Abstract: The present invention relates to the separation of olefins, diolefins and lower aromatics from mixed streams of hydrocarbons using ionic liquids in the absence of metal compounds. The present invention eliminates the metal complexes conventionally used in such separation and thus reduces the complexity of the process.

Abstract: The present invention is a separation process for producing a methanol, ethanol and/or dimethyl ether stream from a first stream containing C3+ hydrocarbons. The first stream comprises C3+ hydrocarbons, methanol, ethanol and/or dimethyl ether. The process comprises the step of passing the first stream through an adsorbent bed having a crystalline microporous material that preferentially adsorbs methanol, ethanol and/or dimethyl ether over the C3+ hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for removal of trace impurities of hydrides of arsenic, phosphorus, antimony, silicon, and boron and sulfur and oxygenates and compounds containing these impurities from a hydrocarbon stream comprising contacting the hydrocarbon stream with an adsorbent material selected from the group consisting of zeolites and promoted alumina to adsorb compounds containing sulfur and/or oxygenates, contacting the hydrocarbon stream with an adsorbent material comprising one or more active metal oxides to remove the hydrides and contacting the hydrocarbon stream with an adsorbent material that removes water.

Abstract: Disclosed is the observation that 7-aryl-quinone methides and 4-tert-butylcatechol, when used in combination in a vinyl aromatic monomer to inhibit polymerization,do not inhibit polymerization to the same extend as each would if used separately. Stated another way, a phenomenon has been observed that when these two compounds are used together, they can, to a large extent, render each other unable to inhibit polymerization in a vinyl aromatic monomer. Also disclosed are methods of preventing adverse results of this interaction when undesired and a method of using this interaction to prepare a reactive vinyl aromatic monomer having a concentration of 4-tert-butylcatechol that would otherwise inhibit polymerization. The invention is disclosed to be useful with the production and storage of any vinyl aromatic monomer and is disclosed to be particularly useful with the production and storage of styrene monomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating the isoprene, 1,3-pentadiene and dicyclopentadiene from a C5 cuts, comprising dimerization of the cyclopentadiene and selective catalytic hydrogenation. The second extractive rectification step can be omitted, because the alkynes are removed through selective catalytic hydrogenation prior to the extractive rectification. As a result, the solvent-recovering units can be simplified, and thus the process as a whole can be optimized. Correspondingly, the investment and energy consumption, the operation cost, and finally the production cost can be substantially reduced.

Abstract: Sulfur resistant/tolerant adsorbents useful for separating olefins from paraffins in a cracked gas stream including hydrogen sulfide. The method comprises the steps of contacting the gaseous mixture with an adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs the alkene, at a selected temperature and pressure, thereby producing a non-adsorbed component and an alkene-rich adsorbed component; the adsorbent comprising a carrier having a surface area, the carrier having been impregnated with a silver compound by incipient wetness, the silver compound releasably retaining the alkene; and changing at least one of the pressure and temperature to thereby release the alkene-rich component from the adsorbent. The adsorbent substantially maintains its adsorbent capacity and preference for the alkene in the presence of the sulfur compound. Sulfur resistant/tolerant adsorbents useful for selectively separating dienes from a mixture, particularly one containing mono-olefins and hydrogen sulfide, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A continuous method and a heat pump device for enrichment of low-concentrated reaction mixtures resulting from the production of cycloalkanedienes by means of catalytic metathesis of cyclic aliphatic alkenes and cyclooligomers in organic reaction media with reduced energy consumption. Using the heat pump principle, liquid reaction mixtures with a content of at least 0.1 w/w % are enriched in an organic reaction medium to 30 to 50 w/w %. The organic reaction medium at temperature T1 is evaporated in an evaporator, the vapor is withdrawn and compressed to temperature T2 in a compressor, at a pressure difference of 0.25 to 1 bar. Compressed vapor of the reaction medium transfers heat energy obtained from electric energy in the heat exchanger of the evaporator to the organic reaction medium at temperature T1, and the temperature difference (T2?T1) does not exceed 12 K.

