Abstract: Provided are two-stage processes by which primary alcohols such as ethanol or 1-butanol are converted into distillate-range ethers and olefins utilizing Guerbet coupling followed by intermolecular dehydration. The ethers can be used, for example, as cetane-improvers in diesel fuel, while the olefins can be hydrogenated to afford paraffins.

Abstract: Processes for producing alcohols from biomass are provided. The processes utilize supercritical methanol to depolymerize biomass with subsequent conversion to a mixture of alcohols. In particular the disclosure relates to continuous processes which produce high yields of alcohols through recycling gases and further employ dual reactor configurations which improve overall alcohol yields. Processes for producing higher ethers and olefins from the so-formed alcohols, through alcohol coupling and subsequent dehydration are also provided. The resulting distillate range ethers and olefins are useful as components in liquid fuels, such as diesel and jet fuel.

Abstract: Provided are two-stage processes by which primary alcohols such as ethanol or 1-butanol are converted into distillate-range ethers and olefins utilizing Guerbet coupling followed by intermolecular dehydration. The ethers can be used, for example, as cetane-improvers in diesel fuel, while the olefins can be hydrogenated to afford paraffins.

Abstract: Processes for producing alcohols from biomass are provided. The processes utilize supercritical methanol to depolymerize biomass with subsequent conversion to a mixture of alcohols. In particular the disclosure relates to continuous processes which produce high yields of alcohols through recycling gases and further employ dual reactor configurations which improve overall alcohol yields. Processes for producing higher ethers and olefins from the so-formed alcohols, through alcohol coupling and subsequent dehydration are also provided. The resulting distillate range ethers and olefins are useful as components in liquid fuels, such as diesel and jet fuel.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for upgrading products obtained from hydrocarbon pyrolysis, equipment useful for such processes, and the use of upgraded pyrolysis products.

Abstract: In a process for producing phenol and/or cyclohexanone, benzene and hydrogen are contacted with a first catalyst in a hydroalkylation step to produce a first effluent stream comprising cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexane, and unreacted benzene. At least part of the first effluent stream is supplied to a first separation system to divide the first effluent stream part into a cyclohexylbenzene-rich stream and a C6 product stream comprising unreacted benzene and cyclohexane.

Abstract: In a process for converting a low carbon number aliphatic hydrocarbon to higher hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons, a feed containing the aliphatic hydrocarbon is contacted with a dehydrocyclization catalyst under conditions effective to convert the aliphatic hydrocarbon to aromatic hydrocarbons and produce an effluent stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrogen. The dehydrocyclization catalyst comprises a metal or metal compound and a molecular sieve wherein the ratio of the amount of any Bronsted acid sites in the catalyst to the amount of said metal in the catalyst is less than 0.4 mol/mol of said metal.

Abstract: In a process for producing phenol and/or cyclohexanone, benzene and hydrogen are contacted with a first catalyst in a hydroalkylation step to produce a first effluent stream comprising cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexane, and unreacted benzene. At least part of the first effluent stream is supplied to a first separation system to divide the first effluent stream part into a cyclohexylbenzene-rich stream and a C6 product stream comprising unreacted benzene and cyclohexane.

Abstract: In a process for converting methane to aromatic hydrocarbons, a feed containing methane and a particulate catalytic material are supplied to a reaction zone operating under reaction conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the methane to aromatic hydrocarbons and to deposit carbonaceous material on the particulate catalytic material causing catalyst deactivation. At least a portion of the deactivated particulate catalytic material is removed from the reaction zone and is heated to a temperature of about 700° C. to about 1200° C. by direct and/or indirect contact with combustion gases produced by combustion of a supplemental fuel. The heated particulate catalytic material is then regenerated with a hydrogen-containing gas under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the carbonaceous material thereon to methane and the regenerated catalytic particulate material is recycled back to the reaction zone.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process for producing an aromatics product containing of benzene, toluene, xylenes, or mixtures thereof. The process is carried out by converting precursors of benzene, toluene, and xylenes that are contained in a hydrocarbon feed (C6+ non-aromatic cyclic hydrocarbons, A8+ single-ring aromatic hydrocarbons having at least one alkyl group containing two or more carbon atoms; and A9+ single-ring aromatic hydrocarbons having at least three methyl groups) to produce a product that contains an increased amount of benzene, toluene, xylenes, or combinations thereof compared to said hydrocarbon feed.

Abstract: An integrated process for the production of a dialkyl carbonate and a diol from an alkylene oxide, carbon dioxide and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is described in which an alkylene oxide is first reacted with carbon dioxide in the presence of a halogen-free carbonation catalyst to provide a corresponding cyclic carbonate and the cyclic carbonate is then reacted with an aliphatic monohydric alcohol in the presence of the carbonation catalyst and/or a transesterification catalyst and recycling the carbonation catalyst to provide a corresponding dialkyl carbonate and diol, wherein the dialkyl carbonate product exhibits a halogen concentration of about 5 ppm or less.

