Abstract: Methods for production of ethanol, distiller's corn oil, and enhanced co-products are disclosed. Methods include obtaining a mixture of one or more co-products of an alcohol production process, which may include wet cake, performing hydrolysis of polysaccharides in the mixture to generate fermentable sugars, fermenting the fermentable sugars in the mixture to produce alcohol, distilling the mixture to remove alcohol from the mixture thereby producing alcohol-containing distillate and enhanced whole stillage, removing released oil from the fermented mixture before distillation and/or from the enhanced whole stillage after distillation, and recovering enhanced wet distiller's grains, enhanced thin stillage, and/or enhanced dried distiller's grains. Compositions disclosed herein include enhanced dried distiller's grains having a crude protein content of at least 45% on a dry weight basis and having a total fat content of less than 10% on a dry weight basis.

Abstract: Methods for production of ethanol, distiller's corn oil, and enhanced co-products are disclosed. Methods include obtaining a mixture of one or more co-products of an alcohol production process, which may include wet cake, performing hydrolysis of polysaccharides in the mixture to generate fermentable sugars, fermenting the fermentable sugars in the mixture to produce alcohol, distilling the mixture to remove alcohol from the mixture thereby producing alcohol-containing distillate and enhanced whole stillage, removing released oil from the fermented mixture before distillation and/or from the enhanced whole stillage after distillation, and recovering enhanced wet distiller's grains, enhanced thin stillage, and/or enhanced dried distiller's grains. Compositions disclosed herein include enhanced dried distiller's grains having a cmde protein content of at least 45% on a dry weight basis and having a total fat content of less than 10% on a dry weight basis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for processing a gas mixture comprising methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, argon and traces of olefins and oxygenates. Methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, and optionally hydrogen, can be recovered from the gas mixture in a very efficient way.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering methane from a gas stream comprising methane and ethylene, comprising a sorption step which comprises contacting the gas stream comprising methane and ethylene with a sorption agent which has a lower affinity for methane than for ethylene, resulting in sorption of ethylene and 0 to 90% of the methane by the sorption agent and in a gas stream comprising methane in an amount of 10 to 100% based on the amount of methane in the gas stream that is subjected to the sorption step; and a desorption step which comprises desorbing sorbed ethylene and optionally sorbed methane resulting in a gas stream comprising ethylene and optionally methane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering methane from a gas stream comprising methane and ethylene, comprising: a sorption step which comprises contacting the gas stream comprising methane and ethylene with a sorption agent which has a lower affinity for methane than for ethylene, wherein the gas stream comprising methane and ethylene also comprises a compound for which the sorption agent has a lower affinity than for methane and ethylene, resulting in sorption of ethylene and methane by the sorption agent and in a gas stream comprising the compound for which the sorption agent has a lower affinity than for methane and ethylene; a first desorption step which comprises desorbing part of the sorbed methane resulting in a gas stream comprising methane in an amount of 1 to 99.9% based on the amount of methane in the gas stream that is subjected to the sorption step; and a second desorption step which comprises desorbing sorbed compounds resulting in a gas stream comprising the desorbed compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering methane from a gas stream comprising methane and ethylene, comprising: a sorption step which comprises contacting the gas stream comprising methane and ethylene with a sorption agent which has a lower affinity for methane than for ethylene, wherein the gas stream comprising methane and ethylene also comprises a compound for which the sorption agent has a lower affinity than for methane and ethylene, resulting in sorption of ethylene and methane by the sorption agent and in a gas stream comprising the compound for which the sorption agent has a lower affinity than for methane and ethylene; a first desorption step which comprises desorbing part of the sorbed methane resulting in a gas stream comprising methane in an amount of 1 to 99.9% based on the amount of methane in the gas stream that is subjected to the sorption step; and a second desorption step which comprises desorbing sorbed compounds resulting in a gas stream comprising the desorbed compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an olefinic product, the process comprising the steps of: (a) reacting an oxygenate feedstock, comprising oxygenate, in an oxygenate reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst comprising a molecular sieve, at a temperature in the range of from 350 to 