Abstract: The present invention is a heat-integrated process for obtaining an ethylene and propylene enriched stream from an oxygenate to olefin reactor. The process comprises providing an effluent stream from an oxygenate to olefins reactor. The effluent stream comprises ethylene, propylene and one or more byproducts selected from the group consisting of propane, methyl acetylene, propadiene, dimethyl ether, acetaldyhyde and butylene. The process further includes quenching the effluent stream with the quench medium to provide an olefin stream. The olefin stream is separated into a heavy fraction and a remaining fraction. The remaining fraction is directed to a distillation column which separates the remaining fraction into a first fraction comprising a majority of both ethylene and a propylene and a second fraction comprising at least a majority of one or more heavier fraction. The bottoms of the distillation column is reboiled by the quench medium.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of removing dimethyl ether from an olefin stream. The method includes distilling the olefin stream so that the dimethyl ether is separated out of the olefin stream with propane. The olefin stream can then be further distilled to provide a polymer grade ethylene stream and a polymer grade propylene stream, with each stream containing not greater than about 10 wppm dimethyl ether.

Abstract: Methods for separating di-olefins from mono-olefins, and olefins from non-olefins such as paraffins, oxygenates and aromatics; are provided. The methods use metal salts which complex both mono-olefins and di-olefins, but which selectively complex di-olefins in the presence of mono-olefins. The metal salts are dissolved or suspended in ionic liquids, which tend to have virtually no vapor pressure. Preferred salts are Group IB salts, more preferably silver and copper salts. A preferred silver salt is silver tetrafluoroborate. A preferred copper salt is silver CuOTf. Preferred ionic liquids are those which form stable solutions, suspensions or dispersions of the metal salts, which do not dissolve unwanted non-olefins, and which do not isomerize the mono- or di-olefins. The equivalents of the metal salt can be adjusted so that di-olefins are selectively adsorbed from mixtures of mono- and di-olefins. Alternatively, both mono- and di-olefins can be adsorbed, and the mono-olefins selectively desorbed.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for separating valuable products, including unsaponifiable materials, from any given matrix of raw materials that is mainly composed of saponifiable components and unsaponifiable components. Preferred methods include converting sodium or potassium soaps obtained from the saponification of a starting material into metallic soaps which have a lower melting point, and when melted, have viscosity sufficiently low to enable processing such as by distillation evaporation processes. Preferred raw materials include animal or vegetable products, as well as by-products, residues, and waste products from the processing of animal or vegetable products, such as from food processing, cellulose processing and the like. Valuable products which may be obtained by the disclosed processes include sterols, vitamins, flavonoids, and tocopherols.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of removing acetaldehyde, CO2 and/or water from an ethylene and/or propylene containing stream. In this invention, acetaldehyde and C4+ olefins are substantially removed from the ethylene and/or propylene containing stream. The stream is then acid gas treated. The ethylene and/or propylene streams which are separated and recovered according to this invention can be further processed, for example, to make polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing olefin(s) from oxygenates that is more effective than previously known processes at removing carbon dioxide from the effluent stream by operating a quench tower at a pH greater than 7.0.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for removal of carbon dioxide from a reactor effluent stream comprising water, carbon dioxide and olefin(s), where a portion of the carbon dioxide is removed in a quenching step with a quench medium and more carbon dioxide is removed by contacting the quenched effluent stream with an alkaline stream. A portion of the alkaline stream is added to the quench medium.

Abstract: Chitosan membranes chelated with silver or cuprous material may be used to separate olefins from a mixture of olefins and paraffins. The feed stream is humidified, demisted, treated to remove sulfur compounds and passed to a cell having a chitosan membrane containing chelated silver or cuprous compounds. The process has a reasonable flux rate and is operable at reasonable temperatures and pressures. The process could be used in an olefin separation train.

