Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing ethylene. The processes can include contacting a first stream containing methane with an oxidant and oxidizing at least a portion of the methane under conditions suitable to produce a second stream containing carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2), contacting the second stream with a CO hydrogenation catalyst under conditions suitable to produce a third stream containing methanol and ethanol, obtaining a fourth stream containing the ethanol and a fifth stream containing the methanol from the third stream, and contacting the fourth stream with an ethanol dehydration catalyst under conditions suitable to dehydrate at least a portion of the ethanol and produce a products stream containing ethylene.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing propylene and butylene. The processes can include contacting a first stream containing methane with an oxidant and oxidizing at least a portion of the methane under conditions suitable to produce a second stream containing carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2), contacting the second stream with a CO hydrogenation catalyst under conditions suitable to produce a third stream containing propanol and butanol, and contacting the third stream with an dehydration catalyst under conditions suitable to dehydrate at least a portion of the propanol and butanol and produce a products stream containing propylene and butylene.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for producing an olefin are disclosed. A paraffin is dehydrogenated to produce a mixture comprising the olefin and unreacted paraffin. The mixture is then fed to an extractive distillation unit that uses soybean oil as a solvent to extract at least some n-butane from the mixture.

Abstract: A method for producing methanol and ethanol is disclosed. The method can include contacting a gaseous stream comprising carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) with a crystalline cobalt molybdenum catalyst under conditions suitable to produce a products stream comprising methanol and ethanol from the CO and H2.

Abstract: Reactors and methods for producing olefins from paraffins are disclosed. A hydrocarbon feed stream comprising one or more alkanes is dehydrogenated to produce one or more alkenes in a dehydrogenation compartment of a reactor. The effluent from the dehydrogenation compartment is flowed into a isomerization compartment of the reactor. One or more of the alkenes is isomerized in the isomerization compartment to reduce the number of alkene isomers in a product stream from the isomerization compartment.

Abstract: Reactors and methods of using the reactors to produce 1-butene are disclosed. A feed stream comprising n-butane is flowed to a dehydrogenation compartment of a reactor. The dehydrogenation compartment includes a dehydrogenation catalyst for catalyzing the dehydrogenation of n-butane to produce a dehydrogenation compartment effluent comprising 1-butene, 2-butene, isobutene, and/or unreacted n-butane. The dehydrogenation compartment effluent is flowed to a isomerization compartment of the reactor. The isomerization compartment contains a catalyst for isomerizing 2-butene in the dehydrogenation compartment effluent to produce 1-butene. A heating section is disposed between the dehydrogenation compartment and the isomerization compartment to provide heat for the reactions in both compartments.

Abstract: Disclosed are heterostructured silica catalysts (modified Haider heterostructured silica) and methods of their use and preparation. The heterostructured silica catalysts include a transition metal, an alkaline earth metal oxide, and silica, wherein the transition metal, the alkaline earth metal from the metal oxide thereof, and silicon (Si) from silica are each present in the crystal lattice structure of the catalyst. The catalyst can have application in, e.g., the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing butadiene are disclosed. In a reaction unit, n-butane is dehydrogenated in the presence of a double-dehydrogenation catalyst to produce a mixture that includes butadiene and unreacted n-butane. An extractive distillation unit that uses soybean oil as the solvent is utilized to extract at least some of the unreacted n-butane from the mixture.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for producing an olefin are disclosed. A paraffin is dehydrogenated to produce a mixture comprising the olefin and unreacted paraffin. The mixture is then fed to an extractive distillation unit that uses soybean oil as a solvent to extract at least some n-butane from the mixture.

Abstract: System and method for producing 1-butene are disclosed. The method includes dehydrogenating butane to form a mixture comprising butene isomers. 1-butene is separated from the mixture using a system that includes a membrane. The system also includes an isomerizing unit for isomerizing cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene to form additional 1-butene.

Abstract: System and method for producing 1-butene are disclosed. The method includes dehydrogenating butane to form a mixture comprising butene isomers. 1-butene is separated from the mixture using a system that includes an extractive distillation unit and a membrane. The system also includes a isomerizing unit for isomerizing cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene to form additional 1-butene.

Abstract: System and method for producing 1-butene are disclosed. The method includes dehydrogenating butane to form a mixture comprising butene isomers. 1-butene is separated from the mixture using a system that includes a membrane. The system also includes an isomerizing unit for isomerizing cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene to form additional 1-butene.

Abstract: System and method for producing 1-butene are disclosed. The method includes dehydrogenating butane to form a mixture comprising butene isomers. 1-butene is separated from the mixture using a system that includes an extractive distillation unit and a membrane. The system also includes a isomerizing unit for isomerizing cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene to form additional 1-butene.

Abstract: Reactors and methods of using the reactors to produce 1-butene are disclosed. A feed stream comprising n-butane is flowed to a dehydrogenation compartment of a reactor. The dehydrogenation compartment includes a dehydrogenation catalyst for catalyzing the dehydrogenation of n-butane to produce a dehydrogenation compartment effluent comprising 1-butene, 2-butene, isobutene, and/or unreacted n-butane. The dehydrogenation compartment effluent is flowed to a isomerization compartment of the reactor. The isomerization compartment contains a catalyst for isomerizing 2-butene in the dehydrogenation compartment effluent to produce 1-butene. A heating section is disposed between the dehydrogenation compartment and the isomerization compartment to provide heat for the reactions in both compartments.

Abstract: A method for producing butenes by the dehydrogenation of n-butane includes dehydrogenating the n-butane in a dehydrogenation zone and contacting material from the dehydrogenation zone with a solvent that is more selective to dissolve n-butane than butenes. The resulting fluid from the contacting is subjected to extractive distillation to produce (1) a stream comprising a solution of the n-butane and solvent and (2) a stream comprising the butenes.

Abstract: Catalysts for the production of an alcohol and/or an ether from synthesis gas, methods of making the catalysts, and uses thereof are described. The catalyst can include catalytic Cu metal particles or oxides thereof and/or Ni metal particles or oxides thereof on an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal silicate support.

Abstract: Bulk-metal crystalline catalysts for conversion of synthesis gas to olefins are described. Also described are method of making the catalyst. A bulk metal catalyst can include a first transition metal core surrounded by a silica-alkaline earth metal framework crystal lattice and includes at least one transition metal atoms bound to periphery of the framework crystal lattice. The two transition metals can be iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru) and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A catalyst for the production of olefins from synthesis gas, methods of making, uses thereof are described. The catalyst can include a catalytic transition metal on a silica support that includes an iron metal or oxide thereof dispersed throughout a silica-alkaline earth metal oxide support or in the core of the silica alkaline earth metal oxide framework.

Abstract: A bimetallic catalyst for the production of 1,3-butadiene from n-butane, methods of making, uses thereof are described. The catalyst can include a supported catalytic bimetallic material on a silica support that includes an iron metal or oxide thereof dispersed throughout a silica-alkaline earth metal oxide support or in the core of the silica alkaline earth metal oxide framework.

Abstract: A method for producing butenes by the dehydrogenation of n-butane includes dehydrogenating the n-butane in a dehydrogenation zone and contacting material from the dehydrogenation zone with a solvent that is more selective to dissolve n-butane than butenes. The resulting fluid from the contacting is subjected to extractive distillation to produce (1) a stream comprising a solution of the n-butane and solvent and (2) a stream comprising the butenes.