Abstract: A process for the preparation of 2,2,5,5-tetramethyltetrahydrofuran (TMTHF) includes contacting a TMTHF precursor with a solid catalyst, where the TMTHF precursor is 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diol and/or 2,5-dimethyl-4-hexen-2-ol, and where the solid catalyst is a beta zeolite. TMTHF produced by the process may be used as a solvent.

Abstract: A butanol production system and method of producing refined mixed butanols from water and mixed butenes. The system includes an internal baffle single pass reactor, a separation system and an exterior motion driver. The reactor has baffled cells. The separations system is operable to separately selectively separate water and mixed butenes from the crude product such that a refined mixed butanols is produced. The exterior motion driver is operable to induce unsteadiness in the fluid flow of the process fluid through the reactor. A method for producing refined mixed butanols includes introducing mixed butenes, water and a butene hydration catalyst into the reactor, operating the butanol production system such that the external motion driver induces unsteadiness in the process fluid flow and the reaction of mixed butenes and water occurs in the presence of the butene hydration catalyst such that mixed butanols form.

Abstract: The catalyst systems include a dual phase catalyst system that includes a water soluble acid catalyst and a solid acid catalyst.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a synthetic porous crystalline molecular sieve requires an aqueous reaction mixture comprising a source of X2O3 (X is a trivalent element), a source of YO2 (Y is a tetravalent element) and a source of MOH (M is an alkali metal). The H2O/MOH molar ratio is within the range of 70 to 126 and the source of X2O3 and YO2 is an amorphous material containing both X2O3 and YO2 and having YO2/X2O3 molar ratio of 15 or less. The molecular sieve products are useful as catalysts and/or absorbents. Such molecular sieves having MFI structure type, TON structure type or the structure type of zeolite beta and a composition involving the molar relationship (n) YO2:X2O3 wherein n is from 2 to less than 15 are novel compositions of matter.

Abstract: A process is provided for converting an alkane to an oxygenated product by passing an alkane gas over a first fixed bed containing a higher valence bromide salt to produce an alkyl bromide, a hydrobromic acid, and a lower valence bromide salt. The alkyl bromide and hydrobromic acid are conveyed as a gas to a second fixed bed containing a metal oxide and are passed over the second fixed bed to produce the first bromide salt and the oxygenated product. The metal oxide in the second fixed bed is regenerated by passing oxygen over the second fixed bed producing the metal oxide and bromine. The bromine is conveyed as a gas from the second fixed bed to the first fixed bed. The first bromide salt of the first fixed bed is regenerated by passing the bromine over the first fixed bed producing the first bromide salt.

Abstract: A catalyst support consisting mainly of synthetic silica, with 0.5-10 parts by weight of one or more oxides or phosphates of the elements of group IIA, IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII, IB, IIB, IIIA, IVA and the lanthanides, wherein the support preparation method comprises mixing particulate synthetic silica with particulate oxides or phosphates of the elements of Groups IIA, IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII, IB, IIB, IIIA, IVA and the lanthanides, or with precursors thereof, a forming step and calcinations. The catalyst support is used together with phosphoric acid in the production of alcohols from olefins by hydration.

Abstract: A single-stage method for producing &agr;-hydroxy ethers by oxidizing olefinic substrates with organic hydroperoxides and opening the resultant oxirane ring by means of monovalent or polyvalent alcohols wherein a molybdenum compound in combination with a compound selected from the group consisting of boron trifluoride, aluminum oxides, 1,8-diazabicyclo-[5.4.0]-undec-7-ene or 1,4-diazabicyclo-[2.2.2]-octane, and mixtures thereof is used as a catalyst system.

Abstract: A solid acid-base catalyst contains vanadium pentoxide hydrate. Moreover, it is preferable that the vanadium pentoxide hydrate in the solid acid-base catalyst has a composition which is represented by the following general equation (1): V2O5.nH2O  (1) (n: 0.1-3). Creation of the vanadium pentoxide hydrate was confirmed by measuring X-ray diffraction spectrum shown in FIG. 1. In accordance with the above arrangement, the solid acid-base catalyst can sufficiently display catalytic activity under mild conditions, and it can be suitably applied to various reactions, such as the syntheses of olefins or ethers through dehydration reactions of alcohols, the syntheses of aldehydes or ketones through dehydrogenation reactions of alcohols, hydrations and isomerization reactions of olefins, alkylations, esterifications, amidations, acetalizations, aminations, hydrogen shift reactions, aldol condensation reactions and polymerization reactions.

