A method of reducing a C—O bond to the corresponding C—H bond in a substrate, which could be a benzylic alcohol, allylic alcohol, ester or an ether bond beta to a hydroxyl group or alpha to a carbonyl group using a recyclable metal catalyst system. The recyclable catalyst system is also applicable to reducing a C═O bond to the corresponding C—OH bond and then C—H bond. These methodologies can be linked in one-pot to selective oxidation and depolymerizations of aromatic polyols such as lignin.

The invention relates to the field of gas chemistry and, more specifically, to methods and devices for producing aromatic hydrocarbons from natural gas, which involve producing synthesis gas, converting same into methanol producing, from the methanol, in the presence of a catalyst, a concentrate of aromatic hydrocarbons and water, separating the water, air stripping hydrocarbon residues from the water, and separating-out the resultant concentrate of aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrogen-containing gas, the latter being at least partially used in the production of synthesis gas to adjust the ratio therein of H.sub.2:CO 1.8-2.3:1, and can be used for producing aromatic hydrocarbons. According to the invention, the production of aromatic hydrocarbons from methanol in the presence of a catalyst is carried out in two consecutively-connected reactors for synthesizing aromatic hydrocarbons: in a first, low-temperature isothermal reactor for synthesizing aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, and in a second, high-temperature adiabatic reactor for synthesizing aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons from aliphatic hydrocarbons formed in the first reactor, and the subsequent stabilization thereof in an aromatic hydrocarbon concentrate stabilization unit. At least a portion of the hydrogen-containing gas is fed to a synthesis gas production unit and is used for producing synthesis gas using autothermal reforming technology. The installation carries out the method. The achieved technical result consists in increasing the efficiency of producing concentrates of aromatic hydrocarbons.

The invention relates to the field of gas chemistry and, more specifically, to methods and devices for producing aromatic hydrocarbons from natural gas, which involve producing synthesis gas, converting same into methanol producing, from the methanol, in the presence of a catalyst, a concentrate of aromatic hydrocarbons and water, separating the water, air stripping hydrocarbon residues from the water, and separating-out the resultant concentrate of aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrogen-containing gas, the latter being at least partially used in the production of synthesis gas to adjust the ratio therein of H.sub.2:CO 1.8-2.3:1, and can be used for producing aromatic hydrocarbons. According to the invention, the production of aromatic hydrocarbons from methanol in the presence of a catalyst is carried out in two consecutively-connected reactors for synthesizing aromatic hydrocarbons: in a first, low-temperature isothermal reactor for synthesizing aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, and in a second, high-temperature adiabatic reactor for synthesizing aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons from aliphatic hydrocarbons formed in the first reactor, and the subsequent stabilization thereof in an aromatic hydrocarbon concentrate stabilization unit. At least a portion of the hydrogen-containing gas is fed to a synthesis gas production unit and is used for producing synthesis gas using autothermal reforming technology. The installation carries out the method. The achieved technical result consists in increasing the efficiency of producing concentrates of aromatic hydrocarbons.

The present invention relates to a device and a process for converting aromatic compounds, wherein: methyl-substituted aromatic compounds are extracted from a hydrocarbon feedstock (2) comprising aromatic compounds having at least 8 carbon atoms in an extraction unit (1), to produce at least one effluent enriched in methyl-substituted aromatic compounds (3A, 3B) and an effluent depleted in methyl-substituted aromatic compounds (4); and C2+ alkyl chains of the aromatic compounds of the depleted effluent (4) are converted into methyl groups in a hydrogenolysis unit (5) placed downstream of the extraction unit (1), to produce a hydrogenolysis effluent enriched in methyl-substituted aromatic compounds (7).

The present invention relates to a device and a process for converting aromatic compounds, wherein: methyl-substituted aromatic compounds are extracted from a hydrocarbon feedstock (2) comprising aromatic compounds having at least 8 carbon atoms in an extraction unit (1), to produce at least one effluent enriched in methyl-substituted aromatic compounds (3A, 3B) and an effluent depleted in methyl-substituted aromatic compounds (4); and C2+ alkyl chains of the aromatic compounds of the depleted effluent (4) are converted into methyl groups in a hydrogenolysis unit (5) placed downstream of the extraction unit (1), to produce a hydrogenolysis effluent enriched in methyl-substituted aromatic compounds (7).

