A skeletal isomerization process for isomerizing olefins is described. The process utilizes added hydrogen as a diluent to extend the isomerization catalyst's lifetime and increase the yield of skeletal isomer products compared to process that utilize inert gas diluents. The methods of this disclosure can be applied to feeds containing iso-olefins (for the production of linear olefins) or linear olefins (for the production of iso-olefins).

A skeletal isomerization process for isomerizing olefins is described. The process utilizes added hydrogen as a diluent to extend the isomerization catalyst's lifetime and increase the yield of skeletal isomer products compared to process that utilize inert gas diluents. The methods of this disclosure can be applied to feeds containing iso-olefins (for the production of linear olefins) or linear olefins (for the production of iso-olefins).

Methods of converting isobutylene to C5+ compounds. The methods may include contacting isobutylene with a skeletal isomerization catalyst to provide a mixture of C.sub.4 olefins, and then contacting the mixture of C.sub.4 olefins with a metathesis catalyst to convert the mixture of C.sub.4 olefins to a product mixture. The product mixture may include C.sub.5+ olefins.

Methods of converting isobutylene to C5+ compounds. The methods may include contacting isobutylene with a skeletal isomerization catalyst to provide a mixture of C.sub.4 olefins, and then contacting the mixture of C.sub.4 olefins with a metathesis catalyst to convert the mixture of C.sub.4 olefins to a product mixture. The product mixture may include C.sub.5+ olefins.

Processes and apparatuses for producing a C.sub.8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The process comprises introducing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter column to provide a plurality of streams. One or more streams comprising at least one stream from the plurality of streams is passed to a reformate upgrading unit to obtain an upgraded reformate stream. The upgraded reformate stream is passed to an aromatics stripper column to provide an aromatics stripper sidedraw stream comprising C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbons. The aromatics stripper sidedraw stream is passed to a xylene separation unit to provide the C.sub.8 aromatic isomer product and a raffinate product stream. At least a portion of the raffinate product stream is processed in a liquid phase isomerization unit to obtain an isomerized stream.

Processes and apparatuses for producing a C.sub.8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The process comprises introducing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter column to provide a plurality of streams. One or more streams comprising at least one stream from the plurality of streams is passed to a reformate upgrading unit to obtain an upgraded reformate stream. The upgraded reformate stream is passed to an aromatics stripper column to provide an aromatics stripper sidedraw stream comprising C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbons. The aromatics stripper sidedraw stream is passed to a xylene separation unit to provide the C.sub.8 aromatic isomer product and a raffinate product stream. At least a portion of the raffinate product stream is processed in a liquid phase isomerization unit to obtain an isomerized stream.

A process for aromatizing hydrocarbons comprises: converting at least a portion of highly branched hydrocarbons in a feed stream into selectively convertible components, and aromatizing the selectively convertible components to produce an aromatization reactor effluent. The aromatization reactor effluent comprises an aromatic product. Converting at least the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons into the selectively convertible components may include contacting the feed stream with an isomerization catalyst in an isomerization reaction system under isomerization reaction conditions; and isomerizing the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons in the feed stream into the selectively convertible components.

A process for aromatizing hydrocarbons comprises: converting at least a portion of highly branched hydrocarbons in a feed stream into selectively convertible components, and aromatizing the selectively convertible components to produce an aromatization reactor effluent. The aromatization reactor effluent comprises an aromatic product. Converting at least the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons into the selectively convertible components may include contacting the feed stream with an isomerization catalyst in an isomerization reaction system under isomerization reaction conditions; and isomerizing the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons in the feed stream into the selectively convertible components.

A method for preparing polybutene includes the steps of: supplying a C4 mixture to an isomerization reactor in which (i) 1-butene is isomerized into 2-butene by a hydrogen isomerization reaction using an isomerization catalyst in an isomerization zone of the isomerization reactor and (ii) iso-butene and 2-butene are separated by fractional distillation in a fractional distillation zone; supplying a C4 mixture containing 2-butene which is separated in the isomerization reactor to a skeletal isomerization reactor, in which a part of normal-butene is skeletal isomerized into iso-butene by a skeletal isomerization reaction using a skeletal isomerization catalyst, and the obtained skeletal isomerization mixture is supplied and recycled to the isomerization reactor; and supplying (i) a raw material containing the iso-butene of high concentration and which is separated from the isomerization reactor and (ii) a polymerization catalyst to a polybutene polymerization reactor and thereby producing polybutene by a polymerization reaction.

A method for preparing polybutene includes the steps of: supplying a C4 mixture to an isomerization reactor in which (i) 1-butene is isomerized into 2-butene by a hydrogen isomerization reaction using an isomerization catalyst in an isomerization zone of the isomerization reactor and (ii) iso-butene and 2-butene are separated by fractional distillation in a fractional distillation zone; supplying a C4 mixture containing 2-butene which is separated in the isomerization reactor to a skeletal isomerization reactor, in which a part of normal-butene is skeletal isomerized into iso-butene by a skeletal isomerization reaction using a skeletal isomerization catalyst, and the obtained skeletal isomerization mixture is supplied and recycled to the isomerization reactor; and supplying (i) a raw material containing the iso-butene of high concentration and which is separated from the isomerization reactor and (ii) a polymerization catalyst to a polybutene polymerization reactor and thereby producing polybutene by a polymerization reaction.