Abstract: The present invention provides new highly-efficient separation processes and systems for separating polymerization-grade ethylene and propylene from an initial effluent stream comprising ethane, ethylene, propylene, dimethyl ether, and one or more of propane, acetylene, methyl acetylene, propadiene, methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and C4+ components. In one embodiment, the initial effluent stream is provided from a methanol-to-olefin reaction system. It has been discovered that the best separation of these components is realized when DME is selectively removed in a first separation step, followed by separation of the remaining components in additional separation steps.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing oxygenate impurities, e.g., dimethyl ether, from an olefinic product stream by converting the oxygenate impurity to a compound whose boiling point differs by at least about 5° C. from the oxygenate impurity. Typically, the compound is more readily removable from the product stream than the oxygenate impurity.

Abstract: A treatment for accelerating the settling of finely divided solids in hydrocarbon fluids, including adding to the hydrocarbon a sufficient settling amount of a combination of (a) a polyacrylic acid adducted alkylphenol-formaldehyde resin alkoxylate compound, and (b) an alkylphenol-formaldehyde resin alkoxylate having a molecular weight of about 500 to about 5,000.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for quenching a reactor effluent stream. The reactor effluent stream comprises water, olefin product, and methanol and is further entrained with catalyst fines. The process removes water, catalyst fines, and methanol. Particularly, methanol removal from the reactor effluent stream is improved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling water and/or oxygenate concentrations of an olefin stream. The method includes contacting the olefin stream with a liquid absorbent. The liquid absorbent is selected from the group consisting of a polyol, amine, amide, nitrile, heterocyclic nitrogen containing compound, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method of alkylating aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons with olefins using solid hydrogen fluoride-equivalent catalysts is described. Preferred catalysts comprise solid polymeric onium polyhydrogen fluoride complexes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing methyl acetylene and/or propadiene from a propylene stream and/or a butylene stream by two step fractionation. Methyl acetylene and/or propadiene avoids the use of a hydrogenation reactor and makes the methyl acetylene and/or propadiene recoverable from the process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing an oxygenate impurity selected from aldehyde and/or ketone, from an olefinic product stream. A product stream is contacted with a metal oxide-containing catalyst in the presence of a C1 to C6 alcohol under conditions sufficient to convert the oxygenate impurity to an olefin and/or oxygenate of higher carbon number than the aldehyde and/or ketone. The aldehyde can be C2 to C5 aldehyde and the ketone can be C3 to C6 ketone. The metal oxide-containing catalyst typically comprises an oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group 2 metals, Group 3 metals (including Lanthanide and Actinide series metals), and Group 4 metals.

Abstract: A process for recovering DCPD from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising introducing the hydrocarbon feedstock to a first column, recovering an overhead stream from the first column comprising C9− hydrocarbons, recovering a bottom stream from the first column comprising C10+ hydrocarbons, feeding the bottom stream from the first column to a second column, recovering an overhead stream from the second column comprising DCPD, and recovering a bottom stream from the second column comprising fuel oil, wherein the two columns are sized and operated at defined conditions such as pressures, temperatures, reflux rates, and reboil rates.

Abstract: A process for the dimerization of isobutene wherein tertiary butyl alcohol is used to enhance the selectivity of the catalyst to the dimer is disclosed wherein the tertiary butyl alcohol is removed from the diisobutene product by water wash. The water/TBA stream is then subjected to reextraction to remove the TBA for recycle to the dimerization reactor. The dimerization is preferably carried out in a reactor wherein the pressure is controlled to maintain the reaction mixture at is boiling point. Additional dimerization is carried out in a distillation column reactor that acts as a debutanizer to separate the unreacted isobutene form the product and the tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: An olefin product rich in cis- or trans-isomers can be produced by reacting the mixed olefin feedstock with an linear polyaromatic compound such as anthracene under heat, then separating the unreacted olefin enriched in cis-isomer. The remaining linear unreacted polyaromtic compound and the polyaromatic compound-olefin adduct can be heated to dissociate the adduct to linear polyaromatic compound and olefin stream enriched in trans-isomer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed a method of recovering olefins and for producing hydrogen from a refinery off-gas stream in which such stream is conventionally pretreated and separated to obtain a light ends stream that contains nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon monoxide and a heavy ends stream that contains the olefins. The light ends stream is subjected to reforming and a water gas shift reactions after addition of a natural gas stream. The addition of the natural gas increases the hydrogen recovery from the light ends and also stabilizes the hydrocarbon content in the stream to be subjected to the reforming and water gas shift reactions. The heavy ends can be further treated to recover olefins such as ethylene and propylene.

