A process can treat a gaseous material mixture obtained by catalytic conversion of synthesis gas that contains at least alkenes, possibly alcohols and possibly alkanes, and also possibly nitrogen as inert gas and unconverted components of the synthesis gas, comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide. After catalytic conversion of synthesis gas, separation of the product mixture obtained in this reaction into a gas phase and a liquid phase is performed by at least partial absorption of the alkenes, possibly of the alcohols and possibly of the alkanes, in a high boiling point hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixture as an absorption medium, separation as the gas phase of the gases not absorbed into the absorption medium, separating an aqueous phase from the organic phase of the absorption medium, preferably by decanting, and desorption of the alkenes, possibly of the alcohols and possibly of the alkanes, from the absorption medium.

A process can treat a gaseous material mixture obtained by catalytic conversion of synthesis gas that contains at least alkenes, possibly alcohols and possibly alkanes, and also possibly nitrogen as inert gas and unconverted components of the synthesis gas, comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide. After catalytic conversion of synthesis gas, separation of the product mixture obtained in this reaction into a gas phase and a liquid phase is performed by at least partial absorption of the alkenes, possibly of the alcohols and possibly of the alkanes, in a high boiling point hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixture as an absorption medium, separation as the gas phase of the gases not absorbed into the absorption medium, separating an aqueous phase from the organic phase of the absorption medium, preferably by decanting, and desorption of the alkenes, possibly of the alcohols and possibly of the alkanes, from the absorption medium.

A process can produce alcohols having at least two carbon atoms by catalytic conversion of synthesis gas into a mixture containing alkanes, alkenes, and alcohols. Alkenes are converted into corresponding alcohols in a subsequent step by hydration of the alkanes. Before the hydration and after the catalytic conversion, gas and liquid phases may be separated. Specific catalysts can be employed that have a markedly higher selectivity for alkenes than for alkanes. These catalysts comprise grains of non-graphitic carbon having cobalt nanoparticles dispersed therein. The cobalt nanoparticles have an average diameter d.sub.p from 1 to 20 nm, and an average distance D between nanoparticles is from 2 to 150 nm. The combined total mass fraction of metal ω in the grains ranges from 30% to 70% by weight of the total mass of the grains of non-graphitic carbon, wherein 4.5 dp/ω>D≥0.25 dp/ω.

A process can produce alcohols having at least two carbon atoms by catalytic conversion of synthesis gas into a mixture containing alkanes, alkenes, and alcohols. Alkenes are converted into corresponding alcohols in a subsequent step by hydration of the alkanes. Before the hydration and after the catalytic conversion, gas and liquid phases may be separated. Specific catalysts can be employed that have a markedly higher selectivity for alkenes than for alkanes. These catalysts comprise grains of non-graphitic carbon having cobalt nanoparticles dispersed therein. The cobalt nanoparticles have an average diameter d.sub.p from 1 to 20 nm, and an average distance D between nanoparticles is from 2 to 150 nm. The combined total mass fraction of metal ω in the grains ranges from 30% to 70% by weight of the total mass of the grains of non-graphitic carbon, wherein 4.5 dp/ω>D≥0.25 dp/ω.

A process can produce alcohols having at least two carbon atoms by catalytic conversion of synthesis gas into a mixture containing alkanes, alkenes, and alcohols. Alkenes are converted into corresponding alcohols in a subsequent step by hydration of the alkanes. Before the hydration and after the catalytic conversion, gas and liquid phases may be separated. Specific catalysts can be employed that have a markedly higher selectivity for alkenes than for alkanes. These catalysts comprise grains of non-graphitic carbon having cobalt nanoparticles dispersed therein. The cobalt nanoparticles have an average diameter d.sub.p from 1 to 20 nm, and an average distance D between nanoparticles is from 2 to 150 nm. The combined total mass fraction of metal ω in the grains ranges from 30% to 70% by weight of the total mass of the grains of non-graphitic carbon, wherein 4.5 dp/ω>D≥0.25 dp/ω.

A method of producing a fuel additive includes passing a feed stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a methyl tertiary butyl ether unit producing a first process stream; passing the first process stream through a selective butadiene hydrogenation unit transforming greater than or equal to 90% by weight of the butadiene to 1-butene and 2-butene, preferably greater than or equal to 93%, preferably, greater than or equal to 94%, more preferably, greater than or equal to 95% producing a second process stream; passing the second process stream through a hydration unit producing a third process stream and the fuel additive; passing the third process stream through a total hydrogenation unit producing a hydrogenated stream; and passing the hydrogenated stream to a cracker unit.

A method of producing a fuel additive includes passing a feed stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a methyl tertiary butyl ether unit producing a first process stream; passing the first process stream through a selective butadiene hydrogenation unit transforming greater than or equal to 90% by weight of the butadiene to 1-butene and 2-butene, preferably greater than or equal to 93%, preferably, greater than or equal to 94%, more preferably, greater than or equal to 95% producing a second process stream; passing the second process stream through a hydration unit producing a third process stream and the fuel additive; passing the third process stream through a total hydrogenation unit producing a hydrogenated stream; and passing the hydrogenated stream to a cracker unit.

A method of producing a fuel additive includes passing a feed stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a methyl tertiary butyl ether unit producing a first process stream; passing the first process stream through a selective butadiene hydrogenation unit transforming greater than or equal to 90% by weight of the butadiene to 1-butene and 2-butene, preferably greater than or equal to 93%, preferably, greater than or equal to 94%, more preferably, greater than or equal to 95% producing a second process stream; passing the second process stream through a hydration unit producing a third process stream and the fuel additive; passing the third process stream through a total hydrogenation unit producing a hydrogenated stream; and passing the hydrogenated stream to a cracker unit.

A method of producing a fuel additive includes: passing a first process stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a methyl tertiary butyl ether synthesis unit producing a first recycle stream; passing the first recycle stream through a hydration unit producing the fuel additive and a second recycle stream; passing the second recycle stream through a recycle hydrogenation unit and a deisobutanizer unit; and recycling the second recycle stream to the methyl tertiary butyl ether synthesis unit.

A method of producing a fuel additive includes: passing a first process stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a methyl tertiary butyl ether synthesis unit producing a first recycle stream; passing the first recycle stream through a hydration unit producing the fuel additive and a second recycle stream; passing the second recycle stream through a recycle hydrogenation unit and a deisobutanizer unit; and recycling the second recycle stream to the methyl tertiary butyl ether synthesis unit.