A process for increase conversion and yield and selectivity to normal paraffins by reducing the hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio for paraffin feeds with substantial butanes. The process works best with a low concentration of heavies and cyclics in the isomerization feed. High normal ratios of equilibrium, isobutane conversion, normal paraffins yield and selectivities are achieved for naphtha feed at low ratios of hydrogen to hydrocarbons.

An alkylation catalyst composition is provided which comprises an acid, an aromatic, and a third component selected from the group consisting of a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid; and an ionic liquid. An alkylation process is also provided which comprises combining the alkylation catalyst composition with a feedstock under conditions to produce an alkylate product for a motor fuel additive. The alkylate product produced by the alkylation process is also provided.

The present disclosure relates to methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, to methods for starting up a selective hydrogenation reactor, and to hydrogenation catalysts useful in such methods. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, the method comprising contacting a catalyst composition with a process gas. The catalyst composition comprises a porous support, palladium, and one or more ionic liquids. The process gas includes ethylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 20 mol. %; and acetylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 1 ppm. At least 90% of the acetylene present in the process gas is hydrogenated, and the selective hydrogenation is conducted without thermal runaway. Notably, the process gas is contacted with the catalyst at a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) based on total catalyst volume in one bed or multiple beds of at least 7,100 h.sup.−1.

A process for increase conversion and yield and selectivity to normal paraffins by reducing the hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio for paraffin feeds with substantial butanes. The process works best with a low concentration of heavies and cyclics in the isomerization feed. High normal ratios of equilibrium, isobutane conversion, normal paraffins yield and selectivities are achieved for naphtha feed at low ratios of hydrogen to hydrocarbons.

A method for preparing 2-alkylanthracene includes the step of separating 2-alkylanthracene from a reaction product of anthracene alkylation reaction. The anthracene alkylation reaction is a reaction of anthracene and an alkylation reagent under an alkylation condition and in the presence of an alkylation reaction solvent and a catalyst. The reaction product of the anthracene alkylation reaction contains anthracene and the product of a series of alkylanthracenes containing 2-alkylanthracene.

The invention relates to a two-way approach to isolate, recover and upgrade 2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BDO) from fermentation broth. A complete separation and recovery process for 2,3-BDO using acetalization and trans-acetalization sequence. Acetalization with butyraldehyde using heterogeneous catalysts, either Amberlyst-15® or Nafion NR50®, efficiently isolates 2,3-BDO as phase-separated protected dioxolane. The approach provides significant process advantages with easy product recovery and high recyclability of the catalyst. Trans-acetalization of dioxolane with methanol (methanolysis) followed by distillation of acetal, yielded very high purity 2,3-BDO with about 90% isolated yield. Alternatively, dioxolane is used in a process direct to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) as a BDO synthon allowing for recovery of the aldehyde.

A process for the selective dimerization and etherification of isoolefins. The process including feeding a mixed C5 stream to a selective hydrogenation unit to convert dienes to olefins and isoolefins, producing a hydrogenated effluent stream. The hydrogenated effluent stream is fed to a first fixed bed reactor, producing a first reactor effluent. The first reactor effluent is fed to a catalytic distillation reactor system, producing a first overheads including unreacted olefins, isoolefins, oxygenate, and one or more C5 ethers and a first bottoms including dimers of the isoolefins, any produced trimers of the isoolefins, and heavy oxygenates. The first overheads is fed to a second fixed bed reactor, producing a second reactor effluent including dimers of the isoolefins, unreacted C5s, and unreacted oxygenates. The first bottoms stream and the second reactor effluent are combined and fed to a product splitter, producing a second overheads stream including unreacted C5 olefins, isoolefins, and oxygenates and a second bottoms stream including C10+ hydrocarbons.

A catalyst system that may reduce polymeric fouling may include at least one titanate compound, at least one aluminum compound, and an antifouling agent. The antifouling agent may be chosen from one or more of a phosphonium or phosphonium salt; a sulfonate or a sulfonate salt; a sulfonium or sulfonium salt; an ester including a cyclic moiety; an anhydride; a polyether; and a long-chained amine-capped compound. The catalyst system may further include a non-polymeric ether compound.

Processes for alkylating benzene are provided. In embodiments, the process comprises combining benzene, an olefin, and a catalyst composition under conditions to react benzene with the olefin to produce an alkylbenzene, the catalyst composition comprising components selected from the group consisting of an ionic liquid, an acid, and an aromatic; an acid, a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid, and an aromatic; an ionic liquid and an acid; and an acid and a base capable of forming an ionic liquid with the acid. The ionic liquid does not comprise a metal halide and the catalyst composition is free of a metal halide and the aromatic, if present in the catalyst composition, is not the benzene being alkylated.

The present disclosure relates to methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, to methods for starting up a selective hydrogenation reactor, and to hydrogenation catalysts useful in such methods. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, the method comprising contacting a catalyst composition with a process gas. The catalyst composition comprises a porous support, palladium, and one or more ionic liquids. The process gas includes ethylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 20 mol. %; acetylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 1 ppm; and 0 to 190 ppm or at least 600 ppm carbon monoxide. At least 90% of the acetylene present in the process gas is hydrogenated, and the selective hydrogenation is conducted without thermal runaway.