Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing isoprene that includes reacting a mixed C4 metathesis feed stream comprising isobutylene and at least one of 1-butene and 2-pentene in a first metathesis reactor in the presence of a first metathesis catalyst under conditions sufficient to produce an intermediate product stream comprising at least 30 wt. % 2-methyl-2-pentene based upon the olefin content of fresh feed in the mixed C4 feed stream, and at least one of ethylene and propylene, separating the 2-methyl-2-pentene, subjecting the separated 2-methyl-2-pentene to pyrolysis to produce a reaction product stream comprising isoprene, and separating the isoprene into an isoprene product stream using fractionation. A system used in producing isoprene is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing isoprene that includes reacting a mixed C4 metathesis feed stream comprising isobutylene and at least one of 1-butene and 2-pentene in a first metathesis reactor in the presence of a first metathesis catalyst under conditions sufficient to produce an intermediate product stream comprising at least 30 wt. % 2-methyl-2-pentene based upon the olefin content of fresh feed in the mixed C4 feed stream, and at least one of ethylene and propylene, separating the 2-methyl-2-pentene, subjecting the separated 2-methyl-2-pentene to pyrolysis to produce a reaction product stream comprising isoprene, and separating the isoprene into an isoprene product stream using fractionation. A system used in producing isoprene is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the production of propylene, the process including: fractionating a hydrocarbon stream comprising n-butenes, isobutylene, and paraffins into at least two fractions including a light C4 fraction comprising isobutylene and a heavy C4 fraction comprising n-butenes and paraffins; contacting at least a portion of the heavy C4 fraction with a metathesis catalyst to form a metathesis product comprising ethylene, propylene, C4+ olefins, and paraffins; fractionating the metathesis product into at least four fractions including an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a C4 fraction comprising C4 olefins and paraffins, and a C5+ fraction; cracking the light C4 fraction and the C5+ fraction to produce a cracking product comprising ethylene, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbons; and fractionating the cracking product into at least two fractions including a light fraction comprising propylene and a fraction comprising C5 to C6 hydrocarbons.

Abstract: This invention relates to thioetherification processes for the removal of mercaptans in charge gas streams. In particular, the invention relates to thioetherification processes for the removal of mercaptans using a catalyst comprising palladium and silver.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing isoprene that includes reacting a mixed C4 metathesis feed stream comprising isobutylene and at least one of 1-butene and 2-pentene in a first metathesis reactor in the presence of a first metathesis catalyst under conditions sufficient to produce an intermediate product stream comprising at least 30 wt. % 2-methyl-2-pentene based upon the olefin content of fresh feed in the mixed C4 feed stream, and at least one of ethylene and propylene, separating the 2-methyl-2-pentene, subjecting the separated 2-methyl-2-pentene to pyrolysis to produce a reaction product stream comprising isoprene, and separating the isoprene into an isoprene product stream using fractionation. A system used in producing isoprene is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the production of propylene, the process including: fractionating a hydrocarbon stream comprising n-butenes, isobutylene, and paraffins into at least two fractions including a light C4 fraction comprising isobutylene and a heavy C4 fraction comprising n-butenes and paraffins; contacting at least a portion of the heavy C4 fraction with a metathesis catalyst to form a metathesis product comprising ethylene, propylene, C4+ olefins, and paraffins; fractionating the metathesis product into at least four fractions including an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a C4 fraction comprising C4 olefins and paraffins, and a C5+ fraction; cracking the light C4 fraction and the C5+ fraction to produce a cracking product comprising ethylene, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbons; and fractionating the cracking product into at least two fractions including a light fraction comprising propylene and a fraction comprising C5 to C6 hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for the production of propylene, the process including: fractionating a hydrocarbon stream comprising n-butenes, isobutylene, and paraffins into at least two fractions including a light C4 fraction comprising isobutylene and a heavy C4 fraction comprising n-butenes and paraffins; contacting at least a portion of the heavy C4 fraction with a metathesis catalyst to form a metathesis product comprising ethylene, propylene, C4+ olefins, and paraffins; fractionating the metathesis product into at least four fractions including an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a C4 fraction comprising C4 olefins and paraffins, and a C5+ fraction; cracking the light C4 fraction and the C5+ fraction to produce a cracking product comprising ethylene, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbons; and fractionating the cracking product into at least two fractions including a light fraction comprising propylene and a fraction comprising C5 to C6 hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide processes for upgrading the hexene stream to valuable end products, including ethers, high purity 1-hexene, and, alternatively, high purity isohexene. Hexene upgrading may be performed in embodiments disclosed herein by first removing isohexene from the admixture. The isohexene may undergo etherification with one or more alcohols, facilitating the separation of the isohexene (in the form of an ether) from the normal hexenes. Second, the normal hexenes may be isomerized to convert internal hexene olefins (2-hexenes and 3-hexenes) to the desired alpha olefin, 1-hexene. The 1-hexene may then be separated from unreacted components to yield a high purity 1-hexene product.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for the preferential conversion to 2-butene of a stream containing C4 compounds including 1-butene and 2-butene involving mixing the C4 stream with a first hydrogen stream to form a feed stream, hydroisomerizing the feed stream in the presence of a first hydroisomerization catalyst in order to convert at least a portion of the 1-butene to 2-butene, thereby producing a hydroisomerization effluent, passing the hydroisomerization effluent through a fractionation column to form a top stream comprising isobutane and isobutylene and a bottoms stream comprising 2-butene, withdrawing a recycle stream from said fractionation column at a location above the feed point at which the weight ratio of 1-butene to 2-butene is high, and combining the recycle stream with at least one of the C4 stream and the feed stream upstream from the hydroisomerization catalyst.

