Abstract: A 5,5?-Di-(protected)-2,2?-bifuran: wherein each R1 is independently an unsubstituted or substituted 5- or 6-member 1,3-dioxo-2-yl ring radical. Processes for making the bifuran include coupling 2-(protected)-furfural. Processes for using the bifuran include deprotection, functionalization, and/or polymerization to form a polyester. The polyester can be a renewable, high-performing polyester offering a combination of low cost of production, high sustainability, and excellent performance.

Abstract: Semicrystalline polyethylene-2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate (PEBF) homopolyester or copolyester with up to 5 mole percent isophthalate or up to 2.7 mole percent terephthalate, based on the diacid component, or up to 2.5 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), based on the diol component, prepared by esterifying or transesterifying the diacid and the diol components with a catalyst including about 10 to about 50 ppm wt metal, and polycondensation, wherein the bifuran polyester has an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.4 g/dL and a semicrystalline melting peak (Tm) with ?Hf equal to or greater than 5 J/g on the second heating ramp.

Abstract: A process and related system for producing para-xylene (PX). In an embodiment, the process includes (a) separating a feed stream comprising C6+ aromatic hydrocarbons into a toluene containing stream and a C8+ hydrocarbon containing stream and (b) contacting at least part of the toluene containing stream with a methylating agent in a methylation unit to convert toluene to xylenes and produce a methylated effluent stream. In addition, the process includes (c) recovering PX from the methylated effluent stream in (b) to produce a PX depleted stream and (d) transalkylating the PX depleted stream to produce a transalkylation effluent stream. The transalkylation effluent stream includes a higher concentration of toluene than the PX depleted stream. Further, the process includes (e) converting at least some ethylbenzene (EB) within the C8+ hydrocarbon containing stream into toluene and (f) flowing the toluene converted in (e) to the contacting in (b).

Abstract: Copolyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene furanoate (PEF) modified with bifuran polyacids such as dimethyl-2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate (BFE), 2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylic acid (BDA), or bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate (BHEB), and/or bifuran polyhydroxyls, may have improved properties such as glass transition temperature (Tg), tensile modulus, barrier properties, crystallinity, and/or impact strength. Polyethylene terephthalate-co-bifuranoate (PETBF) has an improved Tg. Also described are polyethylene furanoate-co-bifuranoates (PEFBF).

Abstract: Alkyl-demethylation of C2+-hydrocarbyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbons can be utilized to treat one or more of a heavy naphtha reformate stream, a hydrotreated SCN stream, a C8 aromatic hydrocarbon isomerization feed stream, a C9+ aromatic hydrocarbon transalkylation feed stream, and similar hydrocarbon streams to produce additional quantity of xylene products.

Abstract: Alkyl-demethylation of C2+-hydrocarbyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbons can be utilized to treat one or more of a heavy naphtha reformate stream, a hydrotreated SCN stream, a C8 aromatic hydrocarbon isomerization feed stream, a C9+ aromatic hydrocarbon transalkylation feed stream, and similar hydrocarbon streams to produce additional quantity of xylene products.

Abstract: Semicrystalline bifuran polyesters wherein the diacid and/or diol components include bifuran units such as those derived from 2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylic acid (BFA), dimethyl-2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate (BFE), and/or bis(hydroxyethyl) bifuranoate (BHEB) Polyethylene-BFE (PEBF) having a high ?Hf and high Tg determined by DSC on the second heating ramp is described. Polybutylene-BFE (PBBF), polyhexylene-BFE (PHBF), polypropylene-BFE (PPBF), etc., are also described. Method for making bifuran polyesters includes melt esterification or transesterification and polycondensation of one or more monomers comprising a diacid component and a diol component, wherein the one or more monomers include a bifuran monomer, such as BFA, BFE, BHEB or BFD. Also described is a method of forming a bifuran polyester prepolymer in the melt, pelletization, crystallization, and solid state polymerization.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds comprises contacting a mixture comprising isomers of at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound with a source of oxygen, wherein the mixture comprises at least 20 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 2-position or a 3-position on at least one benzene ring and at least 50 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 4-position on at least one benzene ring, wherein said percentages are based on the total weight of the at least one methylbiphenyl compound in the mixture.

Abstract: Alkyl-demethylation of C2+-hydrocarbyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbons can be utilized to treat one or more of a heavy naphtha reformate stream, a hydrotreated SCN stream, a C8 aromatic hydrocarbon isomerization feed stream, a C9+ aromatic hydrocarbon transalkylation feed stream, and similar hydrocarbon streams to produce additional quantity of xylene products.

Abstract: A process and related system for producing para-xylene (PX). In an embodiment, the process includes (a) separating a feed stream comprising C6+ aromatic hydrocarbons into a toluene containing stream and a C8+ hydrocarbon containing stream and (b) contacting at least part of the toluene containing stream with a methylating agent in a methylation unit to convert toluene to xylenes and produce a methylated effluent stream. In addition, the process includes (c) recovering PX from the methylated effluent stream in (b) to produce a PX depleted stream and (d) transalkylating the PX depleted stream to produce a transalkylation effluent stream. The transalkylation effluent stream includes a higher concentration of toluene than the PX depleted stream. Further, the process includes (e) converting at least some ethylbenzene (EB) within the C8+ hydrocarbon containing stream into toluene and (f) flowing the toluene converted in (e) to the contacting in (b).

