Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for converting CO2 and a reduction gas such as H2 or a hydrocarbon to mixtures of paraffins and aromatics suitable for use as aviation fuel.

Abstract: Processes for making phenol and xylenes from a phenols-containing feed are described. The processes involve transalkylation of alkylphenols to form phenol and alkylbenzenes. The phenol is separated from the alkylbenzenes, and the alkylbenzenes may be separated into benzene, toluene, xylenes, and heavy alkylbenzene streams. The benzene stream may be recycled to the transalkylation reaction zone. The toluene may be sent to a disproportionation reaction zone, and the product is sent back to the aromatic separation zone. The toluene can also be recycled to the transalkylation zone. The xylenes are separated into a p-xylene stream and a mixed xylene stream comprising m-xylene and o-xylene. The mixed xylene stream is isomerized and the isomerized product is sent back to the aromatic separation zone. The heavy alkylbenzenes are dealkylated and separated, with the aromatic stream being recycled to the aromatic separation zone.

Abstract: A process for production of light olefins by cracking a feed comprising C4 and/or C5 hydrocarbons. The process combines a catalytic naphtha cracking unit with an olefin paraffin separation unit and/or an olefin cracking unit. Contacting a feed stream comprising C4 and/or C5 olefins with a catalyst at catalytic naphtha cracking conditions produces a cracked product of ethylene and propylene.

Abstract: Processes of producing cresols from a phenols containing feed are described. The processes involve a combination of dealkylation and transalkylation processes. The dealkylation process converts the heavy alkylphenols in an alkylphenols stream to phenol and olefins. The olefins produced in the dealkylation process are separated out. The methylphenols, which are not converted in the dealkylation process, and phenol react in the transalkylation process to generate cresols.

Abstract: Processes for making phenol and xylenes from a phenols-containing feed are described. The processes involve transalkylation of alkylphenols to form phenol and alkylbenzenes. The phenol is separated from the alkylbenzenes, and the alkylbenzenes may be separated into benzene, toluene, xylenes, and heavy alkylbenzene streams. The benzene stream may be recycled to the transalkylation reaction zone. The toluene may be sent to a disproportionation reaction zone, and the product is sent back to the aromatic separation zone. The toluene can also be recycled to the transalkylation zone. The xylenes are separated into a p-xylene stream and a mixed xylene stream comprising m-xylene and o-xylene. The mixed xylene stream is isomerized and the isomerized product is sent back to the aromatic separation zone. The heavy alkylbenzenes are dealkylated and separated, with the aromatic stream being recycled to the aromatic separation zone.

Abstract: Processes of producing cresols from a phenols containing feed are described. The processes involve a combination of dealkylation and transalkylation processes. The dealkylation process converts the heavy alkylphenols in an alkylphenols stream to phenol and olefins. The olefins produced in the dealkylation process are separated out. The methylphenols, which are not converted in the dealkylation process, and phenol react in the transalkylation process to generate cresols.

Abstract: An improved isobutanol synthesis process is provided which proceeds through the formation of mixed alcohols from syngas. The two-step process avoids the slowest ?-carbon addition reaction in the conventional one-step, direct isobutanol synthesis process. Once ethanol and propanol are produced in the first reaction zone, they can react with methanol and/or syngas in a second reaction zone to produce isobutanol through the fast ?-carbon addition reaction in the presence of catalysts, resulting on significantly improved isobutanol productivity.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for making xylenes and phenol are described. Phenol and alkyl phenols are separated from coal derived liquid. The phenol is separated from the alkyl phenols. The alkyl phenols can be reacted with aromatics such as benzene and toluene to make xylenes. The xylenes and other aromatics are then separated from the phenol and alkyl phenols. Para-xylene is separated and recovered using a xylene separation process, and meta-xylene and ortho-xylene are optionally converted to para-xylene through an isomerization reaction.

Abstract: A process is provided for separation of light olefins and paraffins and particular for the separation of propylene and propane comprising sending at least one olefin/paraffin stream to a distillation column and a membrane unit to produce an olefin stream comprising at least 92 mol % olefin. In an embodiment of the invention where the membrane unit is placed downstream from the column which can produce propylene streams at polymer grade of over 99.5 mol % propylene.

Abstract: An improved isobutanol synthesis process is provided which proceeds through the formation of mixed alcohols from syngas. The two-step process avoids the slowest ?-carbon addition reaction in the conventional one-step, direct isobutanol synthesis process. Once ethanol and propanol are produced in the first reaction zone, they can react with methanol and/or syngas in a second reaction zone to produce isobutanol through the fast ?-carbon addition reaction in the presence of catalysts, resulting on significantly improved isobutanol productivity.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for making xylenes and phenol are described. Phenol and alkyl phenols are separated from coal derived liquid. The phenol is separated from the alkyl phenols. The alkyl phenols can be reacted with aromatics such as benzene and toluene to make xylenes. The xylenes and other aromatics are then separated from the phenol and alkyl phenols. Para-xylene is separated and recovered using a xylene separation process, and meta-xylene and ortho-xylene are optionally converted to para-xylene through an isomerization reaction.