Abstract: A single-stage method for producing &agr;-hydroxy ethers by oxidizing olefinic substrates with organic hydroperoxides and opening the resultant oxirane ring by means of monovalent or polyvalent alcohols wherein a molybdenum compound in combination with a compound selected from the group consisting of boron trifluoride, aluminum oxides, 1,8-diazabicyclo-[5.4.0]-undec-7-ene or 1,4-diazabicyclo-[2.2.2]-octane, and mixtures thereof is used as a catalyst system.

Abstract: A process for preparing tetrahydrofuran, which comprises reacting 1,4-butenediol diethers of the formulae I and/or IIRO--CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --OR IRO--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 --OR II,where the R radicals can be identical or different and are C.sub.1 -C.sub.15 -alkyl or cycloalkyl radicals, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 -aryl radicals or C.sub.7 -C.sub.15 -aralkyl radicals, with water and hydrogen at from 20 to 300.degree. C. under from 1 to 300 bar in the presence of catalysts or catalyst combinations which comprise components which are both capable of hydrogenation and have acidic or basic centers and a novel process for preparing 1,4-butanediol diethers of the formula I by metathesis are described.The invention furthermore relates to the separate preparation of 1,4-butanediol monoethers of the formula IIIHO--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.

Abstract: A catalyst for production of alkyl tert alkyl ether from sulfur contaminated feedstock includes an ion exchange resin; a palladium first metal phase supported on the resin; and a sulfur inhibiting second metal phase supported on the resin for inhibiting sulfur deactivation of the first metal phase, wherein the first metal phase is present at an atomic ratio to the second metal phase of between about 1:20 to about 1:0.1. A process for producing alkyl tert alkyl ethers includes the steps of providing a liquid olefinic hydrocarbon feedstock containing sulfur and having a total sulfur content of up to about 300 ppm; providing a catalyst as described above; mixing the feedstock with alcohol and hydrogen to obtain a reaction feedstock; and contacting the reaction feedstock with the catalyst under etherification conditions so as to produce alkyl tert alkyl ether.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic addition of nucleophilic agents to alkynes or allenes to form alkenes substituted by the nucleophile which may further react with the nucleophile and/or isomerize comprises using a catalyst comprising a wholly or partly ionized complex of univalent gold.

Abstract: An improved process for production of diisopropyl ether by conversion of hydrocarbon feedstock containing propene, propane and C.sub.2 -- light gas components. The overall process steps include, (optionally) prefractionating fresh feedstock containing propene, propane and C.sub.2 -- light gas components to provide a reactor feedstream rich in propene; contacting the feedstock and water in a catalytic reactor with acidic catalyst under olefin hydration and etherification conditions; and recovering from the catalytic reactor a liquid reactor effluent stream containing diisopropyl ether, isopropanol, water, unreacted propene, propane, oligomer and C.sub.2 -- light gas components. DIPE product containing C.sub.6 + oligomer is recovered by separating the liquid effluent stream in a stripper column, and extracting the DIPE-rich liquid with water. An improved separation process is employed for removing water to provide DIPE liquid product substantially free of water.

Abstract: A process for carrying out a chemical equilibrium reaction is disclosed in which, in a first stage, one or more reactants are contacted with a fixed arrangement of a catalyst under conditions such that the reactants and the products of the reaction are gaseous, the unconverted reactants and products of the first stage being passed to a second stage, in which they are contacted with a fixed arrangement of a catalyst and the reaction allowed to proceed in the presence of an absorbent capable of absorbing a product of the reaction.

Abstract: Disclosed are a pretreatment process of a zeolite as a catalyst for producing an alcohol by hydration of an olefin, comprising keeping the zeolite in contact with water before the hydration, and a process for producing an alcohol which comprises hydrating an olefin in the presence of a zeolite catalyst obtained by keeping a zeolite as a catalyst in contact with water.

Abstract: A process is presented for the hydration of light olefins to produce C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 aliphatic alcohols with improved selectivity, catalyst productivity and catalyst stability. Acidic medium pore, shape selective metallosilicate catalyst particles are contacted with a feedstream containing light olefin plus water at elevated temperature above the dew point of water, i.e., in a gas phase, wherein the reaction mixture is essentially starved with respect to the mole ratio of water to C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 light olefin. Isopropanol is produced at a selectivity greater than 70 weight percent when the mole ration of water to propylene is between 0.05 and 0.499. Zeolite ZSM-5, ZSM-23, ZSM-35 and ferrierite are preferred catalysts.

Abstract: An olefin hydration catalyst is regenerated with a non-oxidizing light gas, such as hydrogen. Light olefins, especially propylene, are converted to a mixture of alcohol(s), such as isopropanol (IPA) and ether(s), such as diisopropylether (DIPE) by contacting a feed containing the olefin with water and/or alcohol with the olefin hydration catalyst. Regeneration conditions include temperatures of from about 150.degree. C. to about 550.degree. C., pressures below about 1000 psig (6900 kPa). Lower pressures of regeneration unexpectedly demonstrated more effective catalyst regeneration through greater coke removal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparation of monoalkyl ethers by reacting low molecular weight olefins and the corresponding oxiranes, in the presence of a catalyst comprising an acidic heterogeneous or homogeneous catalyst, generally represented by the equation: ##STR1## where R, R', R" may be hydrogen or an alkyl radical.

Abstract: A process for production of diisopropyl ether by conversion of hydrocarbon feedstock containing propene, propane and C.sub.2 - light gas components, including the steps of: optionally, prefractionating fresh feedstock containing propene, propane and C.sub.2 - light gas components to provide a reactor feedstream rich in propene; contacting the feedstock and water in a catalytic reactor with acidic catalyst under olefin hydration and etherification conditions; and recovering from the catalytic reactor a liquid reactor effluent stream containing diisopropyl ether, isopropanol, water, unreacted propene, propane and C.sub.2 - light gas components. Improved operation is achieved by separating the liquid effluent stream in a vertical stripper column; recovering an overhead vapor stream containing propene, propane and C.sub.2 - light gas components from the stripper column; cooling the overhead vapor stream to provide a reflux stream rich in condensed propene and propane; removing the C.sub.

Abstract: A method for starting up a fixed bed propylene hydration reactor containing shape selective metallosilicate catalyst particles for the production of isopropanol and/or diisopropyl ether is disclosed comprising the following sequential steps: contacting a feedstream comprising propane with catalyst particles in a hydration reactor; then introducing a feedstream comprising isopropanol into the reactor to displace propane. Next, a feedstream comprising propylene is introduced into the reactor under etherification conditions. Finally, a feedstream is introduced in the reactor comprising water under etherification and hydration reaction conditions whereby diisopropyl ether and isopropanol are produced.

Abstract: There is provided a process for converting light olefin to alcohol(s), ether(s) or mixtures of alcohol(s) and ether(s) which comprises contacting a feed containing at least one light olefin with water in the vapor and/or liquid phase under olefin hydration conditions in the presence of MCM-36 as olefin hydration catalyst to produce said alcohol(s) and/or ether(s).

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for the acid catalyzed production of DIPE from propene and water feedstreams that eliminates the propene recycle stream to the olefin hydration reactor and achieves high propene conversion. The accomplishment is achieved by carrying out the hydration and etherification reactions in two stages wherein the first stage comprises a zeolite catalyzed hydration and etherification of propene employing a minimum of water feed. The second stage converts unconverted propene from the first stage reactor by hydration and etherification to DIPE in contact with an acidic catalyst, preferably acidic resin, and an excess of water. Isopropanol (IPA) from both the first and second stage reactor is recovered as an aqueous azeotrope by a combination of distillation and extraction steps and the azeotrope is recycled to the first stage reactor.

Abstract: A process for production of dialkyl ether by hydration and etherification of olefinic feedstock containing at least one lower alkene by contacting the olefinic feedstock and water in a catalytic reaction zone with porous solid metallosilicate acidic catalyst under olefin hydration and etherification conditions. Improvement is achieved by recovering a first fluid effluent stream from the reaction zone; splitting the first fluid effluent stream into a liquid product recovery stream and a fluid recycle stream; and passing the fluid recycle stream consisting essentially of olefin, alcohol and ether in effluent stream proportions for feeding to the reaction zone along with fresh olefinic feedstock and fresh water, wherein the amount of fluid recycle stream is sufficient to maintain a homogeneous single fluid reaction phase in the reaction zone.

Abstract: Olefins are converted to alcohols and/or ethers employing, as catalyst, an acidic zeolite which has been bound with an essentially non-acidic refractory oxide of at least one metal of Group IVA and/or IVB of the Period Table of the Elements, e.g., silica, titania, zirconia and/or germania.

Abstract: A process for production of ether by hydration and etherification of olefinic feedstock containing at least one lower alkene by contacting the olefinic feedstock and water in a plurality of catalytic reaction zones containing porous solid metal oxide acidic olefin hydration and etherification catalyst under olefin hydration and etherification conditions. Improved operation is achieved by recovering a first effluent stream from at least one fixed bed hydration zone, splitting the first effluent stream into a product recovery stream and a plurality of recycle streams, and passing at least a portion of cooled recycle streams comprising olefin, alcohol and ether in effluent stream component proportions for quenching at least one fixed bed reaction zone to control temperature of hot effluent from a preceding reaction zone.

