A layered catalyst reactor system and process for hydrotreatment of hydrocarbon feedstocks. The layered catalyst system reactors comprise vertical bed layers including a demetallization catalyst layer, multiple layers of supported hydrotreating catalyst layer, and multiple alternating layers of supported hydrocracking catalysts and self-supported hydrotreating catalysts. The arrangement of the catalyst layers mitigates the risk of temperature run-aways, with improvements in hydrotreatment performance.

Embodiments of the invention provide processes for catalytically converting oxygenates to hydrocarbon products having an increased C.sub.6-C.sub.8 aromatics content therein. Particular processes include (a) providing a first mixture comprising ≧10.0 wt. % of at least one oxygenate, based on the weight of the first mixture; (b) contacting the first mixture with a catalyst to convert the first mixture to a product stream including water, one or more hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and one or more oxygenates, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one molecular sieve and at least one element selected from Groups 2-14 of the Periodic Table and the hydrocarbons comprise ≧30.0 wt. % of aromatics, based on the weight of the hydrocarbons in the product stream; and (c) separating from the product stream at least one water-rich stream, at least one aromatic-rich hydrocarbon stream, and at least one aromatic-depleted hydrocarbon stream.

Embodiments of the invention provide processes for catalytically converting oxygenates to hydrocarbon products having an increased C.sub.6-C.sub.8 aromatics content therein. Particular processes include (a) providing a first mixture comprising ≧10.0 wt. % of at least one oxygenate, based on the weight of the first mixture; (b) contacting the first mixture with a catalyst to convert the first mixture to a product stream including water, one or more hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and one or more oxygenates, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one molecular sieve and at least one element selected from Groups 2-14 of the Periodic Table and the hydrocarbons comprise ≧30.0 wt. % of aromatics, based on the weight of the hydrocarbons in the product stream; and (c) separating from the product stream at least one water-rich stream, at least one aromatic-rich hydrocarbon stream, and at least one aromatic-depleted hydrocarbon stream.

This disclosure relates to processes for converting saturated polyethylene to at least an alkene product. The processes comprise contacting the saturated polyethylene with three or more catalyst components in a reactor, the reactor comprising an alkene reactant. The three or more catalyst components comprise a metathesis catalyst component, an isomerization catalyst component, and a dehydrogenation catalyst component. Contacting causes at least a portion of the saturated polyethylene to undergo dehydrogenation reactions to form unsaturated polyethylene and at least a portion of the unsaturated polyethylene, or products derived therefrom, to undergo metathesis reactions and isomerization reactions to produce an effluent comprising at least the alkene product.

This disclosure relates to processes for converting saturated polyethylene to at least an alkene product. The processes comprise contacting the saturated polyethylene with three or more catalyst components in a reactor, the reactor comprising an alkene reactant. The three or more catalyst components comprise a metathesis catalyst component, an isomerization catalyst component, and a dehydrogenation catalyst component. Contacting causes at least a portion of the saturated polyethylene to undergo dehydrogenation reactions to form unsaturated polyethylene and at least a portion of the unsaturated polyethylene, or products derived therefrom, to undergo metathesis reactions and isomerization reactions to produce an effluent comprising at least the alkene product.

Novel ruthenium complexes of general formula 4

##STR00001##

in which the substituents are defined herein. The present disclosure relates also to methods for preparing such compounds and use thereof as catalysts and/or (pre)catalysts in olefin cross metathesis.

A method of producing methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and propylene is disclosed. The method involves the use of a crude C4 stream and the integration of a MTBE synthesis process and a cracking process. The method may include processing a byproduct stream from an MTBE synthesis unit to produce high purity olefin streams for an olefins conversion technology unit.

Processes and apparatus for making xylenes and phenol are described. Phenol and alkyl phenols are separated from coal derived liquid. The phenol is separated from the alkyl phenols. The alkyl phenols can be reacted with aromatics such as benzene and toluene to make xylenes. The xylenes and other aromatics are then separated from the phenol and alkyl phenols. Para-xylene is separated and recovered using a xylene separation process, and meta-xylene and ortho-xylene are optionally converted to para-xylene through an isomerization reaction.

Methods are provided for refining natural oil feedstocks. The methods comprise reacting the feedstock in the presence of a metathesis catalyst under conditions sufficient to form a metathesized product comprising olefins and esters. In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise separating the olefins from the esters in the metathesized product. In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise hydrogenating the olefins under conditions sufficient to form a fuel composition. In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise transesterifying the esters in the presence of an alcohol to form a transesterified product.

An integrated process for gasoline production is described. The process includes introducing a feed comprising n-C.sub.5 hydrocarbons into a disproportionation reaction zone in the presence of a disproportionation catalyst to form a disproportionation mixture comprising iso-C.sub.4 and C.sub.6+ disproportionation products and unreacted n-C.sub.5 hydrocarbons. An iso-C.sub.4 hydrocarbon stream and an olefin feed are introduced into an alkylation reaction zone in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylation mixture comprising alkylate and unreacted iso-C.sub.4 paraffins. The disproportionation mixture and the alkylation mixture are combined, and the combined mixture is separated into at least a stream comprising the alkylate product, an iso-C.sub.4 stream, and an unreacted n-C.sub.5 hydrocarbon stream. The iso-C.sub.4 stream is recycled to the alkylation reaction zone, and the unreacted n-C.sub.5 hydrocarbon stream is recycled to the disproportionation reaction zone. The stream comprising the alkylate product is recovered.