Abstract: A reboiler in fluid communication with a fractionator column in an offshore low temperature process removing carbon dioxide from natural gas has a vessel volume. A carbon steel tubing bundle is disposed within the vessel volume. Each tube in the bundle has an outer surface with a porous granular metal layer deposited thereon. The granular metal layer comprises a pore size distribution which promotes bubble nucleation during vaporization of a nearly pure liquid carbon dioxide stream.

Abstract: A process is provided for separation of light olefins and paraffins and particular for the separation of propylene and propane comprising sending at least one olefin/paraffin stream to a distillation column and a membrane unit to produce an olefin stream comprising at least 92 mol % olefin. In an embodiment of the invention where the membrane unit is placed downstream from the column which can produce propylene streams at polymer grade of over 99.5 mol % propylene.

Abstract: Solvent absorption processes for separating components of an impure feed gas are disclosed. The processes involve two stages of gas purification. The acid gases including hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and other sulfur compounds are simultaneously removed from the feed gas by contact with a physical solvent in two stages. The subject matter disclosed provide improved processes and apparatus to reduce the operating costs of the system.

Abstract: A method for conditioning natural gas into fuel gas, where the method includes the step of: delivering a natural gas stream including both CO2 and C2+ hydrocarbons to a membrane separation assembly; and separating the natural gas stream into the following streams: (i) a first permeate stream, (ii) a second permeate stream, and (iii) a residual stream. The first permeate stream includes CO2 removed from the natural gas stream. The second permeate stream includes methane at a greater concentration than a concentration of methane in the natural gas stream. The residual stream contains C2+ hydrocarbons at a greater concentration than a concentration of C2+ hydrocarbons in the natural gas stream.

Abstract: A reboiler in fluid communication with a fractionator column in an offshore low temperature process removing carbon dioxide from natural gas has a vessel volume. A carbon steel tubing bundle is disposed within the vessel volume. Each tube in the bundle has an outer surface with a porous granular metal layer deposited thereon. The granular metal layer comprises a pore size distribution which promotes bubble nucleation during vaporization of a nearly pure liquid carbon dioxide stream.

Abstract: Vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses and methods for removing contaminants from gas streams are provided. In an embodiment, a vapor-liquid contacting apparatus includes a vortex contacting stage having a contacting zone bound by a wall and defining an axis, a radially inner region surrounding the axis, and a radially outer region adjacent the wall. The vapor-liquid contacting apparatus also includes a feed conduit configured to direct flow of a feed gas into the radially outer region of the contacting zone in a direction tangential to the axis to form a vortex. Further, the vapor-liquid contacting apparatus includes a liquid conduit configured to deliver a liquid absorbent stream to the radially inner region in the contacting zone.

Abstract: A low pressure re-absorber is integrated with a sulfur-rich solvent flash drum or a sulfur-rich solvent stripping column in a solvent acid gas removal process that provides for sufficient sulfur concentration for the downstream sulfur recovery unit. In another aspect of the invention, carbon dioxide containing or carbon dioxide rich gas streams that are at a lower temperature relative to a lean solvent stream are used to cool those lean solvent streams and then optionally to cool other process streams, to save energy consumption.

Abstract: Sour syngas treatment apparatuses and processes for treating a sour syngas stream are provided herein. In an embodiment, a process for treating a sour syngas stream that includes sulfur components and carbon dioxide includes absorbing the sulfur components and carbon dioxide from the sour syngas stream in a primary liquid/vapor phase absorption stage with a solvent to produce a liquid absorbent stream. The liquid absorbent stream includes the solvent, the sulfur components, and carbon dioxide. A portion of the sulfur components from the liquid absorbent stream is directly oxidized in the presence of a direct oxidation catalyst to produce elemental sulfur and a recycle stream. The recycle stream includes an unconverted portion of the sulfur components and carbon dioxide. The recycle stream is recycled for further absorption of the unconverted portion of the sulfur components and carbon dioxide through liquid/vapor phase absorption.

Abstract: The invention involves a process for treating a natural gas stream comprising sending the natural gas stream first to an adsorbent unit for removal of mercury. Then the gas stream is sent to an absorbent unit containing a chemical solvent and a physical solvent for removal of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide and organic sulfur compounds to produce a partially purified natural gas stream. This stream is dehydrated and becomes the product stream. The partially purified natural gas stream to a dehydration unit to remove water to produce a natural gas product stream. The impurities absorbed by the absorption unit are removed and a liquid stream is separated that contains the sulfur impurities. This liquid stream may be purified and stabilized before being shipped for further treatment.