Abstract: Processes and systems for producing linear alpha olefins are described herein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing an alpha olefin comprising obtaining a feed stream comprising an internal olefin having a first carbon number and an alpha olefin having a first carbon number, isomerizing the feed stream to increase the quantity of the alpha olefin, fractionating, subjecting the overhead material from fractionation to catalytic metathesis to produce a mixed olefin effluent comprising an internal olefin having a second carbon number and other hydrocarbons, fractionating, preparing the first isomerization reactor and fractionator to receive the olefin having a second carbon number, isomerizing the internal olefin intermediate in the prepared first isomerization reactor, and fractionating the second isomerization effluent in the prepared first fractionator to separate the alpha olefin having the second carbon number from the internal olefin having the second carbon number. A corresponding system also is disclosed, along with a heat pump that can be incorporated into the process.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preferential conversion to 2-butene of a C4 stream containing 1-butene and 2-butene. The process involves mixing the C4 stream with a first hydrogen stream to form a feed stream, hydroisomerizing the feed stream in the presence of a first hydroisomerization catalyst in order to convert at least a portion of the 1-butene to 2-butene, thereby producing a hydroisomerization effluent, separating the hydroisomerization effluent in a fractionation column having an upper end and a lower end to form a 1-butene mixture at the upper end, a top effluent stream containing isobutane and isobutylene and a bottoms stream containing 2-butene, and hydroisomerizing the 1-butene mixture at the upper end of the column using a second hydroisomerization catalyst. A corresponding apparatus also is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing isoprene that includes reacting a mixed C4 metathesis feed stream comprising isobutylene and at least one of 1-butene and 2-pentene in a first metathesis reactor in the presence of a first metathesis catalyst under conditions sufficient to produce an intermediate product stream comprising at least 30 wt. % 2-methyl-2-pentene based upon the olefin content of fresh feed in the mixed C4 feed stream, and at least one of ethylene and propylene, separating the 2-methyl-2-pentene, subjecting the separated 2-methyl-2-pentene to pyrolysis to produce a reaction product stream comprising isoprene, and separating the isoprene into an isoprene product stream using fractionation. A system used in producing isoprene is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the double-bond isomerization of olefins is disclosed. The process may include contacting a fluid stream comprising olefins with a fixed bed comprising an activated basic metal oxide isomerization catalyst to convert at least a portion of the olefin to its isomer. The isomerization catalysts disclosed herein may have a reduced cycle to cycle deactivation as compared to conventional catalysts, thus maintaining higher activity over the complete catalyst life cycle.

Abstract: A furnace, firing pattern and method of operating a heater that employs a combination of hearth burners and wall burners for the cracking of hydrocarbons is described. The firing pattern leads to improvements in the uniformity of the coil metal temperatures and vertical heat flux profiles over the firebox elevation. The hearth burners operate with a stoichiometric excess of air while the wall burners operate with less than the stoichiometric amount of air.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of C2 to C3 olefins via the catalytic cracking of feedstocks including C4 and heavier olefins in an integrated reaction/regeneration system.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide processes for upgrading the hexene stream to valuable end products, including ethers, high purity 1-hexene, and, alternatively, high purity isohexene. Hexene upgrading may be performed in embodiments disclosed herein by first removing isohexene from the admixture. The isohexene may undergo etherification with one or more alcohols, facilitating the separation of the isohexene (in the form of an ether) from the normal hexenes. Second, the normal hexenes may be isomerized to convert internal hexene olefins (2-hexenes and 3-hexenes) to the desired alpha olefin, 1-hexene. The 1-hexene may then be separated from unreacted components to yield a high purity 1-hexene product.

Abstract: This invention relates to thioetherification processes for the removal of mercaptans in charge gas streams. In particular, the invention relates to thioetherification processes for the removal of mercaptans using a catalyst comprising palladium and silver.

Abstract: A process for the production of propylene, the process including: contacting ethylene and a hydrocarbon stream comprising 1-butene and 2-butene with a bifunctional isomerization-metathesis catalyst to concurrently isomerizes 1-butene to 2-butene and to form a metathesis product comprising propylene; wherein the bifunctional isomerization-metathesis catalyst comprises: a catalyst compound may include at least one element selected from tungsten, tantalum, niobium, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, osmium, iridium, rhodium, vanadium, ruthenium, and rhenium for providing metathesis activity on a support comprising at least one element from Group IA, IIA, IIB, and IIIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements; wherein an exposed surface area of the support provides both isomerization activity for the isomerization of 1-butene to 2-butene; and reactive sites for the adsorption of catalyst compound poisons.

Abstract: A process for the production of propylene, the process including: fractionating a hydrocarbon stream comprising n-butenes, isobutylene, and paraffins into at least two fractions including a light C4 fraction comprising isobutylene and a heavy C4 fraction comprising n-butenes and paraffins; contacting at least a portion of the heavy C4 fraction with a metathesis catalyst to form a metathesis product comprising ethylene, propylene, C4+ olefins, and paraffins; fractionating the metathesis product into at least four fractions including an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a C4 fraction comprising C4 olefins and paraffins, and a C5+ fraction; cracking the light C4 fraction and the C5+ fraction to produce a cracking product comprising ethylene, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbons; and fractionating the cracking product into at least two fractions including a light fraction comprising propylene and a fraction comprising C5 to C6 hydrocarbons.