The present invention relates to processes for preparing isoprene and mono-olefins comprising at least six carbon atoms. In one aspect, a process comprises (a) hydroformylating a mixed C4 olefin stream, wherein the mixed C4 olefin stream comprises 1-butene, 2-butene, and optionally isobutene, with a hydroformylation catalyst, wherein the hydroformylation catalyst comprises rhodium with monodentate organophosphorous ligand and optionally polydentate organophosphorous ligand, to produce a mixture comprising linear and branched C5 aldehydes; (b) separating the branched C5 aldehydes from the linear C5 aldehydes to provide a branched C5 aldehyde stream and a linear C5 aldehyde stream; (c) dehydrating the branched C5 aldehydes in the branched C5 aldehyde stream using a dehydration catalyst to form a stream comprising isoprene; (d) hydrogenating the linear C5 aldehydes in the linear C5 aldehyde stream to form a C5 alcohol stream; (e) dehydrating the C5 alcohols in the C5 alcohol stream with a second dehydration catalyst to form a C5 olefin stream; (f) hydroformylating the C5 olefins in the C5 olefin stream to generate a C6 aldehyde stream; (g) hydrogenating the C6 aldehydes in the C6 aldehyde stream to form a C6 alcohol stream; and (h) dehydrating the C6 alcohols in the C6 alcohol stream with a third dehydration catalyst to form a C6 olefin stream.

The present invention relates to processes for preparing isoprene and mono-olefins comprising at least six carbon atoms. In one aspect, a process comprises (a) hydroformylating a mixed C4 olefin stream, wherein the mixed C4 olefin stream comprises 1-butene, 2-butene, and optionally isobutene, with a hydroformylation catalyst, wherein the hydroformylation catalyst comprises rhodium with monodentate organophosphorous ligand and optionally polydentate organophosphorous ligand, to produce a mixture comprising linear and branched C5 aldehydes; (b) separating the branched C5 aldehydes from the linear C5 aldehydes to provide a branched C5 aldehyde stream and a linear C5 aldehyde stream; (c) dehydrating the branched C5 aldehydes in the branched C5 aldehyde stream using a dehydration catalyst to form a stream comprising isoprene; (d) hydrogenating the linear C5 aldehydes in the linear C5 aldehyde stream to form a C5 alcohol stream; (e) dehydrating the C5 alcohols in the C5 alcohol stream with a second dehydration catalyst to form a C5 olefin stream; (f) hydroformylating the C5 olefins in the C5 olefin stream to generate a C6 aldehyde stream; (g) hydrogenating the C6 aldehydes in the C6 aldehyde stream to form a C6 alcohol stream; and (h) dehydrating the C6 alcohols in the C6 alcohol stream with a third dehydration catalyst to form a C6 olefin stream.

A process is provided for converting mevalonic acid into various useful products and derivatives. More particularly, the process comprises reacting mevalonic acid, or a solution comprising mevalonic acid, in the presence of a solid catalyst at an elevated temperature and pressure to thereby form various biobased products. The process may also comprise: (a) providing a microbial organism that expresses a biosynthetic mevalonic acid pathway; (b) growing the microbial organism in fermentation medium comprising suitable carbon substrates, whereby biobased mevalonic acid is produced; and (c) reacting the biobased mevalonic acid in the presence of a solid catalyst at an elevated temperature and pressure to yield various biobased products.

A process is provided for converting mevalonic acid into various useful products and derivatives. More particularly, the process comprises reacting mevalonic acid, or a solution comprising mevalonic acid, in the presence of a solid catalyst at an elevated temperature and pressure to thereby form various biobased products. The process may also comprise: (a) providing a microbial organism that expresses a biosynthetic mevalonic acid pathway; (b) growing the microbial organism in fermentation medium comprising suitable carbon substrates, whereby biobased mevalonic acid is produced; and (c) reacting the biobased mevalonic acid in the presence of a solid catalyst at an elevated temperature and pressure to yield various biobased products.

Provided is a technique of producing isoprene from 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol or 1,3-butadiene from 1,3-butanediol by using a single catalyst. A catalyst produces a conjugated diene containing zirconium oxide and calcium oxide in order to produce isoprene by removing two water molecules from one 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol molecule or produce 1,3-butadiene by removing two water molecules from one 1,3-butanediol molecule. Furthermore, a method for producing a conjugated diene includes a step of obtaining a fluid containing a conjugated diene that is isoprene or 1,3-butadiene by bringing a fluid containing 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol or a fluid containing 1,3-butanediol into contact with the catalyst for producing a conjugated diene as a single catalyst so as to cause a dehydration reaction to proceed.

Provided is a technique of producing isoprene from 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol or 1,3-butadiene from 1,3-butanediol by using a single catalyst. A catalyst produces a conjugated diene containing zirconium oxide and calcium oxide in order to produce isoprene by removing two water molecules from one 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol molecule or produce 1,3-butadiene by removing two water molecules from one 1,3-butanediol molecule. Furthermore, a method for producing a conjugated diene includes a step of obtaining a fluid containing a conjugated diene that is isoprene or 1,3-butadiene by bringing a fluid containing 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol or a fluid containing 1,3-butanediol into contact with the catalyst for producing a conjugated diene as a single catalyst so as to cause a dehydration reaction to proceed.

A process for extracting isoprene from a pyrolysis gas mixture or a C5 fraction wherein isoprene is purified by plural extractive distillations in the presence of a polar solvent and cyclopentadiene is effectively removed and recycled as a feedstock without being converted into its dimer, dicyclopentadiene. The isoprene recovered from the process described is more than 99.5% pure.

A process for extracting isoprene from a pyrolysis gas mixture or a C5 fraction wherein isoprene is purified by plural extractive distillations in the presence of a polar solvent and cyclopentadiene is effectively removed and recycled as a feedstock without being converted into its dimer, dicyclopentadiene. The isoprene recovered from the process described is more than 99.5% pure.

A process for extracting isoprene from a pyrolysis gas mixture or a C5 fraction wherein isoprene is purified by plural extractive distillations in the presence of a polar solvent and cyclopentadiene is effectively removed and recycled as a feedstock without being converted into its dimer, dicyclopentadiene. The isoprene recovered from the process described is more than 99.5% pure.

The invention features methods for producing isoprene from cultured cells wherein the cells in the stationary phase. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells and/or increased amount of isoprene. The invention also provides for systems that include a non-flammable concentration of isoprene in the gas phase. Additionally, the invention provides isoprene compositions, such as compositions with increased amount of isoprene or increased purity.