Abstract: A process for the separation of conjugated olefins from monoolefins in a fluid comprising such conjugated olefins and monoolefins using a Diels-Alder reaction to provide a fluid comprising a Diels-Alder adduct and monoolefins. The fluid comprising such Diels-Alder adduct and monoolefins can be subjected to a separating means to thereby recover a resulting monoolefin-containing fluid containing less than about 50 parts per million conjugated olefins. The process is particularly useful for purification of fluids containing normal alpha olefins.

Abstract: A method for processing an olefin-containing product stream that contains dimethyl ether as a by-product is described. Such a product stream arises, for example, in the synthesis of olefin from methanol. For separation of the dimethyl ether from the product stream, it is proposed that at least a partial stream chiefly containing C3 hydrocarbons is separated from the product stream by fractionation, and is sent to a rectification column (C3 splitter) (16) for separation of propylene and propane. The dimethyl ether goes together with the propane into the bottom of the rectification column in the rectification process and can be withdrawn (42). A substantially pure propylene product (41), which contains at most only traces of dimethyl ether, can be removed from the top of the rectification column.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock containing C5 olefins, C5 diolefins, CPD, DCPD, and aromatics is processed by the steps of heating a hydrocarbon feedstock containing CPD, DCPD, C5 diolefins, benzene, toluene, and xylene in a heating zone, to dimerize CPD to DCPD, thereby forming a first effluent; separating the first effluent into a C6+ stream and a C5 diolefin stream; separating the C6+ stream into a C6-C9 stream and a C10+ stream; separating the C10+ stream into a fuel oil stream and a DCPD stream; and hydrotreating the C6-C9 stream to thereby form a BTX stream.

Abstract: A process for making squalene involving: (a) providing a hydrocarbon-containing intermediate product derived from a vegetable oil; (b) providing an extractant; and (c) extracting squalene-containing starting material from the hydrocarbon-containing intermediate product to form a squalene-containing raffinate phase and an extract phase.

Abstract: Processes using heterogeneous adsorbents are disclosed for purification of olefins such as are typically produced by thermal cracking of suitable hydrocarbon feedstocks, by providing a impure mixture comprising at least one olefin of from 2 to about 8 carbon atoms, acetylenic impurities having the same or similar carbon content in an amount of up to about 1 percent by volume base upon the total amount of olefin present and optionally saturated hydrocarbon gases; admixing a source of dihydrogen with the impure mixture to form a feedstream comprising a sub-stoichiometric amount of dihydrogen based upon conversion of the total amount of acetylenic impurities present to their olefinic analogs; and passing the feedstream through a particulate bed of adsorbent comprising predominantly a support material on which is dispersed at least one metallic element in the zero valent state, to effect, under conditions suitable for adsorption within the bed, selective adsorption and/or complexing of the contained acetylenic co

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of removing dimethyl ether from an ethylene and/or propylene containing stream. Dimethyl ether is removed at a high pressure, preferably in a distillation column. The high pressure separation has the benefit of providing a relatively low bottoms temperature separation, while allowing for recovery of a highly concentrated ethylene and/or propylene stream.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of removing acetaldehyde, CO2 and/or water from an ethylene and/or propylene containing stream. In this invention, acetaldehyde and C4+ olefins are substantially removed from the ethylene and/or propylene containing stream. The stream is then acid gas treated. The ethylene and/or propylene streams which are separated and recovered according to this invention can be further processed, for example, to make polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene.

