The invention pertains to a method for converting butanediol into butadiene that is fed with a butanediol feedstock, where said method comprises at least an esterification step, a pyrolysis step, and a step for separation of the pyrolysis effluent comprising at least one section for cooling said pyrolysis effluent and producing a liquid pyrolysis effluent and a steam pyrolysis effluent and a gas-liquid washing section that is fed at the top with a fraction of the butanediol diester effluent obtained from the esterification step and at the bottom with the steam pyrolysis effluent, where said section produces a butadiene effluent at the top and a washing effluent at the bottom.

The invention pertains to a method for converting butanediol into butadiene that is fed with a butanediol feedstock, where said method comprises at least an esterification step, a pyrolysis step, and a step for separation of the pyrolysis effluent comprising at least one section for cooling said pyrolysis effluent and producing a liquid pyrolysis effluent and a steam pyrolysis effluent and a gas-liquid washing section that is fed at the top with a fraction of the butanediol diester effluent obtained from the esterification step and at the bottom with the steam pyrolysis effluent, where said section produces a butadiene effluent at the top and a washing effluent at the bottom.

Processes for producing two or more different C.sub.2-C.sub.6 linear or branched olefins are disclosed herein. In one exemplary implementation, the process can include contacting a first feed stream that includes -valerolactone with one or more first catalysts in a first reactor to form a mixture. The mixture includes two or more different C.sub.2-C.sub.6 linear or branched olefins at a yield of at least 60%, and the one or more first catalysts include a doped zeolite. Processes for converting levulinic acid to -valerolactone are also disclosed herein.

Processes for producing two or more different C.sub.2-C.sub.6 linear or branched olefins are disclosed herein. In one exemplary implementation, the process can include contacting a first feed stream that includes -valerolactone with one or more first catalysts in a first reactor to form a mixture. The mixture includes two or more different C.sub.2-C.sub.6 linear or branched olefins at a yield of at least 60%, and the one or more first catalysts include a doped zeolite. Processes for converting levulinic acid to -valerolactone are also disclosed herein.

Processes for producing a linear internal olefin product include the steps of contacting an olefin feed containing C.sub.10-C.sub.20 vinylidenes and a C.sub.10-C.sub.20 normal alpha olefin and/or C.sub.10-C.sub.20 linear internal olefins, a first acid catalyst, and a C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 carboxylic acid to form a first reaction product containing linear internal olefins, trisubstituted olefins, and secondary esters, then removing all or a portion of the secondary esters from the first reaction product, followed by contacting the secondary esters and a second acid catalyst to form a second reaction product comprising linear internal olefins, and then removing all or a portion of the linear internal olefins from the second reaction product to form the linear internal olefin product. Linear alkanes subsequently can be produced by hydrogenating the linear internal olefin product to form a linear alkane product.

Processes for producing a linear internal olefin product include the steps of contacting an olefin feed containing C.sub.10-C.sub.20 vinylidenes and a C.sub.10-C.sub.20 normal alpha olefin and/or C.sub.10-C.sub.20 linear internal olefins, a first acid catalyst, and a C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 carboxylic acid to form a first reaction product containing linear internal olefins, trisubstituted olefins, and secondary esters, then removing all or a portion of the secondary esters from the first reaction product, followed by contacting the secondary esters and a second acid catalyst to form a second reaction product comprising linear internal olefins, and then removing all or a portion of the linear internal olefins from the second reaction product to form the linear internal olefin product. Linear alkanes subsequently can be produced by hydrogenating the linear internal olefin product to form a linear alkane product.

The present invention relates a method of preparing methane using -valerolactone. A solution of -valerolactone is mixed with a triruthenium dodecacarbonyl catalyst, for a reaction at 150 C.-250 C. for 1 to 12 hours, and then subjected to cooling; wherein a mass ratio of -valerolactone to the triruthenium dodecacarbonyl catalyst is between 1:2 and 1:50; and the solution of -valerolactone has a mass concentration of 50 g/L-300 g/L. In the present invention, -valerolactone is converted into methane rapidly by a one-step catalysis deoxygenation using a triruthenium dodecacarbonyl catalyst. The preparation method provided by the present invention can realize a complete conversion of -valerolactone, and the methane gas has a yield up to 45 wt %. Besides, such method has characteristics of short reaction time, high yield of methane, easy collection, simple process and convenient operation, and it has industrialized application prospect.

The present invention relates a method of preparing methane using -valerolactone. A solution of -valerolactone is mixed with a triruthenium dodecacarbonyl catalyst, for a reaction at 150 C.-250 C. for 1 to 12 hours, and then subjected to cooling; wherein a mass ratio of -valerolactone to the triruthenium dodecacarbonyl catalyst is between 1:2 and 1:50; and the solution of -valerolactone has a mass concentration of 50 g/L-300 g/L. In the present invention, -valerolactone is converted into methane rapidly by a one-step catalysis deoxygenation using a triruthenium dodecacarbonyl catalyst. The preparation method provided by the present invention can realize a complete conversion of -valerolactone, and the methane gas has a yield up to 45 wt %. Besides, such method has characteristics of short reaction time, high yield of methane, easy collection, simple process and convenient operation, and it has industrialized application prospect.

The present invention addresses to a process for producing olefins and esters in the C10 to C13 range from fatty acid esters through a catalytic hydrogenation reaction followed by cross-metathesis of the hydrogenated product with light olefins.

The present invention addresses to a process for producing olefins and esters in the C10 to C13 range from fatty acid esters through a catalytic hydrogenation reaction followed by cross-metathesis of the hydrogenated product with light olefins.