Systems and methods for processing a C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 hydrocarbon mixture have been disclosed. The C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 hydrocarbon mixture is first processed in an isomerization unit to isomerize n-butane to form isobutane. The resulting effluent stream from the isomerization unit comprising primarily isobutane and C.sub.3 hydrocarbons, collectively, is flowed into a separation unit configured to separate the effluent stream to form a C.sub.3 stream comprising C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 hydrocarbons and a C.sub.4 stream comprising primarily isobutane. The isobutane in the C.sub.4 stream is further dehydrogenated to form isobutene, which is further flowed into an MTBE synthesis unit as a feedstock for producing MTBE.

The present invention concerns a process (100) for the production of a butylene product (9) in which a component mixture (2) containing butane, butylene and hydrogen is provided using a butane hydrogenation (10) to which a reaction feed (1) containing butane and hydrogen is subjected, the component mixture (2) or part thereof being subjected as a first separation feed to a first membrane separation (40), by means of which a first permeate (3) enriched in hydrogen with respect to the first separation feed and a first retentate (4) depleted in hydrogen with respect to the first separation feed and containing hydrogen, butane and butylene are formed, the first retentate (4) or part thereof being subjected to a second membrane separation (50) as a second separation feed, in which a second permeate (6) containing at least the predominant part of the hydrogen of the second separation feed and a second retentate containing at least the predominant part of the butane and the butylene of the second separation feed are formed, wherein the first membrane separation (40) is carried out using a sweep gas (5) containing butane and the first permeate (3) is obtained as permeate (3) charged with butane of the sweep gas (5) and/or the second membrane separation (50) is carried out using the sweep gas (5) containing butane and the second permeate (6) is obtained as permeate (6) charged with butane of the sweep gas (5), and wherein the first permeate (3) charged with butane of the sweep gas (5) and/or the second permeate (3) charged with butane of the sweep gas or one or more parts thereof is used in the formation of the reaction feed (1). A corresponding plant is also the subject of this invention.

The present invention concerns a process (100) for the production of a butylene product (9) in which a component mixture (2) containing butane, butylene and hydrogen is provided using a butane hydrogenation (10) to which a reaction feed (1) containing butane and hydrogen is subjected, the component mixture (2) or part thereof being subjected as a first separation feed to a first membrane separation (40), by means of which a first permeate (3) enriched in hydrogen with respect to the first separation feed and a first retentate (4) depleted in hydrogen with respect to the first separation feed and containing hydrogen, butane and butylene are formed, the first retentate (4) or part thereof being subjected to a second membrane separation (50) as a second separation feed, in which a second permeate (6) containing at least the predominant part of the hydrogen of the second separation feed and a second retentate containing at least the predominant part of the butane and the butylene of the second separation feed are formed, wherein the first membrane separation (40) is carried out using a sweep gas (5) containing butane and the first permeate (3) is obtained as permeate (3) charged with butane of the sweep gas (5) and/or the second membrane separation (50) is carried out using the sweep gas (5) containing butane and the second permeate (6) is obtained as permeate (6) charged with butane of the sweep gas (5), and wherein the first permeate (3) charged with butane of the sweep gas (5) and/or the second permeate (3) charged with butane of the sweep gas or one or more parts thereof is used in the formation of the reaction feed (1). A corresponding plant is also the subject of this invention.

Methods of and systems for producing an olefin are disclosed. A paraffin is dehydrogenated to produce a mixture comprising the olefin and unreacted paraffin. The mixture is then fed to an extractive distillation unit that uses soybean oil as a solvent to extract at least some n-butane from the mixture.

Methods of and systems for producing an olefin are disclosed. A paraffin is dehydrogenated to produce a mixture comprising the olefin and unreacted paraffin. The mixture is then fed to an extractive distillation unit that uses soybean oil as a solvent to extract at least some n-butane from the mixture.

According to one or more embodiments described herein, a method for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons may include passing a hydrocarbon feed comprising one or more alkanes or alkyl aromatics into a fluidized bed reactor, contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a dehydrogenation catalyst in the fluidized bed reactor to produce a dehydrogenated product and hydrogen, and contacting the hydrogen with an oxygen-rich oxygen carrier material in the fluidized bed reactor to combust the hydrogen and form an oxygen-diminished oxygen carrier material. In additional embodiments, a dual-purpose material may be utilized which has dehydrogenation catalyst and oxygen carrying functionality.

According to one or more embodiments described herein, a method for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons may include passing a hydrocarbon feed comprising one or more alkanes or alkyl aromatics into a fluidized bed reactor, contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a dehydrogenation catalyst in the fluidized bed reactor to produce a dehydrogenated product and hydrogen, and contacting the hydrogen with an oxygen-rich oxygen carrier material in the fluidized bed reactor to combust the hydrogen and form an oxygen-diminished oxygen carrier material. In additional embodiments, a dual-purpose material may be utilized which has dehydrogenation catalyst and oxygen carrying functionality.

A catalyst for converting hydrocarbon, a method of making the same, and a method of using the same are provided. Such a catalyst includes a zeotype microporous material, a binder material, and a metal phosphide, which can be in a range of from 0.01% to 10% by weight of a total weight of the catalyst. For example, such a catalyst can be used to convert light alkene or alkane into aromatic hydrocarbon such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, and a combination thereof. The alkene may be ethylene, propylene, butylene, or a combination thereof. The alkene may be supplied directly or from a stream converted from light alkane such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, or a combination thereof.

A catalyst for converting hydrocarbon, a method of making the same, and a method of using the same are provided. Such a catalyst includes a zeotype microporous material, a binder material, and a metal phosphide, which can be in a range of from 0.01% to 10% by weight of a total weight of the catalyst. For example, such a catalyst can be used to convert light alkene or alkane into aromatic hydrocarbon such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, and a combination thereof. The alkene may be ethylene, propylene, butylene, or a combination thereof. The alkene may be supplied directly or from a stream converted from light alkane such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, or a combination thereof.

The present invention provides a method for selectively functionalizing alkanes through a sequential biocatalytic dehydrogenation followed by isomerization-hydrofunctionalization reaction.