Aspects of the invention are associated with the discovery of processes for converting methane (CH 4), present in a methane-containing feed that may be obtained from a variety of sources such as natural gas, to higher hydrocarbons (e.g., C.sub.2.sup.+ hydrocarbons) such as C.sub.2 hydrocarbons (e.g., ethane, ethylene, and acetylene) and aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., benzene, one or more C.sub.1- or C.sub.2-substituted benzenes, and/or one or more fused ring aromatic hydrocarbons). Representative processes involve direct, non-oxidative methane conversion (NOMC), such that the need for an oxidant to form CO as an intermediate may advantageously be avoided. This reduces overall complexity and the tendency to promote unwanted side reactions that reduce hydrocarbon yields and lead to CO.sub.2 production.

Provided here are systems and methods that integrate a hydrodearylation process and a transalkylation process into an aromatic recovery complex. Various other embodiments may be disclosed and claimed.

Provided here are systems and methods that integrate a hydrodearylation process and a transalkylation process into an aromatic recovery complex. Various other embodiments may be disclosed and claimed.

Provided are purification methods, comprising: (a) providing an organic solvent and a phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor, wherein the organic solvent has a first boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure (bp.sub.1) and the phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor has a second boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure (bp.sub.2) that satisfy the following inequality (I):
bp.sub.2(1.10)(bp.sub.1)(I); and
(b) heating the organic solvent and the phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor to a temperature causing the organic solvent and phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor to vaporize, and (ii) condensing the vaporized organic solvent and peroxide formation inhibitor to provide a purified mixture of the organic solvent and peroxide formation inhibitor. The methods find particular use in the purification of solvents that are useful in process chemicals for the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Provided are purification methods, comprising: (a) providing an organic solvent and a phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor, wherein the organic solvent has a first boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure (bp.sub.1) and the phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor has a second boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure (bp.sub.2) that satisfy the following inequality (I):
bp.sub.2(1.10)(bp.sub.1)(I); and
(b) heating the organic solvent and the phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor to a temperature causing the organic solvent and phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor to vaporize, and (ii) condensing the vaporized organic solvent and peroxide formation inhibitor to provide a purified mixture of the organic solvent and peroxide formation inhibitor. The methods find particular use in the purification of solvents that are useful in process chemicals for the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Aspects of the invention are associated with the discovery of approaches for the conversion of sour natural gas streams, by conversion to liquid hydrocarbons. Particular processes and their associated apparatuses advantageously combine (i) dehydroaromatization (DHA) of methane in a gaseous feedstock, to produce aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, with (ii) the reaction of H.sub.2S and methane in this feedstock, to produce organic sulfur compounds such as carbon disulfide (CS.sub.2) and thiophene (C.sub.4H.sub.4S). A gaseous product having a reduced concentration of H.sub.2S is thereby generated. The aromatic hydrocarbons and organic sulfur compounds may be recovered in a liquid product. Both the gaseous and liquid products may be easily amenable to further upgrading. Other advantages of the disclosed processes and apparatuses reside in their simplicity, whereby the associated streams, including a potential gaseous recycle, generally avoid high partial pressures of H.sub.2S.

Aspects of the invention are associated with the discovery of approaches for the conversion of sour natural gas streams, by conversion to liquid hydrocarbons. Particular processes and their associated apparatuses advantageously combine (i) dehydroaromatization (DHA) of methane in a gaseous feedstock, to produce aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, with (ii) the reaction of H.sub.2S and methane in this feedstock, to produce organic sulfur compounds such as carbon disulfide (CS.sub.2) and thiophene (C.sub.4H.sub.4S). A gaseous product having a reduced concentration of H.sub.2S is thereby generated. The aromatic hydrocarbons and organic sulfur compounds may be recovered in a liquid product. Both the gaseous and liquid products may be easily amenable to further upgrading. Other advantages of the disclosed processes and apparatuses reside in their simplicity, whereby the associated streams, including a potential gaseous recycle, generally avoid high partial pressures of H.sub.2S.

Provided are purification methods, comprising: (a) providing an organic solvent and a phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor, wherein the organic solvent has a first boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure (bp.sub.1) and the phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor has a second boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure (bp.sub.2) that satisfy the following inequality (I):

bp.sub.2(1.10)(bp.sub.1) (I); and

(b) heating the organic solvent and the phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor to a temperature causing the organic solvent and phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor to vaporize, and (ii) condensing the vaporized organic solvent and peroxide formation inhibitor to provide a purified mixture of the organic solvent and peroxide formation inhibitor. The methods find particular use in the purification of solvents that are useful in process chemicals for the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

Provided are purification methods, comprising: (a) providing an organic solvent and a phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor, wherein the organic solvent has a first boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure (bp.sub.1) and the phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor has a second boiling point at standard atmospheric pressure (bp.sub.2) that satisfy the following inequality (I):

bp.sub.2(1.10)(bp.sub.1) (I); and

(b) heating the organic solvent and the phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor to a temperature causing the organic solvent and phenolic peroxide formation inhibitor to vaporize, and (ii) condensing the vaporized organic solvent and peroxide formation inhibitor to provide a purified mixture of the organic solvent and peroxide formation inhibitor. The methods find particular use in the purification of solvents that are useful in process chemicals for the manufacture of semiconductor devices.

The invention relates to a process comprising reacting mevalonic acid, or a solution comprising mevalonic acid, to yield a first product or first product mixture, optionally in the presence of a solid catalyst and/or at elevated temperature and/or pressure. The invention further relates to a process comprising: (a) providing a microbial organism that expresses a biosynthetic mevalonic acid pathway; (b) growing the microbial organism in fermentation medium comprising suitable carbon substrates, whereby biobased mevalonic acid is produced; and (c) reacting said biobased mevalonic acid to yield a first product or first product mixture.