Abstract: Disclosed are novel processes for making cyclohexanone compositions, from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene. The process includes hydrogenation of a feed stream comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene. The feed stream may be subjected to one or more pre-hydrogenation treatments, such as passing through one or more sorbents, addition of basic chemical agents, and/or addition of water, so as to improve catalyst activity, minimize undesired side reactions, and/or remove catalyst poisons from the feed stream. The feed stream may be provided to a hydrogenation reaction zone in the vapor phase, with periodic alterations to hydrogenation reaction conditions such that the feed is provided in mixed liquid and vapor phase in order to carry out liquid washing of a hydrogenation catalyst bed within the hydrogenation reaction zone.

Abstract: A process is described for producing paraxylene, in which an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock comprising benzene and/or toluene is contacted with an alkylating reagent comprising methanol and/or dimethyl ether in an alkylation reaction zone under alkylation conditions in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylated aromatic product comprising xylenes. The alkylation catalyst comprises a molecular sieve having a Constraint Index ?5, and the alkylation conditions comprise a temperature less than 500° C. Paraxylene may then be recovered from the alkylated aromatic product.

Abstract: A process is described for producing paraxylene, in which an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock comprising benzene and/or toluene is contacted with an alkylating reagent comprising methanol and/or dimethyl ether in an alkylation reaction zone under alkylation conditions in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylated aromatic product comprising xylenes. The alkylation catalyst comprises a molecular sieve having a Constraint Index ?5, and the alkylation conditions comprise a temperature less than 500° C. The alkylation catalyst may be selectivated to produce a higher than equilibrium amount of paraxylene by using a molar ratio of alkylating agent to aromatic of at least 1:4.

Abstract: A process for producing naphthalene or methylnaphthalenes from an alkane-containing stream. In an embodiment, the produce includes providing an alkane-containing feed stream to a reactor, and contacting the ethane-containing stream with an aromatization catalyst within the reactor. The aromatization catalyst comprises molecular sieve, and a dehydrogenation component. In addition, the process includes producing a reactor effluent stream from the reactor, and separating a product stream from the reactor effluent stream. The product stream comprises at least one or both of naphthalene and methylnaphthalene.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel processes for making cyclohexanone compositions, from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene. The process includes hydrogenation of a feed stream comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene. The feed stream may be subjected to one or more pre-hydrogenation treatments, such as passing through one or more sorbents, addition of basic chemical agents, and/or addition of water, so as to improve catalyst activity, minimize undesired side reactions, and/or remove catalyst poisons from the feed stream. The feed stream may be provided to a hydrogenation reaction zone in the vapor phase, with periodic alterations to hydrogenation reaction conditions such that the feed is provided in mixed liquid and vapor phase in order to carry out liquid washing of a hydrogenation catalyst bed within the hydrogenation reaction zone.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel processes for making cyclohexanone compositions, from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene. The process includes hydrogenation of a feed stream comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene. The feed stream may be subjected to one or more pre-hydrogenation treatments, such as passing through one or more sorbents, addition of basic chemical agents, and/or addition of water, so as to improve catalyst activity, minimize undesired side reactions, and/or remove catalyst poisons from the feed stream. The feed stream may be provided to a hydrogenation reaction zone in the vapor phase, with periodic alterations to hydrogenation reaction conditions such that the feed is provided in mixed liquid and vapor phase in order to carry out liquid washing of a hydrogenation catalyst bed within the hydrogenation reaction zone.

Abstract: Processes for selectively alkylating and/or dealkylating one ring of cyclohexylbenzyl and/or biphenyl compounds are provided. Such selective alkylation and/or dealkylation takes place through a transalkylation reaction between the cyclohexylbenzyl compound and a substituted or unsubstituted benzene, which replaces the phenyl moiety of the cyclohexylbenzyl compound. The transalkylated cyclohexylbenzyl may be dehydrogenated to give a corresponding biphenyl compound. The same reaction steps can be utilized with respect to biphenyl compounds by first partially hydrogenating one phenyl ring of the biphenyl compound, thereby obtaining a corresponding cyclohexylbenzyl compound, which may undergo the transalkylation and, optionally, subsequent dehydrogenation.

Abstract: The invention relates to the conversion of paraffinic hydrocarbon to oligomers of greater molecular weight and/or to aromatic hydrocarbon. The invention also relates to equipment and materials useful in such conversion, and to the use of such conversion for, e.g., natural gas upgrading. Corresponding olefinic hydrocarbon is produced from the paraffinic hydrocarbon in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst containing a catalytically active carbonaceous component. The corresponding olefinic hydrocarbon is then converted by oligomerization and/or dehydrocyclization in the presence of at least one molecular sieve catalyst.

Abstract: A process is described for producing paraxylene, in which an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock comprising benzene and/or toluene is contacted with an alkylating reagent comprising methanol and/or dimethyl ether in an alkylation reaction zone under alkylation conditions in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylated aromatic product comprising xylenes. The alkylation catalyst comprises a molecular sieve having a Constraint Index ?5, and the alkylation conditions comprise a temperature less than 500° C. The alkylation catalyst may be selectivated to produce a higher than equilibrium amount of paraxylene by using a molar ratio of alkylating agent to aromatic of at least 1:4.

