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.

A system and a method for isomerizing a 2-butene feed stream to form a 1-butene product stream are provided. An exemplary method includes calcining the red mud, flowing a butene feedstock over the red mud in an isomerization reactor, and separating 1-butene from a reactor effluent.

A system and a method for isomerizing a 2-butene feed stream to form a 1-butene product stream are provided. An exemplary method includes calcining the red mud, flowing a butene feedstock over the red mud in an isomerization reactor, and separating 1-butene from a reactor effluent.

A systems and a method for isomerizing a feedstock to form an alpha-olefin product stream are provided. An exemplary method includes calcining the red mud, flowing an olefin feedstock over the red mud in an isomerization reactor, and separating the alpha-olefin from a reactor effluent.

A systems and a method for isomerizing a feedstock to form an alpha-olefin product stream are provided. An exemplary method includes calcining the red mud, flowing an olefin feedstock over the red mud in an isomerization reactor, and separating the alpha-olefin from a reactor effluent.

Processes and systems for the conversion of propylene to ethylene may include introducing a propylene feed stream to a C3 metathesis reactor, converting the propylene to ethylene and 2-butene. The metathesis reactor effluent may be recovered and separated in a fractionation system to recover an ethylene product, a C3 fraction, a C4 fraction, and a C5+ fraction. All or a portion of the C3 fraction may be fed to the C3 metathesis reactor to produce additional ethylene. The C4 fraction may be converted in a C4 isomerization/metathesis reaction zone by: (i) isomerization of 2-butenes to 1-butene, (ii) metathesis of the 1-butene and 2-butene to produce propylene and 2-pentene, and/or (iii) autometathesis of the 1-butene to produce ethylene and 3-hexene. An effluent from the C4 isomerization/metathesis reaction zone may then be recovered and fed from the C4 isomerization/metathesis reaction zone to the fractionation system.

Processes and systems for the conversion of propylene to ethylene may include introducing a propylene feed stream to a C3 metathesis reactor, converting the propylene to ethylene and 2-butene. The metathesis reactor effluent may be recovered and separated in a fractionation system to recover an ethylene product, a C3 fraction, a C4 fraction, and a C5+ fraction. All or a portion of the C3 fraction may be fed to the C3 metathesis reactor to produce additional ethylene. The C4 fraction may be converted in a C4 isomerization/metathesis reaction zone by: (i) isomerization of 2-butenes to 1-butene, (ii) metathesis of the 1-butene and 2-butene to produce propylene and 2-pentene, and/or (iii) autometathesis of the 1-butene to produce ethylene and 3-hexene. An effluent from the C4 isomerization/metathesis reaction zone may then be recovered and fed from the C4 isomerization/metathesis reaction zone to the fractionation system.

A catalyst composition comprising MgO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and one or more further alkaline earth metal oxides, provides for outstanding catalytic production of propylene when employed together with a metathesis catalyst.

One or more embodiments presently disclosed is directed to a method for reacting a chemical stream which may include contacting the chemical stream with a catalyst to produce a product stream. The catalyst may include alumina, silica, and a catalytically active compound such as tungsten.