Abstract: The invention relates to the reduction of oxygenates, including acid, from an olefin containing feedstream. Typically the feedstream is of Fischer-Tropsch process origin and includes hydrocarbons, such as olefins, paraffins, and aromatics, as well as oxygenates, including acid.

Abstract: Carbonyl compound contaminants are removed from hydrocarbon streams containing olefins for use, for example, in the process for the skeletal isomerization of olefins by pretreating the hydrocarbon stream by passing it over an acidic catalyst at elevated temperatures in the range of 100-400° C. under conditions to react the carbonyls to form reaction products which are deposited onto the catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the dimerization of isobutene wherein tertiary butyl alcohol is used to enhance the selectivity of the catalyst to the dimer is disclosed wherein the tertiary butyl alcohol is removed from the diisobutene product by water wash. The water/TBA stream is then subjected to reextraction to remove the TBA for recycle to the dimerization reactor. The dimerization is preferably carried out in a reactor wherein the pressure is controlled to maintain the reaction mixture at is boiling point. Additional dimerization is carried out in a distillation column reactor that acts as a debutanizer to separate the unreacted isobutene form the product and the tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating and isolating olefins from saturated hydrocarbons, and in particular, to a process for separating and isolating olefins from saturated hydrocarbons in a Fisher-Tropsch stream.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of recovering oxygenates from an olefin production process and oxygenate compositions that can be recovered from an olefin production process. The recovered oxygenate compositions comprise a mixture of alcohols, ethers, ketones, and/or aldehydes.

Abstract: The process disclosed separates light olefins from heavy oligomers in a distillation column with an intermediary having a boiling point between the light olefin and the heavy oligomer in the column feed. The invention contemplates separating C4 hydrocarbons from C8 hydrocarbons in an effluent from an oligomerization reactor. The effluent includes or is supplemented with an intermediary that can include C5 hydrocarbon, C6 hydrocarbon or mixtures of both. Consequently, the bottoms reboiler temperature can be lower.

Abstract: Methods for separating di-olefins from mono-olefins, and olefins from non-olefins such as paraffins, oxygenates and aromatics; are provided. The methods use metal salts which complex both mono-olefins and di-olefins, but which selectively complex di-olefins in the presence of mono-olefins. The metal salts are dissolved or suspended in ionic liquids, which tend to have virtually no vapor pressure. Preferred salts are Group IB salts, more preferably silver and copper salts. A preferred silver salt is silver tetrafluoroborate. A preferred copper salt is silver CuOTf. Preferred ionic liquids are those which form stable solutions, suspensions or dispersions of the metal salts, which do not dissolve unwanted non-olefins, and which do not isomerize the mono- or di-olefins. The equivalents of the metal salt can be adjusted so that di-olefins are selectively adsorbed from mixtures of mono- and di-olefins. Alternatively, both mono- and di-olefins can be adsorbed, and the mono-olefins selectively desorbed.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of removing dimethyl ether from an olefin stream. The method includes distilling the olefin stream so that the dimethyl ether is separated out of the olefin stream with propane. The olefin stream can then be further distilled to provide a polymer grade ethylene stream and a polymer grade propylene stream, with each stream containing not greater than about 10 wppm dimethyl ether.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating and isolating saturated hydrocarbons from olefins, and in particular, to a process for separating and isolating saturated hydrocarbons from olefins in a Fisher-Tropsch stream.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for separating valuable products, including unsaponifiable materials, from any given matrix of raw materials that is mainly composed of saponifiable components and unsaponifiable components. Preferred methods include converting sodium or potassium soaps obtained from the saponification of a starting material into metallic soaps which have a lower melting point, and when melted, have viscosity sufficiently low to enable processing such as by distillation/evaporation processes. Preferred raw materials include animal or vegetable products, as well as by-products, residues, and waste products from the processing of animal or vegetable products, such as from food processing, cellulose processing and the like. Valuable products which may be obtained by the disclosed processes include sterols, vitamins, flavonoids, and tocopherols.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for recovering olefin in an oxygenate to olefin production process. The method includes reacting a stream containing olefin with water in the presence of a hydrating catalyst to produce an alcohol containing stream. The alcohol containing stream can be used as an oxygenate feed in the oxygenate to olefin production process.

