The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells wherein the cells in the stationary phase. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells and/or increased amount of isoprene. The invention also provides for systems that include a non-flammable concentration of isoprene in the gas phase. Additionally, the invention provides isoprene compositions, such as compositions with increased amount of isoprene or increased purity.

The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells wherein the cells in the stationary phase. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells and/or increased amount of isoprene. The invention also provides for systems that include a non-flammable concentration of isoprene in the gas phase. Additionally, the invention provides isoprene compositions, such as compositions with increased amount of isoprene or increased purity.

Processes to selectively crack alkyne compounds from a hydrocarbon stream including olefinic and di-olefinic compounds are described. The process includes contacting the hydrocarbon stream with a supported CuO catalyst under conditions sufficient to crack the alkynes to form a product stream that included cracked compounds and further separating the cracked organic compounds from the hydrocarbon stream.

Processes to selectively crack alkyne compounds from a hydrocarbon stream including olefinic and di-olefinic compounds are described. The process includes contacting the hydrocarbon stream with a supported CuO catalyst under conditions sufficient to crack the alkynes to form a product stream that included cracked compounds and further separating the cracked organic compounds from the hydrocarbon stream.

Methods for the selective hydrogenation of acetylenic compounds in a product stream that includes isoprene. A method of selectively hydrogenating an acetylenic hydrocarbon in the presence of isoprene may include obtaining a hydrocarbon mixture comprising an acetylenic hydrocarbon, isoprene, and butadiene or cyclopentadiene, or both. If cyclopentadiene is present, the hydrocarbon mixture may comprise greater than 2 wt. % cyclopentadiene. The method may further include contacting the hydrocarbon mixture and hydrogen (H.sub.2) with a hydrogenation catalyst under reaction conditions that are more selective to the hydrogenation of the acetylenic hydrocarbon than the isoprene.

Methods for the selective hydrogenation of acetylenic compounds in a product stream that includes isoprene. A method of selectively hydrogenating an acetylenic hydrocarbon in the presence of isoprene may include obtaining a hydrocarbon mixture comprising an acetylenic hydrocarbon, isoprene, and butadiene or cyclopentadiene, or both. If cyclopentadiene is present, the hydrocarbon mixture may comprise greater than 2 wt. % cyclopentadiene. The method may further include contacting the hydrocarbon mixture and hydrogen (H.sub.2) with a hydrogenation catalyst under reaction conditions that are more selective to the hydrogenation of the acetylenic hydrocarbon than the isoprene.

The present invention relates to production processes for reactive monomer species. The method described herein may be used in a variety of reactive monomer production processes to optimize the use of polymerization inhibitor compounds, which may lead to further advantages such as debottlenecking or elimination of process plant separation unit(s). The method provides for the separation of oligomeric/polymeric species, inhibitor compounds and reactive monomer, optionally in the presence of unreacted raw materials or solvent(s), within the production process by means of membrane filtration, particularly through the use of solvent stable membranes, and in particular by applying organic solvent nanofiltration membranes.

The present invention relates to production processes for reactive monomer species. The method described herein may be used in a variety of reactive monomer production processes to optimize the use of polymerization inhibitor compounds, which may lead to further advantages such as debottlenecking or elimination of process plant separation unit(s). The method provides for the separation of oligomeric/polymeric species, inhibitor compounds and reactive monomer, optionally in the presence of unreacted raw materials or solvent(s), within the production process by means of membrane filtration, particularly through the use of solvent stable membranes, and in particular by applying organic solvent nanofiltration membranes.

The present invention relates to production processes for reactive monomer species. The method described herein may be used in a variety of reactive monomer production processes to optimize the use of polymerization inhibitor compounds, which may lead to further advantages such as debottlenecking or elimination of process plant separation unit(s). The method provides for the separation of oligomeric/polymeric species, inhibitor compounds and reactive monomer, optionally in the presence of unreacted raw materials or solvent(s), within the production process by means of membrane filtration, particularly through the use of solvent stable membranes, and in particular by applying organic solvent nanofiltration membranes.

The present disclosure provides novel polypeptides with 3-buten-2-ol dehydratase activity, polypeptides with catalytic activity in the conversion of 3-methyl-3-buten-2-ol to isoprene, and crystal structure data for one of such polypeptides. Methods of making and using the polypeptides and their related crystal structure data are also provided.