Abstract: A process is described for producing paraxylene, in which an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock comprising benzene and/or toluene is contacted with an alkylating reagent comprising methanol and/or dimethyl ether in an alkylation reaction zone under alkylation conditions in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylated aromatic product comprising xylenes. The alkylation catalyst comprises a molecular sieve having a Constraint Index?5, and the alkylation conditions comprise a temperature less than 500° C. Paraxylene may then be recovered from the alkylated aromatic product.

Abstract: Processes for selectively alkylating and/or dealkylating one ring of cyclohexylbenzyl and/or biphenyl compounds are provided. Such selective alkylation and/or dealkylation takes place through a transalkylation reaction between the cyclohexylbenzyl compound and a substituted or unsubstituted benzene, which replaces the phenyl moiety of the cyclohexylbenzyl compound. The transalkylated cyclohexylbenzyl may be dehydrogenated to give a corresponding biphenyl compound. The same reaction steps can be utilized with respect to biphenyl compounds by first partially hydrogenating one phenyl ring of the biphenyl compound, thereby obtaining a corresponding cyclohexylbenzyl compound, which may undergo the transalkylation and, optionally, subsequent dehydrogenation.

Abstract: In a process for producing dialkylbiphenyl compounds, a feed comprising substituted cyclohexylbenzene isomers having the formula (I): wherein each of R1 and R2 is an alkyl group and wherein the feed comprises m % by weight of isomers in which R1 is in the 2-position, based on the total weight of substituted cyclohexylbenzene isomers in the feed; is transalkylated with a compound of formula (II): to produce a transalkylation product comprising substituted cyclohexylbenzene isomers having the formula (I) and including n % by weight of isomers in which R1 is in the 2-position, based on the total weight of substituted cyclohexylbenzene isomers in the transalkylation product, wherein n<m. At least part of the transalkylation product is then dehydrogenated under conditions effective to convert at least part of the substituted cyclohexylbenzene isomers in the transalkylation product to dialkylbiphenyl compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to the conversion of paraffinic hydrocarbon to oligomers of greater molecular weight and/or to aromatic hydrocarbon. The invention also relates to equipment and materials useful in such conversion, and to the use of such conversion for, e.g., natural gas upgrading. Corresponding olefinic hydrocarbon is produced from the paraffinic hydrocarbon in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst containing a catalytically active carbonaceous component. The corresponding olefinic hydrocarbon is then converted by oligomerization and/or dehydrocyclization in the presence of at least one molecular sieve catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for dehydrogenating a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon and/or 5-membered ring compound with a dehydrogenation catalyst. The dehydrogenation catalyst comprises: (i) 0.05 wt % to 5 wt % of a metal selected from Group 14 of the Periodic Table of Elements; and (ii) 0.1 wt % to 10 wt % of a metal selected from Groups 6 to 10 of the Periodic Table of Elements. The process is conducted under dehydrogenation conditions effective to dehydrogenate at least a portion saturated cyclic hydrocarbon and/or 5-membered ring compound.

Abstract: A process for activating a hydroalkylation catalyst in a first state comprising an acid component and a hydrogenating metal component, including: (i) treatment at a temperature of at least 120° C. in the presence of hydrogen for a first duration to produce a catalyst in a second state having a first hydroalkylation activity; (ii) contacting the catalyst in the second state with an aromatic compound and hydrogen under a hydroalkylation condition effective to convert at least part of the aromatic compound to a cycloalkylaromatic compound and produce a catalyst in a third state; and (iii) treating the catalyst in the third state at a temperature of at least 160° C. in the presence of hydrogen but advantageously in the substantial absence of the aromatic compound for a third duration to produce an activated catalyst in a fourth state having a third hydroalkylation activity greater than the first hydroalkylation activity.

Abstract: A hydroalkylation catalyst comprising a molecular sieve and a compound of a hydrogenation metal is activated by treating the catalyst at a temperature of less than about 250° C. in the presence of hydrogen.

Abstract: Disclosed are (i) a process for making cyclohexylbenzene by benzene hydroalkylation with a low methylcyclopentylbenzene selectivity; and (ii) a process of making phenol and/or cyclohexanone from cyclohexylbenzene including a step of removing methylcyclopentylbenzene from the cyclohexylbenzene feed supplied to the oxidation step.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for dehydrogenating a hydrocarbon with a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising a step of activating the catalyst precursor in a H2-containing atmosphere. A particularly advantageous activation process includes heating the catalyst precursor to a temperature in a range from 400° C. to 600° C. The process of the present disclosure is particularly advantageous for dehydrogenating cyclohexane to make benzene.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkylated aromatic compound comprises contacting an aromatic starting material and hydrogen with a plurality of catalyst particles under hydroalkylation conditions to produce an effluent comprising the alkylated aromatic compound, the catalyst comprising a composite of a solid acid, an inorganic oxide different from the solid acid and a hydrogenation metal, wherein the distribution of the hydrogenation metal in at least 60 wt % of the catalyst particles is such that the average concentration of the hydrogenation metal in the rim portion of a given catalyst particle is Crim, the average concentration of the hydrogenation metal in the outer portion of a given catalyst particle is Couter, the average concentration of the hydrogenation metal in the center portion of the given catalyst particle is Ccenter, where Crim/Ccenter?2.0 and/or Couter/Ccenter2.0. Also disclosed are rimmed catalyst and process for making phenol and/or cyclohexanone using the catalyst.

Abstract: A feedstream comprising paraxylene and styrene is contacted, in the presence of hydrogen, with a catalyst comprising at least one metal, selected from one or more metals selected from Groups 8-10.