Abstract: A process for converting light olefin to alcohol(s), ether(s) or mixtures of alcohol(s) and ether(s) which comprises contacting a feed containing at least one light olefin with water in the vapor and/or liquid phase under olefin hydration conditions in the presence of acidic zeolite MCM-22 as olefin hydration catalyst to produce said alcohol(s) and/or ether(s).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for integrating etherification to produce diisopropyl ether (DIPE) with processes to convert oxygenates and hydrocarbons to gasoline boiling range hydrocarbons in a manner which eliminates the requirement to recycle unreacted C.sub.3 hydrocarbons to the DIPE etherification zone. In the novel integrated process the unreacted C.sub.3 hydrocarbons are separated as vapor and passed to a conversion zone in contact with acidic metallosilicate catalyst. Depending on the conversion conditions the unreacted C.sub.3 hydrocarbons are converted to gasoline, distillate and/or aromatics, preferably in conjunction with additional feedstock containing lower oxygenates, olefins or paraffins. Also, isopropanol (IPA) and minor by-product dimers and trimers of propene from the DIPE reaction are separated and passed as a feedstream to the oxygenates and hydrocarbon conversion zone.

Abstract: Methanol or other alcohol is converted to high octane gasoline components by an integrated process wherein crude aqueous alcohol feedstock is extracted with a liquid extractant stream containing C.sub.4 +iso-olefin and reacted to form tertiary-alkyl ethers, such as MTBE. The aqueous raffinate is converted to olefinic hydrocarbons in a MTO catalytic reactor. Propene from the MTO reaction is reacted with water to produce di-isopropyl ether, which may be blended with MTBE and C.sub.6 +MTO hydrocarbons to produce high octane gasoline. Isobutylene and isoamylenes from the MTO reaction can be recovered and recycled as a liquid extractant stream.

Abstract: A process for production of alcohol or ether by hydration of olefinic feedstock containing at least one lower alkene by contacting the olefinic feedstock and water in a hydration zone with porous solid metal oxide acidic olefin hydration catalyst under olefins hydration conditions. The process is characterized by the step of pretreating porous solid catalyst, such as acid zeolite, prior to contacting with the olefinic feedstock with a wetting agent containing at least one polar aliphatic oxygenated hydrocarbon to substantially wet said solid catalyst and sorb said wetting agent into pores of said solid catalyst. After initiating hydration reaction by feeding the olefinic feedstock and water, increased catalytic activity is obtained. The process is particularly useful for making isopropanol and DIPE from propene and water.

Abstract: Light olefins are catalytically converted to ethers, e.g., propylene is converted to diisopropyl ether, in a dual stage process in which product ether is recycled to a first stage reaction zone to significantly reduce the operating temperature of the olefin hydration/etherification reactions taking place in that zone. Alcohol produced in the first stage reaction zone undergoes conversion in the second stage reaction zone, e.g., by etherification with light olefin or by catalytic distillation, to provide additional product ether. The process contemplates the use of zeolites as olefin hydration/etherification catalysts.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for the substantially uniform distribution of a two-phase feed in a chemical reaction zone. As applied, for example, to the hydration/etherification of light olefin to alcohol(s) and/or ether(s), the invention results in greater process control and in particular cases, to improved reaction product selectivities.

Abstract: Olefin undergoes conversion in the presence of water to a mixture of alcohol and ether which is then subjected to various downstream operations including distillation and decantation to provide an ether-rich product containing little if any water. If desired the ether can be combined in any predetermined ratio with co-produced alcohol to provide alcohol/ether mixtures of desired composition. The foregoing process is especially suitable to the conversion of propylene and propylene-containing streams to diisopropyl ether and mixtures of isopropyl alcohol and diisopropyl ether which are useful, inter alia, as octane improves for gasoline.

Abstract: A hydration product is produced from an olefinic feedstock by contacting the olefinic feedstock with water under hydration conditions in the presence as catalysts of a unidimensional medium pore crystalline zeolite, for example Theta-1, ferrierite, ZSM-22, ZSM-23 or NU-10. Theta-1 is the preferred catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of hydrogen ion-exchanged layered clays in organic reactions which are catalyzed by protons. Such organic reactions include the production of ethers by the reaction of an alcohol with an olefin or an olefin oxide, the production of an ether by the reaction of a primary or secondary aliphatic alcohol or an olefin oxide, the production of an alkyl aromatic compound by the reaction of an aromatic hydrocarbon with an olefin or a C.sub.2 or higher alcohol and the production of an alcohol by the hydration of an olefin.

Abstract: Olefinic compounds, and particularly olefinic hydrocarbons, containing from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms may be subjected to a direct hydration process utilizing a dilute aqueous sulfuric acid to treat the olefin at reaction conditions which will include a temperature in the range of from about 100.degree. to about 300.degree. C. and a pressure in the range of from about 1 to about 250 atmospheres. In addition, if so desired, a transition metal sulfate may also be present in the reaction mixture.