A process for aromatizing hydrocarbons comprises: converting at least a portion of highly branched hydrocarbons in a feed stream into selectively convertible components, and aromatizing the selectively convertible components to produce an aromatization reactor effluent. The aromatization reactor effluent comprises an aromatic product. Converting at least the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons into the selectively convertible components may include contacting the feed stream with an isomerization catalyst in an isomerization reaction system under isomerization reaction conditions; and isomerizing the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons in the feed stream into the selectively convertible components.

A process for aromatizing hydrocarbons comprises: converting at least a portion of highly branched hydrocarbons in a feed stream into selectively convertible components, and aromatizing the selectively convertible components to produce an aromatization reactor effluent. The aromatization reactor effluent comprises an aromatic product. Converting at least the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons into the selectively convertible components may include contacting the feed stream with an isomerization catalyst in an isomerization reaction system under isomerization reaction conditions; and isomerizing the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons in the feed stream into the selectively convertible components.

Reactors and methods for producing olefins from paraffins are disclosed. A hydrocarbon feed stream comprising one or more alkanes is dehydrogenated to produce one or more alkenes in a dehydrogenation compartment of a reactor. The effluent from the dehydrogenation compartment is flowed into a isomerization compartment of the reactor. One or more of the alkenes is isomerized in the isomerization compartment to reduce the number of alkene isomers in a product stream from the isomerization compartment.

Reactors and methods for producing olefins from paraffins are disclosed. A hydrocarbon feed stream comprising one or more alkanes is dehydrogenated to produce one or more alkenes in a dehydrogenation compartment of a reactor. The effluent from the dehydrogenation compartment is flowed into a isomerization compartment of the reactor. One or more of the alkenes is isomerized in the isomerization compartment to reduce the number of alkene isomers in a product stream from the isomerization compartment.

A catalyst comprising a microporous crystalline metallosilicate having a Constraint Index of 12, or 10, or 8, or 6 or less, a binder, a Group 1 alkali metal or a compound thereof and/or a Group 2 alkaline earth metal or a compound thereof, a Group 10 metal or a compound thereof, and, optionally, a Group 11 metal or a compound thereof; wherein the catalyst is calcined in a first calcining step before the addition of the Group 10 metal or compound thereof and optionally the Group 11 metal or compound thereof; and wherein the first calcining step includes heating the catalyst to first temperatures of greater than 500° C.; and wherein the catalyst is calcined in a second calcining step after the addition of the Group 10 metal or compound thereof and optionally the Group 11 metal or compound thereof wherein the second calcining step includes heating the catalyst to temperatures of greater than 400° C.

A catalyst comprising a microporous crystalline metallosilicate having a Constraint Index of 12, or 10, or 8, or 6 or less, a binder, a Group 1 alkali metal or a compound thereof and/or a Group 2 alkaline earth metal or a compound thereof, a Group 10 metal or a compound thereof, and, optionally, a Group 11 metal or a compound thereof; wherein the catalyst is calcined in a first calcining step before the addition of the Group 10 metal or compound thereof and optionally the Group 11 metal or compound thereof; and wherein the first calcining step includes heating the catalyst to first temperatures of greater than 500° C.; and wherein the catalyst is calcined in a second calcining step after the addition of the Group 10 metal or compound thereof and optionally the Group 11 metal or compound thereof wherein the second calcining step includes heating the catalyst to temperatures of greater than 400° C.

A catalyst comprising a microporous crystalline metallosilicate having a Constraint Index of 12, or 10, or 8, or 6 or less, a binder, a Group 1 alkali metal or a compound thereof and/or a Group 2 alkaline earth metal or a compound thereof, a Group 10 metal or a compound thereof, and, optionally, a Group 11 metal or a compound thereof; wherein the catalyst is calcined in a first calcining step before the addition of the Group 10 metal or compound thereof and optionally the Group 11 metal or compound thereof; and wherein the first calcining step includes heating the catalyst to first temperatures of greater than 500° C.; and wherein the catalyst is calcined in a second calcining step after the addition of the Group 10 metal or compound thereof and optionally the Group 11 metal or compound thereof wherein the second calcining step includes heating the catalyst to temperatures of greater than 400° C.

A catalyst comprising a microporous crystalline aluminosilicate having a Constraint Index less than or equal to 12, a Group 1 alkali metal or a compound thereof and/or a Group 2 alkaline earth metal or a compound thereof, a Group 10 metal or a compound thereof, and optionally a Group 11 metal or a compound thereof; wherein the total amount of Group 1 and/or Group 2 metal is present at a ratio that is optimized for the desirable chemical conversion process.

A catalyst comprising a microporous crystalline aluminosilicate having a Constraint Index less than or equal to 12, a Group 1 alkali metal or a compound thereof and/or a Group 2 alkaline earth metal or a compound thereof, a Group 10 metal or a compound thereof, and optionally a Group 11 metal or a compound thereof; wherein the total amount of Group 1 and/or Group 2 metal is present at a ratio that is optimized for the desirable chemical conversion process.

Methods of and systems for producing an olefin are disclosed. A paraffin is dehydrogenated to produce a mixture comprising the olefin and unreacted paraffin. The mixture is then fed to an extractive distillation unit that uses soybean oil as a solvent to extract at least some n-butane from the mixture.