Processes for the hydrogenolysis of butane are described. A process can include (a) introducing a butane feed and hydrogen to a first hydrogenolysis reactor comprising a hydrogenolysis catalyst, and (b) contacting the butane feed and hydrogen with the hydrogenolysis catalyst at conditions sufficient to produce a first hydrogenolysis product stream. The introduction of the butane feed stream and hydrogen to the first hydrogenolysis reactor can be controlled to maintain a hydrogen to butane molar ratio in the reactor inlet of 0.3:1 to 0.8:1.

Processes for the hydrogenolysis of butane are described. A process can include (a) introducing a butane feed and hydrogen to a first hydrogenolysis reactor comprising a hydrogenolysis catalyst, and (b) contacting the butane feed and hydrogen with the hydrogenolysis catalyst at conditions sufficient to produce a first hydrogenolysis product stream. The introduction of the butane feed stream and hydrogen to the first hydrogenolysis reactor can be controlled to maintain a hydrogen to butane molar ratio in the reactor inlet of 0.3:1 to 0.8:1.

A process for the separation of a natural gas stream is provided. The process includes receiving an effluent gas flow from a first fractionator operating at a first pressure, splitting the effluent gas flow into a first stream and a second stream, and passing the first stream through a heat exchanger thereby causing a phase change of at least a portion of the first stream from a gaseous state to a liquid state. The process includes inserting the first stream into an upper portion of a second fractionator operating at a second pressure. The second pressure is lower than the first pressure. The process includes inserting the second stream into a lower portion of the second fractionator, and diverting liquids from a lower portion of the second fractionator to the first fractionator.

A process for the separation of a natural gas stream is provided. The process includes receiving an effluent gas flow from a first fractionator operating at a first pressure, splitting the effluent gas flow into a first stream and a second stream, and passing the first stream through a heat exchanger thereby causing a phase change of at least a portion of the first stream from a gaseous state to a liquid state. The process includes inserting the first stream into an upper portion of a second fractionator operating at a second pressure. The second pressure is lower than the first pressure. The process includes inserting the second stream into a lower portion of the second fractionator, and diverting liquids from a lower portion of the second fractionator to the first fractionator.

The inventive concepts disclosed and/or claimed herein relate generally to catalysts and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a heterogeneous, metal-free hydrogenation catalyst containing frustrated Lewis pairs. In one non-limiting embodiment, the heterogeneous, metal-free catalyst comprises hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) having frustrated Lewis pairs therein.

The inventive concepts disclosed and/or claimed herein relate generally to catalysts and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a heterogeneous, metal-free hydrogenation catalyst containing frustrated Lewis pairs. In one non-limiting embodiment, the heterogeneous, metal-free catalyst comprises hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) having frustrated Lewis pairs therein.

A process for producing olefins comprising introducing butane feed (n-butane, i-butane) and hydrogen to hydrogenolysis reactor comprising hydrogenolysis catalyst to produce a hydrogenolysis product stream (hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane, i-butane, optionally n-butane, optionally C.sub.5+ hydrocarbons); and feeding the hydrogenolysis product stream and hydrogen to hydrocracking reactor comprising a hydrocracking catalyst to produce hydrocracking product stream (hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane, i-butane, optionally n-butane), wherein the amount of i-butane in the hydrocracking product stream is less than in the hydrogenolysis product stream, and wherein the amount of ethane in the hydrocracking product stream is greater than in the hydrogenolysis product stream. The hydrocracking product stream is separated into first hydrogen stream, first methane stream, first C.sub.2+ gas stream (ethane, propane), first C.sub.4s stream (i-butane, optionally n-butane), optionally C.sub.5+ stream; and the first C.sub.2+ gas stream is fed to gas steam cracker to produce a steam cracker product stream comprising olefins (ethylene, propylene).

A process for producing olefins comprising introducing butane feed (n-butane, i-butane) and hydrogen to hydrogenolysis reactor comprising hydrogenolysis catalyst to produce a hydrogenolysis product stream (hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane, i-butane, optionally n-butane, optionally C.sub.5+ hydrocarbons); and feeding the hydrogenolysis product stream and hydrogen to hydrocracking reactor comprising a hydrocracking catalyst to produce hydrocracking product stream (hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane, i-butane, optionally n-butane), wherein the amount of i-butane in the hydrocracking product stream is less than in the hydrogenolysis product stream, and wherein the amount of ethane in the hydrocracking product stream is greater than in the hydrogenolysis product stream. The hydrocracking product stream is separated into first hydrogen stream, first methane stream, first C.sub.2+ gas stream (ethane, propane), first C.sub.4s stream (i-butane, optionally n-butane), optionally C.sub.5+ stream; and the first C.sub.2+ gas stream is fed to gas steam cracker to produce a steam cracker product stream comprising olefins (ethylene, propylene).

The present disclosure, in general, relates to portable/transportable apparatuses, methods, and systems for generating and delivering sulfur trioxide on-site or near an item to be treated. The present disclosure also relates to portable/transportable apparatuses, methods, and systems or extracting hydrocarbons from deposits containing a clathrate hydrate such as methane hydrates.

The present disclosure, in general, relates to portable/transportable apparatuses, methods, and systems for generating and delivering sulfur trioxide on-site or near an item to be treated. The present disclosure also relates to portable/transportable apparatuses, methods, and systems or extracting hydrocarbons from deposits containing a clathrate hydrate such as methane hydrates.