1000° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to process for the preparation of an olefinic product comprising ethylene and/or propylene from an oxygenate, the process comprising the following steps: a) an oxygenate conversion step wherein a gaseous effluent comprising olefins and a water-soluble oxygenate is obtained; b) separation of water from the effluent; c) compression of the effluent; d) acid gas removal from the compressed gaseous effluent obtained in step c), wherein the compressed gaseous effluent is treated with a caustic solution in a caustic tower; and e) separating the olefinic product from the gaseous effluent treated in step d), wherein, in a final stage in the caustic tower, water-depleted compressed gaseous effluent is treated with a water stream that is essentially free of water-soluble oxygenate and a spent water stream comprising caustic and water-soluble oxygenate is obtained, which spent water stream is withdrawn from the process.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an olefinic product, the comprising: (a) reacting an oxygenate to produce an effluent stream, comprising at least oxygenate, olefin, water and acidic by-products; (b) cooling the effluent stream by means of an indirect heat exchange to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of effluent stream; (c) further rapidly cooling the effluent stream to a temperature at or lower than the dew point temperature of the reaction effluent stream by direct injection of a first aqueous liquid into the effluent stream, to form a quench effluent stream; (d) separating the first quench effluent stream into a liquid quench stream and a gaseous quench stream; and passing the gaseous quench stream into a quench tower and contacting the gaseous quench stream with a second aqueous liquid, to produce a quench tower gaseous stream comprising the olefinic product.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an olefinic product, comprising: (a) reacting an oxygenate feedstock, in a reaction zone in the presence of a molecular sieve catalyst, at a temperature from 350 to 1000° C., to produce a reaction effluent stream, comprising at least oxygenate, olefin, water and acidic by-products; (b) cooling the reaction effluent stream by means of an indirect heat exchange to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of reaction effluent stream; (c) further rapidly cooling the reaction effluent stream to a temperature lower than the dew point temperature of the reaction effluent stream by direct injection of an aqueous liquid into the reaction effluent stream, to form a first quench effluent stream; and (d) separating the first quench effluent stream into a first liquid quench effluent stream and a first gaseous quench effluent stream, comprising the olefinic product.

Abstract: The invention removes oxygenate from an olefin rich gas stream, the process comprising: (a) reacting an oxygenate, in a reaction zone in the presence of a molecular sieve catalyst, at a temperature from 350 to 1000° C., to produce an effluent stream, comprising at least oxygenate, olefin, water and acidic by-products; (b) cooling the effluent stream and contacting it with a first aqueous stream in a quench zone to produce an aqueous stream and an olefin rich gas stream; (c) compressing the olefin rich gas stream in one or more compressors in series to produce a compressed gas stream, (d) cooling the compressed gas stream and separating condensed material from said gas stream after each of the one or more compressors.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing an olefin, comprising: (a) reacting an oxygenate, in a reaction zone in the presence of a molecular sieve catalyst, at a temperature from 350 to 1000° C., to produce a effluent stream, comprising at least oxygenate, olefin, water and acidic by-products; (b) cooling the reaction effluent stream by an indirect heat exchange to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of effluent stream; (c) further rapidly cooling the effluent stream to a temperature lower than the dew point temperature of the effluent stream by direct injection of an aqueous liquid into the effluent stream, to form a quench effluent stream; and (d) passing the quench effluent stream into a quench tower and contacting the quench effluent stream with a second aqueous liquid in the presence of at least one set of internals, to produce a quench tower gaseous stream comprising the olefin.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method for recovering carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from Fischer-Tropsch off-gas by feeding Fischer-Tropsch off-gas through a column comprising an adsorbent bed, and discharging effluent, optionally rinsing the column and the adsorbent bed by feeding carbon dioxide and discharging effluent until at least 60% of the carbon monoxide that was present in the bed is discharged, pressurizing the column and adsorbent bed with carbon dioxide, rinsing the column and the adsorbent bed by feeding carbon dioxide, until at least 60% of the methane and optionally an amount equal to at least 50% of the carbon dioxide present at the commencement of this rinsing step is discharged, rinsing the column and adsorbent bed by feeding a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen, pressurizing the column and adsorbent bed by feeding a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. With this method a feed comprising at least 50 vol % carbon monoxide can be produced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for processing a gas mixture comprising methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, argon and traces of olefins and oxygenates. Methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, and optionally hydrogen, can be recovered from the gas mixture in a very efficient way.