Processes and systems for separating a mixture of three or more chemical components into multiple product streams each enriched in one of the components are provided herein. In some aspects, the present invention relates to processes for the separation of a chemical mixture including at least a heavy key component, an intermediate key component, and a light key component to form a product stream enriched in the light key component, a product stream enriched in the intermediate key component, and a product stream enriched in the heavy key component. Systems described herein may include one or more thermally coupled distillation columns including, for example, a dividing wall column, or a plurality of distillation columns arranged in a thermally integrated configuration.

Processes and systems for separating a mixture of three or more chemical components into multiple product streams each enriched in one of the components are provided herein. In some aspects, the present invention relates to processes for the separation of a chemical mixture including at least a heavy key component, an intermediate key component, and a light key component to form a product stream enriched in the light key component, a product stream enriched in the intermediate key component, and a product stream enriched in the heavy key component. Systems described herein may include one or more thermally coupled distillation columns including, for example, a dividing wall column, or a plurality of distillation columns arranged in a thermally integrated configuration.

Processes and systems for separating a mixture of three or more chemical components into multiple product streams each enriched in one of the components are provided herein. In some aspects, the present invention relates to processes for the separation of a chemical mixture including at least a heavy key component, an intermediate key component, and a light key component to form a product stream enriched in the light key component, a product stream enriched in the intermediate key component, and a product stream enriched in the heavy key component. Systems described herein may include one or more thermally coupled distillation columns including, for example, a dividing wall column, or a plurality of distillation columns arranged in a thermally integrated configuration.

Processes and systems for separating a mixture of three or more chemical components into multiple product streams each enriched in one of the components are provided herein. In some aspects, the present invention relates to processes for the separation of a chemical mixture including at least a heavy key component, an intermediate key component, and a light key component to form a product stream enriched in the light key component, a product stream enriched in the intermediate key component, and a product stream enriched in the heavy key component. Systems described herein may include one or more thermally coupled distillation columns including, for example, a dividing wall column, or a plurality of distillation columns arranged in a thermally integrated configuration.

The invention relates to a method for producing butadiene from n-butenes having the steps: A) providing a feed gas stream a comprising n-butenes; B) feeding the feed gas stream a comprising the n-butenes and an oxygen-comprising gas into at least one oxidative dehydrogenation zone and oxidatively dehydrogenating n-butenes to butadiene, wherein a product gas stream b comprising butadiene, unreacted n-butenes, steam, oxygen, low-boiling hydrocarbons, high-boiling minor components, possibly carbon oxides and possibly inert gases is obtained; Ca) cooling the product gas stream b by contacting it with a refrigerant and condensing at least a part of the high-boiling minor components; Cb) compressing the remaining product gas stream b in at least one compression stage, wherein at least one aqueous condensate stream c1 and a gas stream c2 comprising butadiene, n-butenes, steam, oxygen, low-boiling hydrocarbons, possibly carbon oxides and possibly inert gases are obtained; Da) separating off non-condensable and low-boiling gas components comprising oxygen, low-boiling hydrocarbons, possibly carbon oxides and possibly inert gases as gas stream d2 from the gas stream c2 by absorbing the C.sub.4 hydrocarbon-comprising butadiene and n-butenes in an absorbent, wherein an absorbent stream loaded with C.sub.4 hydrocarbons and the gas stream d2 are obtained, and Db) subsequent desorption of the C.sub.4 hydrocarbons from the loaded absorbent stream in a desorption column, wherein a C.sub.4 product gas stream d1 is obtained,
wherein a polymerization inhibitor is added in step Db) at the column head of the desorption column.

The invention relates to a method for producing butadiene from n-butenes having the steps: A) providing a feed gas stream a comprising n-butenes; B) feeding the feed gas stream a comprising the n-butenes and an oxygen-comprising gas into at least one oxidative dehydrogenation zone and oxidatively dehydrogenating n-butenes to butadiene, wherein a product gas stream b comprising butadiene, unreacted n-butenes, steam, oxygen, low-boiling hydrocarbons, high-boiling minor components, possibly carbon oxides and possibly inert gases is obtained; Ca) cooling the product gas stream b by contacting it with a refrigerant and condensing at least a part of the high-boiling minor components; Cb) compressing the remaining product gas stream b in at least one compression stage, wherein at least one aqueous condensate stream c1 and a gas stream c2 comprising butadiene, n-butenes, steam, oxygen, low-boiling hydrocarbons, possibly carbon oxides and possibly inert gases are obtained; Da) separating off non-condensable and low-boiling gas components comprising oxygen, low-boiling hydrocarbons, possibly carbon oxides and possibly inert gases as gas stream d2 from the gas stream c2 by absorbing the C.sub.4 hydrocarbon-comprising butadiene and n-butenes in an absorbent, wherein an absorbent stream loaded with C.sub.4 hydrocarbons and the gas stream d2 are obtained, and Db) subsequent desorption of the C.sub.4 hydrocarbons from the loaded absorbent stream in a desorption column, wherein a C.sub.4 product gas stream d1 is obtained,
wherein a polymerization inhibitor is added in step Db) at the column head of the desorption column.

The invention relates to a method for producing butadiene from n-butenes having the steps: A) providing a feed gas stream a comprising n-butenes; B) feeding the feed gas stream a comprising the n-butenes and an oxygen-comprising gas into at least one oxidative dehydrogenation zone and oxidatively dehydrogenating n-butenes to butadiene, wherein a product gas stream b comprising butadiene, unreacted n-butenes, steam, oxygen, low-boiling hydrocarbons, high-boiling minor components, possibly carbon oxides and possibly inert gases is obtained; Ca) cooling the product gas stream b by contacting it with a refrigerant and condensing at least a part of the high-boiling minor components; Cb) compressing the remaining product gas stream b in at least one compression stage, wherein at least one aqueous condensate stream c1 and a gas stream c2 comprising butadiene, n-butenes, steam, oxygen, low-boiling hydrocarbons, possibly carbon oxides and possibly inert gases are obtained; Da) separating off non-condensable and low-boiling gas components comprising oxygen, low-boiling hydrocarbons, possibly carbon oxides and possibly inert gases as gas stream d2 from the gas stream c2 by absorbing the C.sub.4 hydrocarbon-comprising butadiene and n-butenes in an absorbent, wherein an absorbent stream loaded with C.sub.4 hydrocarbons and the gas stream d2 are obtained, and Db) subsequent desorption of the C.sub.4 hydrocarbons from the loaded absorbent stream in a desorption column, wherein a C.sub.4 product gas stream d1 is obtained,
wherein a polymerization inhibitor is added in step Db) at the column head of the desorption column.

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.

A process can produce alcohols having at least two carbon atoms by catalytic conversion of synthesis gas into a mixture containing alkanes, alkenes, and alcohols. Alkenes are converted into corresponding alcohols in a subsequent step by hydration of the alkanes. Before the hydration and after the catalytic conversion, gas and liquid phases may be separated. Specific catalysts can be employed that have a markedly higher selectivity for alkenes than for alkanes. These catalysts comprise grains of non-graphitic carbon having cobalt nanoparticles dispersed therein. The cobalt nanoparticles have an average diameter d.sub.p from 1 to 20 nm, and an average distance D between nanoparticles is from 2 to 150 nm. The combined total mass fraction of metal ? in the grains ranges from 30% to 70% by weight of the total mass of the grains of non-graphitic carbon, wherein 4.5 dp/?>D?0.25 dp/?.