Abstract: Processes for the direct alkylation of ethylene with isobutane or isopentane using a highly active ionic liquid alkylation catalyst are described. Ethylene is sent to a high-temperature alkylation reactor loop, and C3, C4, and C5 olefins are routed to a low temperature alkylation reactor loop. In each reactor, the olefins are contacted with an excess of isobutane or isopentane in the presence of a highly active ionic liquid catalyst. Portions of the reactor effluent streams are fed to a common downstream catalyst separation and product fractionation sections. The remainder of the reactor effluent is recycled back to the respective alkylation reactor.

Abstract: Processes for the direct alkylation of ethylene with isobutane or isopentane using a highly active ionic liquid alkylation catalyst are described. Ethylene is sent to a high-temperature alkylation reactor loop, and C3, C4, and C5 olefins are routed to a low temperature alkylation reactor loop. In each reactor, the olefins are contacted with an excess of isobutane or isopentane in the presence of a highly active ionic liquid catalyst. Portions of the reactor effluent streams are fed to a common downstream catalyst separation and product fractionation sections. The remainder of the reactor effluent is recycled back to the respective alkylation reactor.

Abstract: Processes for treating effluent streams in alkylation processes are described. One or more process streams rom HF alkylation processes, H2SO4 alkylation processes, or ionic liquid alkylation processes can be thermally oxidized in a thermal oxidation system. The thermal oxidation system can replace at least one of the caustic wash unit, the neutralization unit, and the acid gas treatment unit.

Abstract: Processes for treating effluent streams in alkylation processes are described. One or more process streams rom HF alkylation processes, H2SO4 alkylation processes, or ionic liquid alkylation processes can be thermally oxidized in a thermal oxidation system. The thermal oxidation system can replace at least one of the caustic wash unit, the neutralization unit, and the acid gas treatment unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to produce alkynes are described. The method includes combusting fuel and an oxidizer in a combustion zone to create a carrier gas stream, which is accelerated to supersonic speed in an expansion zone. A feedstock material is injected into a feedstock injection zone using two or more pluralities of injection nozzles. The injection nozzles are arranged annularly. The carrier gas stream is transitioned from supersonic speed to subsonic speed to create a shockwave in a reaction zone. The reaction zone is directly connected to the feedstock injection zone, and the shockwave is created adjacent to the feedstock injection zone. The carrier gas stream and the feedstock material are simultaneously mixed and reacted.

Abstract: A method of making light olefins is described. The method involves producing an alkyne in a pyrolysis process. The alkyne is catalytically hydrogenated in a hydrogenation zone to produce a product stream containing a light olefin. A byproduct stream from the pyrolysis process comprises carbon oxide and hydrogen. The byproduct stream is treated to convert the carbon oxide and the hydrogen to an oxygenated product in a carbon oxide conversion zone, which can then be converted to an olefin in an oxygenate to olefin process.

Abstract: Apparatuses and processes are provided for regulating C7 and C8 feed to an aromatics complex to increase the ratio of a selected xylene isomer to benzene ratio. Reformate may be split into three cuts in a splitter column. A side cut stream comprises predominantly C7 hydrocarbons and a bottoms steam from the splitter column comprises predominantly C8+ hydrocarbons. The relative proportion of the C7 and C8+ hydrocarbon streams sent to the aromatics complex are metered to determine the resulting ratio of a selected xylene isomer to benzene produced by the aromatics complex.

Abstract: A method of making light olefins is described. The method involves producing an alkyne in a pyrolysis process. The alkyne is catalytically hydrogenated in a hydrogenation zone to produce a product stream containing a light olefin. A byproduct stream from the pyrolysis process comprises carbon oxide and hydrogen. The byproduct stream is treated to convert the carbon oxide and the hydrogen to an oxygenated product in a carbon oxide conversion zone, which can then be converted to an olefin in an oxygenate to olefin process.

