A process for producing isooctane by introducing a butane feed stream (containing n-butane, i-butane) and hydrogen into a catalytic hydrogenolysis reactor to produce a hydrogenolysis product stream; separating the hydrogenolysis product stream into a butane stream (i-butane, optionally n-butane); feeding the butane stream to a catalytic dehydrogenation reactor to produce a dehydrogenation product stream comprising saturated and unsaturated four-carbon hydrocarbons; and feeding the dehydrogenation product stream to an oligomerization unit to produce isooctene and dehydrogenating the isooctene to produce isooctane.

Processes are described for separating 3,4- and 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl from a mixture comprising at least 3,3-, 3,4- and 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl. In the processes, the mixture is cooled to produce a crystallization product comprising at least of the 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl from the feed mixture and a first mother liquor product. The first mother liquor product is distilled to produce a bottoms stream enriched in 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl as compared with the first mother liquor product and an overhead stream deficient in 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl as compared with the first mother liquor product. The overhead stream is then cooled to produce a second crystallization product comprising at least part of the 3,4-dimethylbiphenyl from the overhead stream and a second mother liquor product.

Processes are described for separating 3,4- and 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl from a mixture comprising at least 3,3-, 3,4- and 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl. In the processes, the mixture is cooled to produce a crystallization product comprising at least of the 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl from the feed mixture and a first mother liquor product. The first mother liquor product is distilled to produce a bottoms stream enriched in 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl as compared with the first mother liquor product and an overhead stream deficient in 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl as compared with the first mother liquor product. The overhead stream is then cooled to produce a second crystallization product comprising at least part of the 3,4-dimethylbiphenyl from the overhead stream and a second mother liquor product.

Processes are described for separating 3,4- and 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl from a mixture comprising at least 3,3-, 3,4- and 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl. In the processes, the mixture is cooled to produce a crystallization product comprising at least of the 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl from the feed mixture and a first mother liquor product. The first mother liquor product is distilled to produce a bottoms stream enriched in 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl as compared with the first mother liquor product and an overhead stream deficient in 4,4-dimethylbiphenyl as compared with the first mother liquor product. The overhead stream is then cooled to produce a second crystallization product comprising at least part of the 3,4-dimethylbiphenyl from the overhead stream and a second mother liquor product.

Disclosed are a process for abating 3-cyclohexenone from a feed mixture comprising 3-cylclohexenone and cyclohexanone, comprising a hydrogenation step of contacting the feed mixture with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions to obtain a hydrogenated mixture, cyclohexanone-containing products comprising 3-cyclohexenone and/or 2-cyclohexenone at low concentrations, and compositions of matter useful for making such cyclohexanone-containing products, particularly by using such processes.

Disclosed are a process for abating 3-cyclohexenone from a feed mixture comprising 3-cylclohexenone and cyclohexanone, comprising a hydrogenation step of contacting the feed mixture with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions to obtain a hydrogenated mixture, cyclohexanone-containing products comprising 3-cyclohexenone and/or 2-cyclohexenone at low concentrations, and compositions of matter useful for making such cyclohexanone-containing products, particularly by using such processes.

A process for selective oxidation of at least one dimethylbiphenyl compound to the corresponding biphenyldicarboxylic acid, where the dimethylbiphenyl compound is supplied to at least one reaction zone together with an acidic solvent, an oxidizing medium, and a catalyst comprising cobalt, manganese, and bromine. The dimethyl biphenyl compound and oxidizing medium are contacted with the catalyst in the at least one reaction zone at a temperature of 150 to 210 C. to oxidize the dimethylbiphenyl compound to the corresponding biphenyldicarboxylic acid. The supply of dimethylbiphenyl compound to the at least one reaction zone is then terminated, but the supply of oxidizing medium and catalyst is continued with the at least one reaction zone at a temperature of 150 to 210 C. A reaction product comprising at least 95 wt % of the biphenyldicarboxylic acid based on the total weight of oxidized dimethylbiphenyl compound is then recovered from the at least one reaction zone.

A process for selective oxidation of at least one dimethylbiphenyl compound to the corresponding biphenyldicarboxylic acid, where the dimethylbiphenyl compound is supplied to at least one reaction zone together with an acidic solvent, an oxidizing medium, and a catalyst comprising cobalt, manganese, and bromine. The dimethyl biphenyl compound and oxidizing medium are contacted with the catalyst in the at least one reaction zone at a temperature of 150 to 210 C. to oxidize the dimethylbiphenyl compound to the corresponding biphenyldicarboxylic acid. The supply of dimethylbiphenyl compound to the at least one reaction zone is then terminated, but the supply of oxidizing medium and catalyst is continued with the at least one reaction zone at a temperature of 150 to 210 C. A reaction product comprising at least 95 wt % of the biphenyldicarboxylic acid based on the total weight of oxidized dimethylbiphenyl compound is then recovered from the at least one reaction zone.

The present disclosure relates generally to processes and systems for producing liquid transportation fuels by converting a feed stream that comprises both isopentane and n-pentane, and optionally, some C6+ hydrocarbons. Isopentane and smaller hydrocarbons are separated to form a first fraction while n-pentane and larger components of the feed stock form a second fraction. Each fraction is then catalytically-activated in a separate reaction zone with a separate catalyst, where the conditions maintained in each zone maximize the conversion of each fraction to olefins and aromatics, while minimizing the production of C1-C4 light paraffins. In certain embodiments, the first fraction is activated at a lower temperature than the second fraction. Certain embodiments additionally comprise mixing at least a portion of the two effluents and contacting with an alkylation catalyst to provide enhanced yields of mono-alkylated aromatics that are suitable for use as a blend component of liquid transportation fuels or other value-added chemical products.

The present disclosure relates generally to processes and systems for producing liquid transportation fuels by converting a feed stream that comprises both isopentane and n-pentane, and optionally, some C6+ hydrocarbons. Isopentane and smaller hydrocarbons are separated to form a first fraction while n-pentane and larger components of the feed stock form a second fraction. Each fraction is then catalytically-activated in a separate reaction zone with a separate catalyst, where the conditions maintained in each zone maximize the conversion of each fraction to olefins and aromatics, while minimizing the production of C1-C4 light paraffins. In certain embodiments, the first fraction is activated at a lower temperature than the second fraction. Certain embodiments additionally comprise mixing at least a portion of the two effluents and contacting with an alkylation catalyst to provide enhanced yields of mono-alkylated aromatics that are suitable for use as a blend component of liquid transportation fuels or other value-added chemical products.