Relatively low value disulfide oil (DSO) compounds produced as by-products of the mercaptan oxidation (MEROX) processing of refinery hydrocarbon streams, and oxidized disulfide oils (ODSO), are economically converted to value-added light olefins by introducing the DSO and/or ODSO compounds as the feed to a fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) unit and recovering the light olefins, namely, ethylene and propylene, and in some embodiments a minor amount of butylenes which is then recovered and introduced as the feedstream to a metathesis process for the production and recovery of propylene.

Relatively low value disulfide oil (DSO) compounds produced as by-products of the mercaptan oxidation (MEROX) processing of refinery hydrocarbon streams, and oxidized disulfide oils (ODSO), are economically converted to value-added light olefins by introducing the DSO and/or ODSO compounds as the feed to a fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) unit and recovering the light olefins, namely, ethylene and propylene, and in some embodiments a minor amount of butylenes which is then recovered and introduced as the feedstream to a metathesis process for the production and recovery of propylene.

Ebullated bed reactors may be used to synthesize olefin compositions exhibiting low sediment toxicity and favorable pour points. The olefin compositions are formed by isomerizing linear alpha olefins (LAOs) into linear internal olefins (LIOs), skeletal isomerized branched olefins, or any combination thereof. Methods for preparing olefin compositions comprising LIOs and, optionally, branched olefins may comprise: providing an olefinic feed comprising one or more LAOs, and interacting the olefinic feed with a plurality of catalyst particulates in an ebullated bed reactor to form an isomerized product. The catalyst particulates are effective to isomerize the one or more LAOs into one or more of LIOs, skeletal isomerized branched olefins, or combinations thereof. The isomerized product may be incorporated in drilling fluids, particularly those intended for subsea use, due to their favorable environmental profile and low pour points. Some catalyst particulates may produce no more branching than that present in the LAOs.

Processes are described for isomerizing one or more C.sub.4-C.sub.24 alpha olefins to produce an isomerization mixture comprising one or more C.sub.4-C.sub.24 internal olefins comprising contacting an olefinic feed comprising the one or more C.sub.4-C.sub.24 alpha olefins with a catalyst under isomerization conditions, wherein the catalyst comprises a microporous crystalline aluminosilicate selected from the group consisting of ZSM-5, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, ZSM-48, ZSM-57, and mixtures or combinations thereof, and wherein the microporous crystalline aluminosilicate has a SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 molar ratio of less than or equal to about 100. The resulting isomerization mixture typically exhibits a lower pour point and maintained biodegradability properties as compared to the olefinic feed, and is particularly useful in drilling fluid and paper sizing compositions.

A process is described for obtaining high-purity 1-butene starting from C.sub.4 hydrocarbon mixtures containing isobutene, n-butane, isobutane, 1,3-butadiene, 1-butene, 2-butenes and also optionally C.sub.3 and C.sub.5 hydrocarbons, comprising the following stages: conversion of isobutene effected in a double stage, wherein each stage consists of one or more reactors followed by a distillation column for the recovery of the reaction product; recovery of the excess alcohol; recovery of 1-butene using at least two distillation columns; characterised in that it also uses a further conversion stage, consisting of one or more reactors in series, for completing the isobutene removal.

One or more embodiments presently disclosed is directed to a method for reacting a chemical stream which may include contacting the chemical stream with a catalyst to produce a product stream. The catalyst may include alumina, silica, and a catalytically active compound such as tungsten.

Processes for the production of olefins are disclosed, which may include: contacting a hydrocarbon mixture comprising linear butenes with an isomerization catalyst to form an isomerization product comprising 2-butenes and 1-butenes; contacting the isomerization product with a first metathesis catalyst to form a first metathesis product comprising 2-pentene and propylene, as well as any unreacted C.sub.4 olefins, and byproducts ethylene and 3-hexene; and fractionating the first metathesis product to form a C3-fraction and a C5 fraction comprising 2-pentene. The 2-pentene may then be advantageously used to produce high purity 1-butene, 3-hexene, 1-hexene, propylene, or other desired products.

A method of producing a fuel additive includes passing a feed stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a methyl tertiary butyl ether unit producing a first process stream; passing the first process stream through a selective hydrogenation unit producing a second process stream; passing the second process stream through an isomerization unit producing a third process stream; and passing the third process stream through a hydration unit producing the fuel additive and a recycle stream.

Systems and methods for producing propylene using an MTBE synthesis raffinate are disclosed. An MTBE synthesis raffinate stream first passes through a molecular sieve to separate n-butane and isobutane from the rest of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons of the MTBE synthesis raffinate. The 1-butene in the rest of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons of the MTBE synthesis raffinate is then isomerized to form 2-butene. Therefore, the concentration of 2-butene in the subsequent propylene production process increases due to the separation of n-butane and isobutane and the isomerization of 1-butene, resulting in an improved reaction rate and reaction efficiency for propylene production.

Systems and methods for producing propylene using an MTBE synthesis raffinate are disclosed. An MTBE synthesis raffinate stream first passes through a molecular sieve to separate n-butane and isobutane from the rest of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons of the MTBE synthesis raffinate. The 1-butene in the rest of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons of the MTBE synthesis raffinate is then isomerized to form 2-butene. Therefore, the concentration of 2-butene in the subsequent propylene production process increases due to the separation of n-butane and isobutane and the isomerization of 1-butene, resulting in an improved reaction rate and reaction efficiency for propylene production.