Abstract: A process for pretreating a oily/water stream for closed loop dilution steam production within an ethylene plant using countercurrent multi-stage extraction to remove both free and dissolved organic solutes from in-situ (net) quench water with an organic solvent to yield an aqueous raffinate containing only residual amounts of organic solute. The raffinate is steam stripped to remove the residual organic solutes, yielding a pretreated quench water stream substantially free of organic material. The pretreated quench water is suitable for reuse to generate dilution steam (without fouling). The (solvent) extract from extraction is regenerated in a solvent regenerator having an overhead stream for purging light ends, a bottom stream for purging heavy ends, and a heart-cut side stream for recycling solvent to the extractor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new process for more efficient separation and recovery of light olefins such as ethylene and propylene from a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The new process invention for recovering olefins from a mixture of cracked hydrocarbons from a fluid catalytic cracker comprises the steps of: (a) providing a mixture of cracked hydrocarbons including methane, ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane, butylene, butane and heavier hydrocarbons such as naphtha produced in a fluid catalytic cracker; (b) separating said mixture into (i) a first stream comprising substantially all of said ethane, ethylene, and methane and a major portion of said propane and propylene and (ii) a second stream comprising a portion of said butylene and butane, and a major portion of said heavier hydrocarbons; and (c) processing said first stream to recover the ethylene and propylene therefrom, and the details of such process described herein.

Abstract: A process for treating a feedstock comprising olefins having an average carbon number ranging from 2-3.5, and non-olefinic compounds, said process comprising the following steps: a) contacting gaseous feedstock with a linear polyaromatic compound in a reaction zone under conditions effective to form a reaction mixture comprising linear polyaromatic compound-olefin adducts and unreacted gaseous feedstock; b) separating the olefin adducts from the unreacted gaseous feedstock; and c) dissociating the olefin adducts to form linear polyaromatic compounds and an olefin enriched composition comprising ethylene, propylene, or mixtures thereof; whereby the concentration of at least one of the olefins in said olefin enriched composition is enriched over the concentration of said at least one olefin present in the feedstock.

Abstract: Processes using heterogeneous adsorbents are disclosed for purification of olefins such as are typically produced by thermal cracking of suitable hydrocarbon feedstocks, by providing a impure mixture comprising at least one olefin of from 2 to about 8 carbon atoms, acetylenic impurities having the same or similar carbon content in an amount of up to about 1 percent by volume base upon the total amount of olefin present and optionally saturated hydrocarbon gases; admixing a source of dihydrogen with the impure mixture to form a feedstream comprising a sub-stoichiometric amount of dihydrogen based upon conversion of the total amount of acetylenic impurities present to their olefinic analogs; and passing the feedstream through a particulate bed of adsorbent comprising predominantly a support material on which is dispersed at least one metallic element in the zero valent state, to effect, under conditions suitable for adsorption within the bed, selective adsorption and/or complexing of the contained acetylenic co

Abstract: Processes using heterogeneous adsorbents are disclosed for purification of olefin streams, such as are produced by thermal cracking of hydrocarbons, to obtain a feedstock suitable for formation of olefin polymers. These purification processes comprises: providing an impure gaseous mixture; passing the impure mixture through a bed of regenerated adsorbent which is free of a substantial amount of carbon monoxide; effecting, in the presence of an essentially dihydrogen-free atmosphere within the bed, selective adsorption of the contained acetylenic impurities with the adsorbent until levels of the acetylenic impurities in the effluent mixture increase to a limiting level in a range downward from about 1 parts per million by volume; and thereafter regenerating the resulting bed of adsorbent in the presence of a reducing gas comprising dihydrogen which reducing gas is free of a substantial amount of carbon monoxide.