This application relates to the production of functionalized lower hydrocarbons and more particularly to the process of converting ethanol to functionalized lower hydrocarbons. In particular embodiments, the ethanol to functionalized lower hydrocarbon conversion is catalyzed by a Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yA.sub.vQ.sub.sMn.sub.wO.sub.z mixed oxide catalyst or a bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst. In particular embodiments, the ethanol to be converted is present at molar concentrations in the reactor feed equal to or exceeding 14%.

An apparatus and method are provided for processing hydrocarbon feeds. The method may pass a pyrolysis feed to a thermal pyrolysis reactor and expose at least a portion of the pyrolysis feed to high-severity operating conditions in a thermal pyrolysis reactor, wherein the thermal pyrolysis reactor is operated at operating conditions that include pressure ≧36 psig and provide a reactor product that has a C.sub.3+ to C.sub.2 unsaturate weight ratio ≦0.5.

An apparatus and method are provided for processing hydrocarbon feeds. The method may pass a pyrolysis feed to a thermal pyrolysis reactor and expose at least a portion of the pyrolysis feed to high-severity operating conditions in a thermal pyrolysis reactor, wherein the thermal pyrolysis reactor is operated at operating conditions that include pressure ≧36 psig and provide a reactor product that has a C.sub.3+ to C.sub.2 unsaturate weight ratio ≦0.5.

Disclosed is a process for the purification of an organic composition (OC1) by adsorption using an assembly containing at least two adsorbers. The organic composition (OC1) comprising at least one alkane, at least one olefin and at least one compound containing oxygen and/or sulphur is fed into a first adsorber (A1) of the assembly in order to obtain an organic composition (OC2) comprising at least one alkane, at least one olefin and a reduced amount of at least one compound containing oxygen and/or sulphur compared to the respective amount in organic composition (OC1). Hydrogenation of the organic composition (OC2) provides a stream (S2) comprising at least one alkane and a reduced amount of at least one olefin compared to the respective amount in organic composition (OC2) obtained after feeding into the first adsorber (A1). A second adsorber (A2) of the assembly is regenerated by contact with stream (S2).

Disclosed is a process for the purification of an organic composition (OC1) by adsorption using an assembly containing at least two adsorbers. The organic composition (OC1) comprising at least one alkane, at least one olefin and at least one compound containing oxygen and/or sulphur is fed into a first adsorber (A1) of the assembly in order to obtain an organic composition (OC2) comprising at least one alkane, at least one olefin and a reduced amount of at least one compound containing oxygen and/or sulphur compared to the respective amount in organic composition (OC1). Hydrogenation of the organic composition (OC2) provides a stream (S2) comprising at least one alkane and a reduced amount of at least one olefin compared to the respective amount in organic composition (OC2) obtained after feeding into the first adsorber (A1). A second adsorber (A2) of the assembly is regenerated by contact with stream (S2).

The invention relates to a process for regeneration of an adsorber (A) by contact with a stream (S1), wherein the stream (S1) is heated in advance by at least two heat exchange units (HEU1) and (HEU2). As outflow of the adsorber (A) a stream (S2) is obtained, which is passed through at least two heat exchange units (HEU1) and (HEU2) traversed by stream (S1), wherein the temperature of stream (S2) fed into each heat exchange unit is higher than the temperature of stream (S1) fed into the heat exchange units (HEU1) and (HEU2), in order to directly transfer heat from stream (S2) to stream (S1).

The invention relates to a process for regeneration of an adsorber (A) by contact with a stream (S1), wherein the stream (S1) is heated in advance by at least two heat exchange units (HEU1) and (HEU2). As outflow of the adsorber (A) a stream (S2) is obtained, which is passed through at least two heat exchange units (HEU1) and (HEU2) traversed by stream (S1), wherein the temperature of stream (S2) fed into each heat exchange unit is higher than the temperature of stream (S1) fed into the heat exchange units (HEU1) and (HEU2), in order to directly transfer heat from stream (S2) to stream (S1).

A method and an apparatus for preparing an oligomer, the method including supplying a feed stream including a monomer to a reactor to perform an oligomerization reaction, recovering unreacted monomer, and dissolving the recovered unreacted monomer in a solvent in a monomer dissolution device and supplying a discharge stream from the monomer dissolution device to the reactor. The method and the apparatus provide reduced investment costs and improved economic feasibility as there is no need to use a refrigerant at a very low temperature or install a separate compressor to recover and reuse the unreacted monomer in an oligomer production process.

A method and an apparatus for preparing an oligomer, the method including supplying a feed stream including a monomer to a reactor to perform an oligomerization reaction, recovering unreacted monomer, and dissolving the recovered unreacted monomer in a solvent in a monomer dissolution device and supplying a discharge stream from the monomer dissolution device to the reactor. The method and the apparatus provide reduced investment costs and improved economic feasibility as there is no need to use a refrigerant at a very low temperature or install a separate compressor to recover and reuse the unreacted monomer in an oligomer production process.

A method and an apparatus for preparing an oligomer, the method including supplying a feed stream including a monomer to a reactor to perform an oligomerization reaction, recovering unreacted monomer, and dissolving the recovered unreacted monomer in a solvent in a monomer dissolution device and supplying a discharge stream from the monomer dissolution device to the reactor. The method and the apparatus provide reduced investment costs and improved economic feasibility as there is no need to use a refrigerant at a very low temperature or install a separate compressor to recover and reuse the unreacted monomer in an oligomer production process.