Abstract: Apparatuses and processes are provided for regulating C7 and C8 feed to an aromatics complex to increase the ratio of a selected xylene isomer to benzene ratio. Reformate may be split into three cuts in a splitter column. A side cut stream comprises predominantly C7 hydrocarbons and a bottoms steam from the splitter column comprises predominantly C8+ hydrocarbons. The relative proportion of the C7 and C8+ hydrocarbon streams sent to the aromatics complex are metered to determine the resulting ratio of a selected xylene isomer to benzene produced by the aromatics complex.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to produce alkynes are described. The method includes combusting fuel and an oxidizer in a combustion zone to create a carrier gas stream, which is accelerated to supersonic speed in an expansion zone. A feedstock material is injected into a feedstock injection zone using two or more pluralities of injection nozzles. The injection nozzles are arranged annularly. The carrier gas stream is transitioned from supersonic speed to subsonic speed to create a shockwave in a reaction zone. The reaction zone is directly connected to the feedstock injection zone, and the shockwave is created adjacent to the feedstock injection zone. The carrier gas stream and the feedstock material are simultaneously mixed and reacted.

Abstract: A process has been developed in which some of the sulfur in a naphtha feed is removed using ionic liquids. The ionic liquid desulfurization step, which operates at low temperatures and pressures, is followed by a catalytic hydrodesulfurizaton step.

Abstract: A process for removing a contaminant from a kerosene stream using a lactamium based ionic liquid is described. The process includes contacting the kerosene stream comprising the contaminant with a lean kerosene-immiscible lactamium ionic liquid to produce a mixture comprising the kerosene and a rich kerosene-immiscible lactamium ionic liquid comprising at least a portion of the removed contaminant; and separating the mixture to produce a kerosene effluent and a rich kerosene-immiscible lactamium ionic liquid effluent comprising the rich kerosene-immiscible lactamium ionic liquid.

Abstract: Recycle of an extract stream containing a contaminant is used to improve recovery of hydrocarbons in a contaminant removal process. At least a portion of an extract stream is recycled to a contaminant extraction zone and contacted with rich ionic liquid. Contaminants in the recycle extract stream are transferred to the rich ionic liquid.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. The method includes removing at least a portion of carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. The method according to the invention provides certain aspects includes controlling the level of carbon dioxide in the hydrocarbon stream and in a fuel stream that is first sent to a combustion zone and then to the supersonic reactor. The results of removal of carbon dioxide include maintaining the shock location in the supersonic reactor and maintaining the acetylene yield without the production of undesired products such as carbon monoxide.

Abstract: The invention involves a process for hydrocarbon conversion. The process can include providing a feed to a primary upgrading zone and then treating the product from the primary upgrading zone with a feed-immiscible ionic liquid to remove nitrogen compounds.

Abstract: The invention involves a process for hydrocarbon conversion. The process can include providing a feed to a primary upgrading zone and then treating the product from the primary upgrading zone with a feed-immiscible ionic liquid to remove carbon residue compounds.

Abstract: The invention involves a process for hydrocarbon conversion. The process can include providing a feed to a primary upgrading zone and then treating the product from the primary upgrading zone with a feed-immiscible ionic liquid to remove sulfur compounds.

Abstract: The invention involves a process for hydrocarbon conversion. The process can include providing a feed to a primary upgrading zone and then treating the product from the primary upgrading zone with a feed-immiscible ionic liquid to remove metal compounds.

Abstract: Methods and reactors are provided for producing acetylene. The method includes combusting a fuel with oxygen in a combustor to produce a carrier gas, and accelerating the carrier gas to a supersonic speed in a converging/diverging nozzle prior to the carrier gas entering a reaction zone. A nozzle exit temperature of the carrier gas is controlled from about 1,200° C. to about 2,500° C. Methane is added to the carrier gas in the reaction zone, and kinetic energy in the carrier gas is converted to thermal energy in the reaction zone to increase the temperature of the carrier gas such that the methane reacts by pyrolysis to form the acetylene.

Abstract: Recycle of an extract stream containing a contaminant is used to improve recovery of hydrocarbons in a contaminant removal process. At least a portion of an extract stream is recycled to a contaminant extraction zone and contacted with rich ionic liquid. Contaminants in the recycle extract stream are transferred to the rich ionic liquid.