Abstract: Systems and methods for producing MTBE without using a catalytic distillation column or a super fractionator have been disclosed. An optimum volume of methanol stream required to maximize MTBE production and reduce slippage of isobutylene to minimum acceptable values together with a crude C4 stream are flowed into a primary reaction unit that comprises a first reactor and a second reactor in parallel configured to produce maximum values of final MTBE volumes under higher or equal established purity commercial quality specifications levels. The combined effluent from the first reactor and the second reactor is split to form a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion is flowed to a third reactor configured to produce additional MTBE. The second portion is combined with an effluent from the third reactor for further separation. The third portion is recycled to the first reactor and/or second reactor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing MTBE are disclosed. A C4 feed stream containing isobutylene and other C4 hydrocarbons is fed into a reactor unit for producing MTBE. The effluent of the reactor unit comprising MTBE is further processed to produce a MTBE product stream that comprises at least 90 wt. % MTBE. At least a portion of the MTBE product stream is then recycled back to the reactor unit.

Abstract: A polymer comprising structural units derived from a polycyclic dihydroxy compound of Formula (I) wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently at each occurrence selected from the group consisting of a cyano functionality, a halogen, an aliphatic functionality having 1 to 10 carbons, a cycloaliphatic functionality having 3 to 10 carbons, and an aromatic functionality having 6 to 10 carbons; wherein each occurrence of “n”, “m”, and “p” independently has a value of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; and wherein the polymer is substantially linear.

Abstract: A polymer comprising structural units derived from a polycyclic dihydroxy compound of Formula (I) wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently at each occurrence selected from the group consisting of a cyano functionality, a halogen, an aliphatic functionality having 1 to 10 carbons, a cycloaliphatic functionality having 3 to 10 carbons, and an aromatic functionality having 6 to 10 carbons; wherein each occurrence of “n”, “m”, and “p” independently has a value of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; and wherein the polymer is substantially linear.

Abstract: A process of forming a polycyclic dihydroxy compound is described. The polycyclic dihydroxy compound has Formula (I) wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently at each occurrence selected from the group consisting of a cyano functionality, a halogen, an aliphatic functionality having 1 to 10 carbons, a cycloaliphatic functionality having 3 to 10 carbons, and an aromatic functionality having 6 to 10 carbons; and wherein each occurrence of “n”, “m”, and “p” independently has a value of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. Also described are polycyclic dihydroxy compounds of Formula (I) in which the phthalimide group is meta to the triaryl-substituted carbon.

Abstract: A polycarbonate comprises structural units derived from a compound comprising a ketone functionality and at least two fused rings, A and B wherein ring A is a saturated ring or ring system having 5 to 7 cyclic carbons and substituted with a ketone functionality and ring B is a saturated ring having 5 to 6 cyclic carbons

Abstract: A method of preparing a polycyclic compound containing a ketone functionality comprising: reacting a mixture comprising a catalyst, a reactant compound and an amount of water greater than or equal to 3 weight percent (wt %) based on the weight of the reactant compound; wherein said catalyst comprises nickel and base and said reactant compound comprises at least two fused rings, A and B wherein ring A is a saturated ring or ring system having 5 to 7 cyclic carbons and substituted with a hydroxyl functionality and ring B is a non-aromatic unsaturated ring having 5 to 6 cyclic carbons; and converting the hydroxyl functionality of ring A to a ketone functionality and non-aromatic unsaturated ring B to a saturated ring.

Abstract: A process for forming a cycloalkylidene bisphenol comprises: reacting a cycloalkanone compound of formula: where [A] is a substituted or an unsubstituted aromatic group, R1-R4 independently represent a hydrogen or a C1-C12 hydrocarbyl group; and “a” and “b” are integers independently having values from 0-3; with an aromatic hydroxy compound of formula [A]-OH, where [A] is as previously described; at a mole ratio of greater than or equal to about 20, in the presence of a sulfonic acid type ion exchange resin catalyst crosslinked with greater than or equal to about 8 weight percent of divinylbenzene, and a promoter selected from the group consisting of a mercaptan compound and a resorcinol compound; to form a cycloalkylidene bisphenol of formula: where [A], R1-R4, “a” and “b” are as previously described. Moreover, any acid catalyst can be used with a resorcinol promoter.

Abstract: A process for producing a purified phenol stream generally includes contacting a phenol stream containing an initial concentration of hydroxyacetone and methylbenzofuran with an acidic ion exchange resin at a temperature of 50° C. to 100° C. to concurrently reduce the initial concentration of the hydroxyacetone and the methylbenzofuran in the phenol stream to produce the purified phenol stream.

Abstract: A process for converting carbonyl-type impurities contained in a phenolic solvent to high-boiling derivatives is provided by contacting the phenolic solvent with a hydrotalcite-type material (HTM). The phenol can be separated from the high-boiling derivatives using conventional separation techniques, such as distillation, so the invention also provides a process for separating carbonyl-type impurities, such as hydroxyacetone (HA), from a phenolic solvent. The process can be applied in the conventional industrial process for converting cumene to phenol to remove carbonyl-type impurities from the phenol product. A process and a facility for producing purified phenol by converting cumene to phenol are provided. In the conversion of cumene to phenol, the phenol often contains carbonyl-type impurities. The phenol and carbonyl-type impurities are reacted in the presence of an HTM to produce phenol and high-boiling derivatives.