A process to convert paraffinic feedstocks into renewable poly-alpha-olefins (PAO) basestocks. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, renewable feed comprising triglycerides and/or free fatty acids are hydrotreated producing an intermediate paraffin feedstock. This paraffin feedstock is thermally cracked into a mixture of olefins and paraffins comprising linear alpha olefins. The olefins are separated and the un-reacted paraffins are recycled to the thermal cracker. Light olefins preferably (C2-C6) are oligomerized with a surface deactivated zeolite producing a mixture of slightly branched oligomers comprising internal olefins. The heavier olefins (C6-C16) are oligomerized, preferably with a BF3 catalyst and co-catalyst to produce PAO products. The oligomerized products can be hydrotreated and distilled together or separate to produce finished products that include naphtha, distillate, solvents, and PAO lube basestocks.

A phosphorous modified zeolite (A) can be made by a process that includes selecting a zeolite, steaming the zeolite, leaching the zeolite, separating solids from liquid, and calcining. An olefin product can be made from an oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock by contacting the feedstock with the phosphorous modified zeolite (A) in an XTO reactor under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the feedstock to olefin products. The XTO reactor effluent can include light olefins and a heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The light olefins can be separated from the heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction can be contacted in an OCP reactor at conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon fraction to light olefins.

A phosphorous modified zeolite (A) can be made by a process that includes selecting a zeolite, steaming the zeolite, leaching the zeolite, separating solids from liquid, and calcining. An olefin product can be made from an oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock by contacting the feedstock with the phosphorous modified zeolite (A) in an XTO reactor under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the feedstock to olefin products. The XTO reactor effluent can include light olefins and a heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The light olefins can be separated from the heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction can be contacted in an OCP reactor at conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon fraction to light olefins.

In a process for producing a phosphorus-modified zeolite catalyst, an aqueous reaction mixture comprising a source of silica and a source of an organic directing agent effective to direct the synthesis of a desired zeolite is heated at a temperature and for a time sufficient to produce crystals of the desired zeolite. Wet zeolite crystals can then be separated from the reaction mixture and, without removing all the water from the wet zeolite crystals, the zeolite can be converted into the ammonium form by ion exchange, and the crystals can be treated with a phosphorus compound. The phosphorus-treated, ammonium-exchanged zeolite can then be formed into a catalyst to be heated in one or more stages to remove the water and organic directing agent from the zeolite crystals and to convert the zeolite to the hydrogen form.

In a process for producing a phosphorus-modified zeolite catalyst, an aqueous reaction mixture comprising a source of silica and a source of an organic directing agent effective to direct the synthesis of a desired zeolite is heated at a temperature and for a time sufficient to produce crystals of the desired zeolite. Wet zeolite crystals can then be separated from the reaction mixture and, without removing all the water from the wet zeolite crystals, the zeolite can be converted into the ammonium form by ion exchange, and the crystals can be treated with a phosphorus compound. The phosphorus-treated, ammonium-exchanged zeolite can then be formed into a catalyst to be heated in one or more stages to remove the water and organic directing agent from the zeolite crystals and to convert the zeolite to the hydrogen form.

Embodiments of the invention provide processes for catalytically converting oxygenates to hydrocarbon products having an increased C.sub.6-C.sub.8 aromatics content therein. Particular processes include (a) providing a first mixture comprising ≧10.0 wt. % of at least one oxygenate, based on the weight of the first mixture; (b) contacting the first mixture with a catalyst to convert the first mixture to a product stream including water, one or more hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and one or more oxygenates, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one molecular sieve and at least one element selected from Groups 2-14 of the Periodic Table and the hydrocarbons comprise ≧30.0 wt. % of aromatics, based on the weight of the hydrocarbons in the product stream; and (c) separating from the product stream at least one water-rich stream, at least one aromatic-rich hydrocarbon stream, and at least one aromatic-depleted hydrocarbon stream.

Embodiments of the invention provide processes for catalytically converting oxygenates to hydrocarbon products having an increased C.sub.6-C.sub.8 aromatics content therein. Particular processes include (a) providing a first mixture comprising ≧10.0 wt. % of at least one oxygenate, based on the weight of the first mixture; (b) contacting the first mixture with a catalyst to convert the first mixture to a product stream including water, one or more hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and one or more oxygenates, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one molecular sieve and at least one element selected from Groups 2-14 of the Periodic Table and the hydrocarbons comprise ≧30.0 wt. % of aromatics, based on the weight of the hydrocarbons in the product stream; and (c) separating from the product stream at least one water-rich stream, at least one aromatic-rich hydrocarbon stream, and at least one aromatic-depleted hydrocarbon stream.

Described herein are processes for one-step delignification and hydrodeoxygenation of lignin fraction a biomass feedstock. The lignin feedstock is derived from by-products of paper production and biorefineries. Additionally described is a process for converting biomass-derived oxygenates to lower oxygen-content compounds and/or hydrocarbons in the liquid or vapor phase in a reactor system containing hydrogen and a catalyst comprised of a hydrogenation function and/or an oxophilic function and/or an acid function. Finally, also described herein is a process for converting biomass-derived oxygenates to lower oxygen-content compounds and/or hydrocarbons in the liquid or vapor phase in a reactor system containing hydrogen and a catalyst comprised of a hydrogenation function and/or an oxophilic function and/or an acid function.

Described herein are processes for one-step delignification and hydrodeoxygenation of lignin fraction a biomass feedstock. The lignin feedstock is derived from by-products of paper production and biorefineries. Additionally described is a process for converting biomass-derived oxygenates to lower oxygen-content compounds and/or hydrocarbons in the liquid or vapor phase in a reactor system containing hydrogen and a catalyst comprised of a hydrogenation function and/or an oxophilic function and/or an acid function. Finally, also described herein is a process for converting biomass-derived oxygenates to lower oxygen-content compounds and/or hydrocarbons in the liquid or vapor phase in a reactor system containing hydrogen and a catalyst comprised of a hydrogenation function and/or an oxophilic function and/or an acid function.

A method for converting cedarwood oil into high density fuels including, hydrogenating cedarwood oil in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to generate hydrogenated cedarwood oil, removing the hydrogenation catalyst from the hydrogenated cedarwood oil, purifying the hydrogenated cedarwood oil to produce a first high density fuel, isomerizing the first high density fuel in the presence of at least one acid catalyst catalyst to generate a hydrocarbon mixture including adamantanes, and distilling the adamantane mixture to produce a second alkyl-adamantane high density fuel.