Process for simultaneous dehydration and skeletal isomerization of a feedstock that comprises at least one C.sub.4 monoalcohol and that contains between 0.5 and 50% water, for the purpose of producing C.sub.4 alkenes, with said process operating at a temperature of between 250 and 550° C., under a pressure of between 0.1 and 1 MPa, with an hourly volumetric flow rate of between 0.1 and 10 h.sup.−1, characterized in that it uses a catalyst that comprises at least one non-zeolitic aluminosilicate-type solid.

A method for preparing hydrocarbons is proposed, which comprises, in a catalysis unit (1) using one or more catalysis feed streams (a) containing oxygenates and/or olefins, producing a catalysis product stream (b) containing n-butane, isobutane, 1-butene, 2-butene, isobutene and hydrocarbons with more than four and/or less than four carbon atoms, and which further comprises producing a steam cracking product stream (s) in a steam cracking unit (2) using one or more steam cracking feed streams (g, n, l, r). It is provided that at least the great majority of the hydrocarbons with more than four and/or less than four carbon atoms and the isobutene is eliminated from the catalysis product stream (b) or a part thereof, whereby a stream (g, n) containing at least 5 percent by mole 1-butene and/or 2-butene is formed, and in that this stream (g, n) containing at least 5 percent by mole 1-butene and/or 2-butene or one or more streams (l, r) derived therefrom is or are used as the steam cracking feed stream or streams (g, n, l, r). The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus (100, 200, 300).

A method for preparing hydrocarbons is proposed, which comprises, in a catalysis unit (1) using one or more catalysis feed streams (a) containing oxygenates and/or olefins, producing a catalysis product stream (b) containing n-butane, isobutane, 1-butene, 2-butene, isobutene and hydrocarbons with more than four and/or less than four carbon atoms, and which further comprises producing a steam cracking product stream (s) in a steam cracking unit (2) using one or more steam cracking feed streams (g, n, l, r). It is provided that at least the great majority of the hydrocarbons with more than four and/or less than four carbon atoms and the isobutene is eliminated from the catalysis product stream (b) or a part thereof, whereby a stream (g, n) containing at least 5 percent by mole 1-butene and/or 2-butene is formed, and in that this stream (g, n) containing at least 5 percent by mole 1-butene and/or 2-butene or one or more streams (l, r) derived therefrom is or are used as the steam cracking feed stream or streams (g, n, l, r). The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus (100, 200, 300).

A method for producing hydrocarbons is proposed wherein a catalysis product stream (b) rich in n-butane, isobutane, 1-butene, 2-butene, isobutene and hydrocarbons with more than four and/or less than four carbon atoms is produced in a catalysis unit (1), using one or more catalyst feed streams containing oxygenates and/or olefins (a) and wherein additionally a steam cracking product stream (h) is produced in a steam cracking unit (2) using one or more steam cracking feed streams (g, r, s). It is provided that using the catalysis product stream (b) a skeletal isomerisation feed stream (f, q) poor in 1-butene, 2-butene and isobutene and containing at least isobutane is produced, in which the isobutane is at least predominantly reacted by skeletal isomerisation to form n-butane, and which is subsequently used at least partly as the, or one of the, steam cracking feed streams (g, r). The invention also relates to an apparatus (100, 200).

A method for producing hydrocarbons is proposed wherein a catalysis product stream (b) rich in n-butane, isobutane, 1-butene, 2-butene, isobutene and hydrocarbons with more than four and/or less than four carbon atoms is produced in a catalysis unit (1), using one or more catalyst feed streams containing oxygenates and/or olefins (a) and wherein additionally a steam cracking product stream (h) is produced in a steam cracking unit (2) using one or more steam cracking feed streams (g, r, s). It is provided that using the catalysis product stream (b) a skeletal isomerisation feed stream (f, q) poor in 1-butene, 2-butene and isobutene and containing at least isobutane is produced, in which the isobutane is at least predominantly reacted by skeletal isomerisation to form n-butane, and which is subsequently used at least partly as the, or one of the, steam cracking feed streams (g, r). The invention also relates to an apparatus (100, 200).

A process for producing olefins comprising introducing butane feed (n-butane, i-butane) and hydrogen to hydrogenolysis reactor comprising hydrogenolysis catalyst to produce a hydrogenolysis product stream (hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane, i-butane, optionally n-butane, optionally C.sub.5+ hydrocarbons); and feeding the hydrogenolysis product stream and hydrogen to hydrocracking reactor comprising a hydrocracking catalyst to produce hydrocracking product stream (hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane, i-butane, optionally n-butane), wherein the amount of i-butane in the hydrocracking product stream is less than in the hydrogenolysis product stream, and wherein the amount of ethane in the hydrocracking product stream is greater than in the hydrogenolysis product stream. The hydrocracking product stream is separated into first hydrogen stream, first methane stream, first C.sub.2+ gas stream (ethane, propane), first C.sub.4s stream (i-butane, optionally n-butane), optionally C.sub.5+ stream; and the first C.sub.2+ gas stream is fed to gas steam cracker to produce a steam cracker product stream comprising olefins (ethylene, propylene).

A process for producing olefins comprising introducing butane feed (n-butane, i-butane) and hydrogen to hydrogenolysis reactor comprising hydrogenolysis catalyst to produce a hydrogenolysis product stream (hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane, i-butane, optionally n-butane, optionally C.sub.5+ hydrocarbons); and feeding the hydrogenolysis product stream and hydrogen to hydrocracking reactor comprising a hydrocracking catalyst to produce hydrocracking product stream (hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane, i-butane, optionally n-butane), wherein the amount of i-butane in the hydrocracking product stream is less than in the hydrogenolysis product stream, and wherein the amount of ethane in the hydrocracking product stream is greater than in the hydrogenolysis product stream. The hydrocracking product stream is separated into first hydrogen stream, first methane stream, first C.sub.2+ gas stream (ethane, propane), first C.sub.4s stream (i-butane, optionally n-butane), optionally C.sub.5+ stream; and the first C.sub.2+ gas stream is fed to gas steam cracker to produce a steam cracker product stream comprising olefins (ethylene, propylene).

Rare earth element containing catalysts for dehydrogenating paraffins and the methods of making the catalysts are disclosed. A rare earth modified alumina support in eta-alumina form, theta-alumina form, or combinations thereof is impregnated with chromium-containing solution. The chromium-impregnated support is then subjected to calcination processes. The produced catalyst contains the rare earth element, chromium, and alumina. The crush strength of the produced catalyst is greater than 0.4 daN/mm.

Rare earth element containing catalysts for dehydrogenating paraffins and the methods of making the catalysts are disclosed. A rare earth modified alumina support in eta-alumina form, theta-alumina form, or combinations thereof is impregnated with chromium-containing solution. The chromium-impregnated support is then subjected to calcination processes. The produced catalyst contains the rare earth element, chromium, and alumina. The crush strength of the produced catalyst is greater than 0.4 daN/mm.

System and method for producing 1-butene are disclosed. The method includes dehydrogenating butane to form a mixture comprising butene isomers. 1-butene is separated from the mixture using a system that includes a membrane. The system also includes an isomerizing unit for isomerizing cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene to form additional 1-butene.