Abstract: Alkyl-demethylation of C2+-hydrocarbyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbons can be utilized to treat one or more of a heavy naphtha reformate stream, a hydrotreated SCN stream, a C8 aromatic hydrocarbon isomerization feed stream, a C9+ aromatic hydrocarbon transalkylation feed stream, and similar hydrocarbon streams to produce additional quantity of xylene products.

Abstract: Alkyl-demethylation of C2+-hydrocarbyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbons can be utilized to treat one or more of a heavy naphtha reformate stream, a hydrotreated SCN stream, a C8 aromatic hydrocarbon isomerization feed stream, a C9+ aromatic hydrocarbon transalkylation feed stream, and similar hydrocarbon streams to produce additional quantity of xylene products.

Abstract: A 5,5?-Di-(protected)-2,2?-bifuran: wherein each R1 is independently an unsubstituted or substituted 5- or 6-member 1,3-dioxo-2-yl ring radical. Processes for making the bifuran include coupling 2-(protected)-furfural. Processes for using the bifuran include deprotection, functionalization, and/or polymerization to form a polyester.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds comprises contacting a mixture comprising isomers of at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound with a source of oxygen, wherein the mixture comprises at least 20 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 2-position or a 3-position on at least one benzene ring and at least 50 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 4-position on at least one benzene ring, wherein said percentages are based on the total weight of the at least one methylbiphenyl compound in the mixture.

Abstract: The process involves the use of two rotary valves to implement Varicol operation of a simulated moving bed apparatus to separate a product from at least one multicomponent feed. In a particular embodiment, paraxylene is separated from a mixture of C8 aromatic hydrocarbons. The use of the Varicol process further enhances the separation of the desired product and provides flexibility with a simulated moving bed apparatus using dual rotary valves.

Abstract: A process for producing phenylstyrene comprises contacting benzene with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation product comprising cyclohexylbenzene. At least part of the cyclohexylbenzene is then contacted with ethylbenzene in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a transalkylation product comprising cyclohexylethylbenzene and/or with ethylene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce an alkylation product comprising cyclohexylethylbenzene. At least part of the cyclohexylethylbenzene is then contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation product comprising phenylstyrene.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming para-xylene from aromatics-containing streams having reduced or minimized amounts of C2+ side chains. Reduced or minimized amounts of C2+ side chains can provide benefits for improving and/or allowing modification of transalkylation conditions, xylene isomerization conditions, or a combination thereof. Such aromatics-containing streams can be formed, for example, by conversion of methyl halide, methanol, syngas, and/or dimethyl ether to aromatics by an aromatic conversion process. The methyl halide, methanol, syngas, and/or dimethyl ether can be formed by conversion of methane.

Abstract: A process to separate paraxylene from a mixture of paraxylene, metaxylene, orthoxylene, and ethylbenzene in a commercial simulated moving bed apparatus in a reduced number of beds is provided, allowing an additional separation to be conducted in the remaining beds. This additional separation may separate another xylene isomer, ethylbenzene, or a non-aromatic C8+ hydrocarbon from the raffinate stream produced by the first separation. A PowerFeed process is used to recover paraxylene in a first adsorption zone containing 8-16 beds of a conventional 24-bed simulated moving bed adsorption apparatus, and then a second separation may be conducted in a second adsorption zone containing the remaining beds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering paraxylene in which a first simulated moving bed adsorption unit is used to produce two extract streams—one rich in paraxylene and a paraxylene-rich extract stream that is lean in ethylbenzene and an ethylbenzene-rich extract stream that is lean in paraxylene- and a paraxylene-depleted raffinate stream. A significant amount of the ethylbenzene is removed in the ethylbenzene-rich extract stream (at least enough to limit buildup in the isomerization loop), so the paraxylene-depleted raffinate stream may be isomerized in the liquid phase. Avoiding vapor phase isomerization saves energy and capital, as liquid phase isomerization requires less energy and capital than the vapor phase isomerization process due to the requirement of vaporizing the paraxylene-depleted stream and the use of hydrogen, which requires an energy and capital intensive hydrogen recycle loop.

Abstract: A process to separate paraxylene from a mixture of paraxylene, metaxylene, orthoxylene, and ethylbenzene in a commercial simulated moving bed apparatus in a reduced number of beds is provided, allowing an additional separation to be conducted in the remaining beds. This additional separation may separate another xylene isomer, ethylbenzene, or a non-aromatic C8+ hydrocarbon from the raffinate stream produced by the first separation. A PowerFeed process is used to recover paraxylene in a first adsorption zone containing 8-16 beds of a conventional 24-bed simulated moving bed adsorption apparatus, and then a second separation may be conducted in a second adsorption zone containing the remaining beds.