Abstract: An integrated process for the production of a dialkyl carbonate and a diol from an alkylene oxide, carbon dioxide and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is described in which an alkylene oxide is first reacted with carbon dioxide in the presence of a halogen-free carbonation catalyst to provide a corresponding cyclic carbonate and the cyclic carbonate is then reacted with an aliphatic monohydric alcohol in the presence of the carbonation catalyst and/or a transesterification catalyst and recycling the carbonation catalyst to provide a corresponding dialkyl carbonate and diol, wherein the dialkyl carbonate product exhibits a halogen concentration of about 5 ppm or less.

Abstract: In a process for converting a low carbon number aliphatic hydrocarbon to higher hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons, a feed containing the aliphatic hydrocarbon is contacted with a dehydrocyclization catalyst under conditions effective to convert the aliphatic hydrocarbon to aromatic hydrocarbons and produce an effluent stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrogen. The dehydrocyclization catalyst comprises a metal or metal compound and a molecular sieve wherein the ratio of the amount of any Bronsted acid sites in the catalyst to the amount of said metal in the catalyst is less than 0.4 mol/mol of said metal.

Abstract: A process for the production of a dialkyl carbonate and a diol, such as dimethyl carbonate and ethylene glycol, by reacting a feed containing a cyclic carbonate, a hydroxy alkyl carbonate and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol in the presence of a transesterification catalyst is described. In another aspect, a process is described which is particularly useful for producing unsymmetric dialkyl carbonates, such as ethyl methyl carbonate.

Abstract: In a process for converting methane to aromatic hydrocarbons, a feed containing methane and a particulate catalytic material are supplied to a reaction zone operating under reaction conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the methane to aromatic hydrocarbons and to deposit carbonaceous material on the particulate catalytic material causing catalyst deactivation. At least a portion of the deactivated particulate catalytic material is removed from the reaction zone and is heated to a temperature of about 700° C. to about 1200° C. by direct and/or indirect contact with combustion gases produced by combustion of a supplemental fuel. The heated particulate catalytic material is then regenerated with a hydrogen-containing gas under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the carbonaceous material thereon to methane and the regenerated catalytic particulate material is recycled back to the reaction zone.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process for producing an aromatics product containing of benzene, toluene, xylenes, or mixtures thereof. The process is carried out by converting precursors of benzene, toluene, and xylenes that are contained in a hydrocarbon feed (C6+ non-aromatic cyclic hydrocarbons, A8+ single-ring aromatic hydrocarbons having at least one alkyl group containing two or more carbon atoms; and A9+ single-ring aromatic hydrocarbons having at least three methyl groups) to produce a product that contains an increased amount of benzene, toluene, xylenes, or combinations thereof compared to said hydrocarbon feed.

Abstract: An integrated process for the production of a dialkyl carbonate and a diol from an alkylene oxide, carbon dioxide and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is described in which an alkylene oxide is first reacted with carbon dioxide in the presence of a halogen-free carbonation catalyst to provide a corresponding cyclic carbonate and the cyclic carbonate is then reacted with an aliphatic monohydric alcohol in the presence of the carbonation catalyst and/or a transesterification catalyst and recycling the carbonation catalyst to provide a corresponding dialkyl carbonate and diol, wherein the dialkyl carbonate product exhibits a halogen concentration of about 5 ppm or less.

Abstract: An integrated process for the production of a dialkyl carbonate and a diol from an alkylene oxide, carbon dioxide and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is described in which an alkylene oxide is first reacted with carbon dioxide in the presence of a homogeneous carbonation catalyst to provide a corresponding cyclic carbonate and the cyclic carbonate is then reacted with an aliphatic monohydric alcohol in the presence of the homogeneous carbonation catalyst and/or a heterogeneous transesterification catalyst and recycling the homogeneous carbonation catalyst to provide a corresponding dialkyl carbonate and diol.

Abstract: A process for the production of a dialkyl carbonate and a diol, such as dimethyl carbonate and ethylene glycol, by reacting a feed containing a cyclic carbonate, a hydroxy alkyl carbonate and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol in the presence of a transesterification catalyst is described. In another aspect, a process is described which is particularly useful for producing unsymmetric dialkyl carbonates, such as ethyl methyl carbonate.

Abstract: An integrated process for the production of a dialkyl carbonate and a diol from an alkylene oxide, carbon dioxide and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol is described in which an alkylene oxide is first reacted with carbon dioxide in the presence of a halogen-free carbonation catalyst to provide a corresponding cyclic carbonate and the cyclic carbonate is then reacted with an aliphatic monohydric alcohol in the presence of the carbonation catalyst and/or a transesterification catalyst and recycling the carbonation catalyst to provide a corresponding dialkyl carbonate and diol, wherein the dialkyl carbonate product exhibits a halogen concentration of about 5 ppm or less.