Provided is a thermally stable bisphenol composition whose increase in the Hazen color number is suppressed even under higher temperature conditions. A bisphenol composition including an aryl alkyl sulfide or a dialkyl disulfide at 0.1 ppb by mass to 1% by mass with respect to a bisphenol. A bisphenol composition including an aryl alkyl sulfide or a dialkyl disulfide at a predetermined ratio is thermally stable in terms of the Hazen color number, and shows no coloring problem under high temperature conditions. By using such a bisphenol composition, a polycarbonate resin having an excellent color tone can be produced.

A bisphenol composition including a specific amount of aromatic alcohol sulfonate, and a simple method of producing it are provided. Also provided is a method of producing a polycarbonate resin in which, by using the bisphenol composition including a specific amount of aromatic alcohol sulfonate, melt polymerization reaction can be efficiently allowed to proceed to produce a polycarbonate resin having an excellent color tone. A bisphenol composition including an aromatic alcohol sulfonate at not less than 0.1 ppb by mass with respect to a bisphenol. A method of producing a bisphenol composition, including reacting a ketone or an aldehyde with an aromatic alcohol in the presence of sulfuric acid to produce a bisphenol composition. A method of producing a polycarbonate resin, including producing a polycarbonate resin using the bisphenol composition. A polycarbonate resin including a specific amount of aromatic alcohol sulfonate.

Described is a process for producing field butane. The process includes increasing the n-butane concentration in field butane. The process may include a concentration process that includes distillation and a thermal cracking process.

Systems and methods for processing a C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 hydrocarbon mixture have been disclosed. The C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 hydrocarbon mixture is first processed in an isomerization unit to isomerize n-butane to form isobutane. The resulting effluent stream from the isomerization unit comprising primarily isobutane and C.sub.3 hydrocarbons, collectively, is flowed into a separation unit configured to separate the effluent stream to form a C.sub.3 stream comprising C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 hydrocarbons and a C.sub.4 stream comprising primarily isobutane. The isobutane in the C.sub.4 stream is further dehydrogenated to form isobutene, which is further flowed into an MTBE synthesis unit as a feedstock for producing MTBE.

Provided is a method of producing a conjugated diene, including a step of dehydrating a γ,δ-unsaturated alcohol in the presence of a solid acid catalyst having a Hammett acidity function (H.sub.0) of −12.2 or less.

Systems and methods for processing a C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 hydrocarbon mixture have been disclosed. The C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 hydrocarbon mixture is separated to remove propane from C.sub.4 hydrocarbons. The resulting C.sub.4 hydrocarbons are then processed in an isomerization unit to produce additional isobutane. The isobutane of the isomerization unit effluent is dehydrogenated in a dehydrogenation unit to produce isobutene. The resulting isobutene is reacted with an alkanol to produce an alkyl tert-butyl ether.

Enhanced oxygen transfer agent systems and methods of use thereof are provided. According to one aspect, a method for producing olefins from a hydrocarbon feed includes the step of contacting a hydrocarbon feed comprised of one or more alkanes with an oxygen transfer agent at a temperature of 350° C. to 1000° C. The oxygen transfer agent includes an oxygen-donating chalcogen agent including at least one of S, Se, or Te and a reducible metal oxide. The chalcogen has an oxidation state greater than +2. A method for producing one or more olefins by partial combustion of a hydrocarbon feed is provided. The method includes partially combusting a hydrocarbon feed comprised of one or more alkanes by contacting the hydrocarbon feed with an oxygen transfer agent comprising CaSO.sub.4 at a temperature of 350° C. to 1000° C. to produce one or more olefins comprising ethylene and coproducing water.

The oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) and the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane and higher hydrocarbons is described using SO.sub.3 and sulfate, sulfite, bisulfite and metabifulfite salts as oxygen transfer agents in the presence of one or more elements selected from Groups 3 to 14 of the periodic table, optionally further in the presence of alkali or alkaline salts and/or sulfur-containing compounds.

The oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) and the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane and higher hydrocarbons is described using SO.sub.3 and sulfate, sulfite, bisulfite and metabifulfite salts as oxygen transfer agents in the presence of one or more elements selected from Groups 3 to 14 of the periodic table, optionally further in the presence of alkali or alkaline salts and/or sulfur-containing compounds.

Enhanced oxygen transfer agent systems and methods of use thereof are provided. According to one aspect, a method for producing olefins from a hydrocarbon feed includes the step of contacting a hydrocarbon feed comprised of one or more alkanes with an oxygen transfer agent at a temperature of 350° C. to 1000° C. The oxygen transfer agent includes an oxygen-donating chalcogen agent including at least one of S, Se, or Te and a reducible metal oxide. The chalcogen has an oxidation state greater than +2. A method for producing one or more olefins by partial combustion of a hydrocarbon feed is provided. The method includes partially combusting a hydrocarbon feed comprised of one or more alkanes by contacting the hydrocarbon feed with an oxygen transfer agent comprising CaSO.sub.4 at a temperature of 350° C. to 1000° C. to produce one or more olefins comprising ethylene and coproducing water.