The present invention relates to a hydrogenolysis process wherein a hydrocarbon-based feedstock comprising aromatic compounds having at least 8 carbon atoms is treated by means of a hydrogen feed and in the presence of a catalyst, in order to convert C2+ alkyl chains of said aromatic compounds into methyl groups and to produce a hydrogenolysis effluent enriched in methyl-substituted aromatic compounds, wherein the catalyst comprises a support, comprising at least one refractory oxide, and an active phase comprising nickel and molybdenum, wherein: the nickel content being between 0.1 and 25% by weight relative to the total weight of the catalyst; the molybdenum content being between 0.1 and 20% by weight relative to the total weight of the catalyst; and the catalyst comprising a molar ratio of molybdenum to nickel of between 0.2 and 0.9. The present invention also relates to said catalyst and to the process for preparing said catalyst.

The present invention relates to a hydrogenolysis process wherein a hydrocarbon-based feedstock comprising aromatic compounds having at least 8 carbon atoms is treated by means of a hydrogen feed and in the presence of a catalyst, in order to convert C2+ alkyl chains of said aromatic compounds into methyl groups and to produce a hydrogenolysis effluent enriched in methyl-substituted aromatic compounds, wherein the catalyst comprises a support, comprising at least one refractory oxide, and an active phase comprising nickel and molybdenum, wherein: the nickel content being between 0.1 and 25% by weight relative to the total weight of the catalyst; the molybdenum content being between 0.1 and 20% by weight relative to the total weight of the catalyst; and the catalyst comprising a molar ratio of molybdenum to nickel of between 0.2 and 0.9. The present invention also relates to said catalyst and to the process for preparing said catalyst.

An apparatus and method for producing hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons and/or lower olefins including propylene from CO H.sub.2 while inhibiting reduction in catalyst activity and enhancing selectivity. The apparatus produces hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons having 6-10 carbon atoms and/or lower olefins including propylene, and is provided: a first supply unit which supplies a raw material gas containing CO and H.sub.2; and a hydrocarbon production unit to which the raw material gas is supplied from the first supply unit, and which produces the hydrocarbons from CO and H.sub.2 contained in the raw material gas while heating a catalyst structure at a temperature of 150° C. or more and less than 300° C. or at a temperature of 350° C. or more and less than 550° C., the catalyst structure includes supports having a porous structure and including a zeolite-type compound, and a metal fine particle present in the supports, the supports have channels communicating with outside the supports, and a portion of the channels have an average inner diameter of 0.95 nm or less.

An apparatus and method for producing hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons and/or lower olefins including propylene from CO H.sub.2 while inhibiting reduction in catalyst activity and enhancing selectivity. The apparatus produces hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons having 6-10 carbon atoms and/or lower olefins including propylene, and is provided: a first supply unit which supplies a raw material gas containing CO and H.sub.2; and a hydrocarbon production unit to which the raw material gas is supplied from the first supply unit, and which produces the hydrocarbons from CO and H.sub.2 contained in the raw material gas while heating a catalyst structure at a temperature of 150° C. or more and less than 300° C. or at a temperature of 350° C. or more and less than 550° C., the catalyst structure includes supports having a porous structure and including a zeolite-type compound, and a metal fine particle present in the supports, the supports have channels communicating with outside the supports, and a portion of the channels have an average inner diameter of 0.95 nm or less.

Provided is a method of alkylating an aromatic compound comprising contacting an aromatic compound and an alkylating agent in the presence of UCB-3 as a catalyst under reaction conditions suitable for aromatic alkylation. The aromatic compound preferably comprises benzene or toluene and the alkylation agent preferably comprises an olefin or alcohol. Lower temperature ranges can be used for the reaction, for example in the range of from 100 to 300° C.