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering methane from a gas stream comprising methane and ethylene, comprising: a sorption step which comprises contacting the gas stream comprising methane and ethylene with a sorption agent which has a lower affinity for methane than for ethylene, resulting in sorption of ethylene and part of the methane by the sorption agent and in a gas stream comprising methane; a rinse step which comprises contacting a gas stream, comprising a compound for which the sorption agent has a higher affinity than for methane, with the sorption agent containing sorbed ethylene and methane, resulting in sorption of the compound for which the sorption agent has a higher affinity than for methane by the sorption agent, in desorption of methane from the sorption agent and in a gas stream comprising methane; and a desorption step which comprises desorbing sorbed ethylene and the sorbed compound for which the sorption agent has a higher affinity than for methane resulting in a gas stream comp

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering methane from a gas stream comprising methane and ethylene, comprising a sorption step which comprises contacting the gas stream comprising methane and ethylene with a sorption agent which has a lower affinity for methane than for ethylene, resulting in sorption of ethylene and 0 to 90% of the methane by the sorption agent and in a gas stream comprising methane in an amount of 10 to 100% based on the amount of methane in the gas stream that is subjected to the sorption step; and a desorption step which comprises desorbing sorbed ethylene and optionally sorbed methane resulting in a gas stream comprising ethylene and optionally methane.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method for recovering carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from Fischer-Tropsch off-gas by feeding Fischer-Tropsch off-gas through a column comprising an adsorbent bed, and discharging effluent, optionally rinsing the column and the adsorbent bed by feeding NG and discharging effluent until at least 60% of the carbon monoxide that was present in the bed is discharged, pressurizing the column and adsorbent bed with NG, rinsing the column and the adsorbent bed by feeding NG until at least 50% of the carbon dioxide present at the commencement of this rinsing step is discharged, rinsing the column and adsorbent bed by feeding a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen, pressurizing the column and adsorbent bed by feeding a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. With this method a feed comprising at least 50 vol % carbon monoxide can be produced. Furthermore, methane and carbon dioxide at a high pressure can be recovered from the Fischer-Tropsch gas. This can be fed to a gasifier or a reformer.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an olefinic product, the process comprising the steps of: (a) reacting an oxygenate feedstock, comprising oxygenate, in an oxygenate reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst comprising a molecular sieve, at a temperature in the range of from 350 to 1000° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of an olefinic product comprising ethylene and/or propylene from an oxygenate comprising: a) an oxygenate conversion step wherein a gaseous effluent comprising olefins is obtained; b) separation of water from the effluent; c) compression of the effluent; d) acid gas removal from the effluent wherein the water-depleted compressed gaseous effluent is treated with a caustic solution in a caustic tower and a non-aqueous liquid stream comprising one or more aromatic C7+ hydrocarbons is added to the caustic solution to control the formation of red oil; and e) separating the olefinic product from the gaseous effluent treated in step d).

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an olefinic product comprising ethylene and/or propylene comprising: a) steam cracking a paraffinic feedstock to obtain an effluent comprising olefins; b) converting an oxygenate to obtain a gaseous effluent comprising olefins; c) subjecting both effluents to water removal and compression steps, wherein the effluents are combined before the water removal step, between the water removal and the compression steps or after the compression step to obtain a combined gaseous effluent; d) removing acid gas from the combined gaseous effluent obtained in step c), wherein the combined gaseous effluent is treated with a caustic solution in a caustic tower and a non-aqueous liquid stream comprising one or more aromatic C7+ hydrocarbons is added to the caustic solution to control the formation of red oil, to obtain a treated gaseous effluent; and e) separating the olefinic product from the treated gaseous effluent.