An integrated process for converting low-value paraffinic materials to high octane gasoline and high-cetane diesel light is disclosed. The process involves: (1) oxidation of an iso-paraffin to alkyl hydroperoxide and alcohol; (2) converting the alkyl hydroperoxide and alcohol to dialkyl peroxide; (3) converting low-octane, paraffinic gasoline molecules using the dialkyl peroxides as radical initiators, thereby forming high-cetane diesel, while the dialkyl peroxide is converted to an alcohol; (4) converting the alcohol to an olefin; and (5) alkylating the olefin with iso-butane to form high-octane alkylate. The net reaction is thus conversion of iso-paraffin to high-octane gasoline alkylate, and conversion of low-octane paraffinic gasoline to high-cetane diesel.

An integrated process for converting low-value paraffinic materials to high octane gasoline and high-cetane diesel light is disclosed. The process involves: (1) oxidation of an iso-paraffin to alkyl hydroperoxide and alcohol; (2) converting the alkyl hydroperoxide and alcohol to dialkyl peroxide; (3) converting low-octane, paraffinic gasoline molecules using the dialkyl peroxides as radical initiators, thereby forming high-cetane diesel, while the dialkyl peroxide is converted to an alcohol; (4) converting the alcohol to an olefin; and (5) alkylating the olefin with iso-butane to form high-octane alkylate. The net reaction is thus conversion of iso-paraffin to high-octane gasoline alkylate, and conversion of low-octane paraffinic gasoline to high-cetane diesel.

A process for converting light paraffins to a high octane gasoline composition is disclosed. The process involves: (1) oxidation of iso-paraffins to alkyl hydroperoxides and alcohol; (2) conversion of the alkyl hydroperoxides and alcohol to dialkyl peroxides; and (3) radical coupling of iso-paraffins using the dialkyl peroxides as radical initiators, thereby forming gasoline-range molecules. Fractionation of the gasoline-range molecules can then be used to isolate high octane gasoline fractions having a road octane number [(RON+MON)/2] greater than 110.

A process for converting light paraffins to a high octane gasoline composition is disclosed. The process involves: (1) oxidation of iso-paraffins to alkyl hydroperoxides and alcohol; (2) conversion of the alkyl hydroperoxides and alcohol to dialkyl peroxides; and (3) radical coupling of iso-paraffins using the dialkyl peroxides as radical initiators, thereby forming gasoline-range molecules. Fractionation of the gasoline-range molecules can then be used to isolate high octane gasoline fractions having a road octane number [(RON+MON)/2] greater than 110.

An integrated process for converting low-value paraffinic materials to high octane gasoline and high-cetane diesel light is disclosed. The process involves: (1) oxidation of an iso-paraffin to alkyl hydroperoxide and alcohol; (2) converting the alkyl hydroperoxide and alcohol to dialkyl peroxide; (3) converting low-octane, paraffinic gasoline molecules using the dialkyl peroxides as radical initiators, thereby forming high-cetane diesel, while the dialkyl peroxide is converted to an alcohol; (4) converting the alcohol to an olefin; and (5) alkylating the olefin with iso-butane to form high-octane alkylate. The net reaction is thus conversion of iso-paraffin to high-octane gasoline alkylate, and conversion of low-octane paraffinic gasoline to high-cetane diesel.

An integrated process for converting low-value paraffinic materials to high octane gasoline and high-cetane diesel light is disclosed. The process involves: (1) oxidation of an iso-paraffin to alkyl hydroperoxide and alcohol; (2) converting the alkyl hydroperoxide and alcohol to dialkyl peroxide; (3) converting low-octane, paraffinic gasoline molecules using the dialkyl peroxides as radical initiators, thereby forming high-cetane diesel, while the dialkyl peroxide is converted to an alcohol; (4) converting the alcohol to an olefin; and (5) alkylating the olefin with iso-butane to form high-octane alkylate. The net reaction is thus conversion of iso-paraffin to high-octane gasoline alkylate, and conversion of low-octane paraffinic gasoline to high-cetane diesel.

A process for converting light paraffins to heavier paraffinic hydrocarbon fluids is disclosed. The process involves: (1) oxidation of iso-paraffins to alkyl hydroperoxides and alcohols; (2) conversion of the alkyl hydroperoxides and alcohols to dialkyl peroxides; and (3) radical-initiated coupling of paraffins and/or iso-paraffins using the dialkyl peroxides as radical initiators, thereby forming heavier hydrocarbon products. Fractionation of the heavy hydrocarbon products can then be used to isolate fractions for use as hydrocarbon fluids.

A process for converting light paraffins to heavier paraffinic hydrocarbon fluids is disclosed. The process involves: (1) oxidation of iso-paraffins to alkyl hydroperoxides and alcohols; (2) conversion of the alkyl hydroperoxides and alcohols to dialkyl peroxides; and (3) radical-initiated coupling of paraffins and/or iso-paraffins using the dialkyl peroxides as radical initiators, thereby forming heavier hydrocarbon products. Fractionation of the heavy hydrocarbon products can then be used to isolate fractions for use as hydrocarbon fluids.

A method for producing propylene, the method contains: producing a silica composite by preparing a raw material mixture containing silica and zeolite; drying the raw material mixture to obtain a dried product; and calcining the dried product; wherein the method contains the step of bringing a solution of phosphate into contact with the zeolite and/or the dried product to thereby adjust a phosphorus content in the silica composite to 0.01 to 1.0% by mass based on the total mass of the silica composite, a source of the phosphorus is phosphate, and the zeolite is of MFI type and has a SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 ratio (by mol) of 20 or more; and bringing the silica composite into contact with a hydrocarbon source containing at least one component selected from the group consisting of ethylene, ethanol, methanol, and dimethyl ether in the presence of steam.

Methods are provided for refining natural oil feedstocks. The methods comprise reacting the feedstock in the presence of a metathesis catalyst under conditions sufficient to form a metathesized product comprising olefins and esters. In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise separating the olefins from the esters in the metathesized product. In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise hydrogenating the olefins under conditions sufficient to form a fuel composition. In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise transesterifying the esters in the presence of an alcohol to form a transesterified product.