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.

Processes for producing olefins include passing a hydrocarbon feed to a hydrocarbon cracking unit that cracks the hydrocarbon feed to produce a cracker effluent, passing the cracker effluent to a cracker effluent separation system that separates the cracker effluent to produce at least a cracking C4 effluent including 1-butene, 1,3-butadiene, and isobutene, passing the cracking C4 effluent to an SHIU that contacts the cracking C4 effluent with hydrogen in the presence of a selective hydrogenation catalyst to produce a hydrogenation effluent having a 2-butenes concentration greater than or equal to the sum of the concentrations of 1-butene and isobutene. The processes include passing the hydrogenation effluent to a metathesis unit that contacts the hydrogenation effluent with a metathesis catalyst and a cracking catalyst downstream of the metathesis catalyst to produce a metathesis reaction effluent comprising at least propene.

Processes for producing olefins include passing a hydrocarbon feed to a hydrocarbon cracking unit that cracks the hydrocarbon feed to produce a cracker effluent, passing the cracker effluent to a cracker effluent separation system that separates the cracker effluent to produce at least a cracking C4 effluent including 1-butene, 1,3-butadiene, and isobutene, passing the cracking C4 effluent to an SHIU that contacts the cracking C4 effluent with hydrogen in the presence of a selective hydrogenation catalyst to produce a hydrogenation effluent having a 2-butenes concentration greater than or equal to the sum of the concentrations of 1-butene and isobutene. The processes include passing the hydrogenation effluent to a metathesis unit that contacts the hydrogenation effluent with a metathesis catalyst and a cracking catalyst downstream of the metathesis catalyst to produce a metathesis reaction effluent comprising at least propene.

An alkylation process including an upfront isomerization zone is described. 100% n-butane or field butanes can be converted into a blend of approximately 60 wt % isobutane and 40 wt % n-butane in the isomerization zone. This blend can be used as the feed to all types of alkylation zones. It stabilizes the feed composition so that the dehydrogenation zone and alkylation zone always operate with the same feed.

An alkylation process including an upfront isomerization zone is described. 100% n-butane or field butanes can be converted into a blend of approximately 60 wt % isobutane and 40 wt % n-butane in the isomerization zone. This blend can be used as the feed to all types of alkylation zones. It stabilizes the feed composition so that the dehydrogenation zone and alkylation zone always operate with the same feed.

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.

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.

Processes for converting methane and/or other hydrocarbons to synthesis gas (i.e., a gaseous mixture comprising H.sub.2 and CO) are disclosed, in which at least a portion of the hydrocarbon(s) is reacted with CO.sub.2. At least a second portion of the methane may be reacted with H.sub.2O (steam), thereby improving overall thermodynamics of the process, in terms of reducing endothermicity (H) and the required energy input, compared to pure dry reforming in which no H.sub.2O is present. Such dry reforming (reaction with CO.sub.2 only) or CO.sub.2-steam reforming (reaction with both CO.sub.2 and steam) processes are advantageously integrated with Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to yield liquid hydrocarbon fuels. Further integration may involve the use of a downstream finishing stage involving hydroisomerization to remove FT wax. Yet other integration options involve the use of combined CO.sub.2-steam reforming and FT synthesis stages (optionally with finishing) for producing liquid fuels from gas streams generated in a number of possible processes, including the hydropyrolysis of biomass.

Processes for converting methane and/or other hydrocarbons to synthesis gas (i.e., a gaseous mixture comprising H.sub.2 and CO) are disclosed, in which at least a portion of the hydrocarbon(s) is reacted with CO.sub.2. At least a second portion of the methane may be reacted with H.sub.2O (steam), thereby improving overall thermodynamics of the process, in terms of reducing endothermicity (H) and the required energy input, compared to pure dry reforming in which no H.sub.2O is present. Such dry reforming (reaction with CO.sub.2 only) or CO.sub.2-steam reforming (reaction with both CO.sub.2 and steam) processes are advantageously integrated with Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to yield liquid hydrocarbon fuels. Further integration may involve the use of a downstream finishing stage involving hydroisomerization to remove FT wax. Yet other integration options involve the use of combined CO.sub.2-steam reforming and FT synthesis stages (optionally with finishing) for producing liquid fuels from gas streams generated in a number of possible processes, including the hydropyrolysis of biomass.

In a process for producing a methyl-substituted biphenyl compound, at least one methyl-substituted cyclohexylbenzene compound of the formula:

##STR00001##

wherein each of m and n is independently 1, 2, or 3, is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to produce a hydrogenation reaction product comprising at least one methyl-substituted bicyclohexane compound, and the methyl-substituted bicyclohexane compound is then contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound.