A process is useful for the oligomerization of short-chain olefins in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is kept in a dry atmosphere prior to being used in the process.

A process is useful for the isomerization of C.sub.4 to C.sub.9 olefins having an internal double bond into the corresponding olefins having a terminal double bond using a heterogeneous catalyst system of a silicon-aluminium mixed oxide composition.

Provided herein is a unique process that prepares a saturated hydrocarbon mixture with well-controlled structural characteristics that address the performance requirements driven by the stricter environmental and fuel economy regulations for automotive engine oils. The process allows for the branching characteristics of the hydrocarbon molecules to be controlled so as to consistently provide a composition that has a surprising CCS viscosity at −35° C. (ASTM D5329) and Noack volatility (ASTM D5800) relationship. The process comprises providing a specific olefinic feedstock, oligomerizing in the presence of a BF.sub.3 catalyst, and hydroisomerizing in the presence of a noble-metal impregnated, 10-member ring zeolite catalyst.

Systems and methods for upgrading a heavy oil feed to a light product comprising distillate fractions and olefins, the method including combining a heavy oil feed with a naphtha-based cracking additive to produce a mixed heavy oil feed; heating the mixed heavy oil feed with a nano-zeolite catalyst to effect catalytic upgrading of the mixed heavy oil feed to produce lighter distillate fractions and olefins in an upgraded product; and separating the lighter distillate fractions from the olefins.

Provided here are methods and systems to enhance the production of ethylene and MTBE from propylene using integrated metathesis and cracking processes. Also disclosed is a method for producing ethylene by at least partially metathesizing propylene in the presence of a metathesis catalyst in a reactor to produce ethylene and butenes, and at least partially cracking the butenes to further produce ethylene using a cracking catalyst positioned downstream of the metathesis catalyst in the same reactor, and further producing MTBE.

A process is provided for converting mevalonic acid into various useful products and derivatives. More particularly, the process comprises reacting mevalonic acid, or a solution comprising mevalonic acid, in the presence of a solid catalyst at an elevated temperature and pressure to thereby form various biobased products. The process may also comprise: (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 the biobased mevalonic acid in the presence of a solid catalyst at an elevated temperature and pressure to yield various biobased products.

The present disclosure is directed to microporous crystalline aluminosilicate structures with GME topologies having pores containing organic structure directing agents (OSDAs) comprising at least one piperidinium cation, the compositions useful for making these structures, and methods of using these structures. In some embodiments, the crystalline zeolite structures have a molar ratio of Si:Al that is greater than 3.5.

Processes and multiple-stage catalyst systems are disclosed for producing propylene from butene by at least partially metathesizing butene in a metathesizing reaction zone having a metathesis catalyst to form a metathesis reaction product and at least partially cracking the metathesis reaction product in a cracking reaction zone having a cracking catalyst to form a cracking reaction product that includes propylene. The metathesis catalyst may be a mesoporous silica-alumina catalyst support impregnated with metal oxide having a mesoporous silica-alumina catalyst support comprising from 5 weight percent to 50 weight percent alumina. The cracking catalyst may be a MFI structured silica-containing catalyst. The cracking reaction zone may be downstream of the metathesis reaction zone.

Forming a diene includes contacting a reactant including at least one of a cyclic ether and a diol with a heterogeneous acid catalyst to yield a reaction mixture including a diene. The heterogeneous acid catalyst includes at least one of a Lewis acid catalyst, a supported Lewis-acid catalyst, a Brnsted acid catalyst, a solid acid catalyst, a supported phosphoric acid catalyst, and a sulfonated catalyst. The dehydration of cyclic ethers and diols with high selectivity to yield dienes completes pathways for the production of dienes, such as isoprene and butadiene, from biomass in high yields, thereby promoting economical production of dienes from renewable resources.

Provided herein is a unique process that prepares a saturated hydrocarbon mixture with well-controlled structural characteristics that address the performance requirements driven by the stricter environmental and fuel economy regulations for automotive engine oils. The process allows for the branching characteristics of the hydrocarbon molecules to be controlled so as to consistently provide a composition that has a surprising CCS viscosity at 35 C. (ASTM D5329) and Noack volatility (ASTM D5800) relationship. The process comprises providing a specific olefinic feedstock, oligomerizing in the presence of a BF.sub.3 catalyst, and hydroisomerizing in the presence of a noble-metal impregnated, 10-member ring zeolite catalyst.