDO product comprising BDO and 1,3-methylpropanediol via hydrogenation of at least a portion of the hydroformylation product.

Abstract: Methods of drying streams that include propylene oxide. The methods may include contacting a stream that includes propylene oxide with molecular sieves. The molecular sieves may be in a drying unit, and may be regenerated. The streams that include propylene oxide may include one or more other organic compounds.

Abstract: Methods of improving the selectivity of selective hydrogenation of residual 1,3-butadiene in a C4 fraction of a hydrocarbon raffinate stream in a fixed-bed reactor are described. The methods may include co-feeding a competitive chemical species that increases the mechanistic selectivity to 1- and 2-butenes while increasing isomerization selectivity to 2-butene in the product stream. The hydrogenation reactor and competitive chemical species conditions may be tailored to selectively produce butenes over butane or iso-butane, where the butenes comprise 1-butene and/or 2-butene.

Abstract: A process for selectively producing 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde from allyl alcohol is described. The process comprises reacting allyl alcohol with a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst system comprising a rhodium complex and a trans-1,2-bis(bis(3,4,5-tri-n-alkylphenyl)phosphinomethyl)-cyclobutane. The process gives high yield of 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde compared to temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a supported catalyst for the preparation of vinyl acetate monomer, a process for preparing the supported catalyst in tablet or pellet form, and a catalytic process for the manufacturing vinyl acetate using the supported catalyst. Specifically, it is shown that catalyst performance shows a strong dependence on the crush strength of the tableted or pelletized alumina support used in the process to make the catalyst, and that the crush strength of the catalyst is closely related to the porosity of the support. Catalyst activity and selectivity can be enhanced by tailoring the crush strength of the support.

Abstract: A method of producing one or more glycerol ethers, the method comprising contacting glycerol and tertiary butanol (TBA) in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce one or more glycerol ethers selected from mono-tert butyl glycerol ethers, di-tert butyl glycerol ethers, tri-tert butyl glycerol ethers, or a combination thereof; separating water and a stream comprising isobutylene, unreacted TBA, or a combination thereof from the one or more glycerol ethers; and recycling at least a portion of the stream comprising isobutylene, unreacted TBA, or a combination thereof to the contacting. Also disclosed is a process of co-producing isooctene, wherein the process involves contacting glycerol and tertiary butanol in the presence of a dehydrating catalyst and dimerizing/oligomerizing the dehydrated products in the presence of an oligomerizing catalyst to form isooctene, a precursor of isooctane and isomers thereof.

Abstract: Methods of forming propylene and alkylate are provided. The methods may include providing a stream that includes n-butenes, and contacting the stream with ethylene in the presence of a disproportionation catalyst to form a stream that includes propylene. Propylene then may be removed from the stream, and the stream may be disposed in an alkylation unit to form alkylate.

Abstract: A method comprising: contacting methanol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a liquid reaction medium under carbonylation conditions to form a carbonylation product comprising acetic acid; separating the carbonylation product into a liquid fraction and a vapor fraction comprising a majority of the acetic acid in the carbonylation product; removing, from the vapor fraction, water, light ends having a boiling point less than acetic acid, heavy ends having a boiling point greater than acetic acid, or a combination thereof, to yield a crude acetic acid product comprising at least 99.5 wt % acetic acid, less than or equal to 0.2 wt % water, and less than or equal to 2000 ppm oxidizable impurities, based on the total weight of the crude acetic acid product; and contacting the crude acetic acid product with an acidic ion exchange resin to provide a purified acetic acid product comprising less than 100 ppm oxidizable impurities.

Abstract: Provided are methods of treating a mixture, such as a hydrocarbon mixture, that includes one or more C2-C4 carbonyl containing organic compounds. The methods may include contacting a hydrocarbon mixture with an aqueous liquid including an agent. The agent may reduce the amount of one or more C2-C4 carbonyl containing organic compounds in the mixture.