Disclosed herein is a process for the conversion of polymers, oligomers, or mixtures thereof into shorter alkanes, carboxylic acids, alcohols, alkyl halides or aldehydes. This process includes contacting the polymers, oligomers, or mixtures thereof with the compound of formula (I):

Al(R.sup.1).sub.3  (I)

where R.sup.1 is independently selected at each occurrence thereof from the group consisting of H, aryl, C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkyl, and C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkoxy, as a reaction mixture, in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a transition metal catalyst, a lanthanide series metal catalyst, or combinations thereof.

Disclosed herein is a process for the conversion of polymers, oligomers, or mixtures thereof into shorter alkanes, carboxylic acids, alcohols, alkyl halides or aldehydes. This process includes contacting the polymers, oligomers, or mixtures thereof with the compound of formula (I):

Al(R.sup.1).sub.3  (I)

where R.sup.1 is independently selected at each occurrence thereof from the group consisting of H, aryl, C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkyl, and C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkoxy, as a reaction mixture, in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a transition metal catalyst, a lanthanide series metal catalyst, or combinations thereof.

A process increases the concentration of normal paraffins in a feed stream comprising separating a naphtha feed stream into a normal paraffin rich stream and a non-normal paraffin rich stream. A naphtha feed stream may be separated into a normal paraffin stream and a non-normal paraffin stream. An isomerization feed stream may be taken from the non-normal paraffin stream and isomerized over an isomerization catalyst to convert non-normal paraffins to normal paraffins and produce an isomerization effluent stream. The isomerization effluent stream may be separated into a propane stream and a C4+ hydrocarbon stream optionally in a single column. The C4+ hydrocarbon stream may be recycled to the step of separating a naphtha feed stream.

A process increases the concentration of normal paraffins in a feed stream comprising separating a naphtha feed stream into a normal paraffin rich stream and a non-normal paraffin rich stream. A naphtha feed stream may be separated into a normal paraffin stream and a non-normal paraffin stream. An isomerization feed stream may be taken from the non-normal paraffin stream and isomerized over an isomerization catalyst to convert non-normal paraffins to normal paraffins and produce an isomerization effluent stream. The isomerization effluent stream may be separated into a propane stream and a C4+ hydrocarbon stream optionally in a single column. The C4+ hydrocarbon stream may be recycled to the step of separating a naphtha feed stream.

The present disclosure relates to a method that includes a first treating of a first mixture that includes a carboxylic acid having between 2 and 12 carbon atoms, inclusively, to form a second mixture that includes a ketone having between 2 and 25 carbon atoms, inclusively, and a second treating of at least a first portion of the second mixture to form a first product that includes a paraffin having 8 or more carbon atoms.

The present disclosure relates to a method that includes a first treating of a first mixture that includes a carboxylic acid having between 2 and 12 carbon atoms, inclusively, to form a second mixture that includes a ketone having between 2 and 25 carbon atoms, inclusively, and a second treating of at least a first portion of the second mixture to form a first product that includes a paraffin having 8 or more carbon atoms.

In a method for capturing carbon, sulfur, and/or nitrogen from a target source, a matrix including activated metal dispersed in a metal activating agent is provided. The target source may be or include a carbon, sulfur, and/or nitrogen target compound. The target source is contacted with the matrix, wherein the activated metal reacts with the target source to produce elemental carbon, elemental sulfur, elemental nitrogen, and/or one or more compounds transformed from the target compound(s). The matrix may be produced by contacting a metal with the metal activating agent, and maintaining contact between the metal and the metal activating agent for a period of time sufficient for metal atoms from the solid metal to disperse in the metal activating agent. The reaction may also produce a metal compound. The activated metal may also be utilized in alkylation and other synthesis processes.

In a method for capturing carbon, sulfur, and/or nitrogen from a target source, a matrix including activated metal dispersed in a metal activating agent is provided. The target source may be or include a carbon, sulfur, and/or nitrogen target compound. The target source is contacted with the matrix, wherein the activated metal reacts with the target source to produce elemental carbon, elemental sulfur, elemental nitrogen, and/or one or more compounds transformed from the target compound(s). The matrix may be produced by contacting a metal with the metal activating agent, and maintaining contact between the metal and the metal activating agent for a period of time sufficient for metal atoms from the solid metal to disperse in the metal activating agent. The reaction may also produce a metal compound. The activated metal may also be utilized in alkylation and other synthesis processes.

In a standing pipe body (210), an adsorbent layer (240) filled with active magnesium silicate as an adsorbent and an alumina layer (250) positioned therebelow are arranged. A sample solution containing dioxins is applied into the pipe body (210) from the top, and an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent is subsequently supplied into the pipe body (210) from the top. The aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent having dissolved dioxins in the sample solution passes through the adsorbent layer (240) and the alumina layer (250) in this order, and is discharged from a bottom of the pipe body (210). At this point, a dioxin group including non-ortho PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs is selectively trapped by the adsorbent layer (240), and mono-ortho PCBs are selectively trapped by the alumina layer (250).

In a standing pipe body (210), an adsorbent layer (240) filled with active magnesium silicate as an adsorbent and an alumina layer (250) positioned therebelow are arranged. A sample solution containing dioxins is applied into the pipe body (210) from the top, and an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent is subsequently supplied into the pipe body (210) from the top. The aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent having dissolved dioxins in the sample solution passes through the adsorbent layer (240) and the alumina layer (250) in this order, and is discharged from a bottom of the pipe body (210). At this point, a dioxin group including non-ortho PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs is selectively trapped by the adsorbent layer (240), and mono-ortho PCBs are selectively trapped by the alumina layer (250).