Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed in which the hydrocarbon reactant and either a supported chromium (VI) catalyst or a supported chromium (II) catalyst are contacted, optionally with UV-visible light irradiation, followed by exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere and then hydrolysis to form a reaction product containing the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The presence of oxygen significant increases the amount of alcohol/carbonyl product formed, as well as the formation of oxygenated dimers and trimers of certain hydrocarbon reactants.

A method of producing a fuel additive includes passing a feed stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a hydrogenation unit producing a hydrogenated stream; passing the hydrogenated stream through a distillation unit producing a first stream and a second stream; producing an isobutylene stream by passing the first stream through a molecular sieve unit; passing the isobutylene stream to a hydration unit as a feedstock for the fuel additive; and forming the fuel additive in the hydration unit.

A method of producing a fuel additive includes passing a feed stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a hydrogenation unit producing a hydrogenated stream; passing the hydrogenated stream through a distillation unit producing a first stream and a second stream; producing an isobutylene stream by passing the first stream through a molecular sieve unit; passing the isobutylene stream to a hydration unit as a feedstock for the fuel additive; and forming the fuel additive in the hydration unit.

Processes for producing alcohols from biomass are provided. The processes utilize supercritical methanol to depolymerize biomass with subsequent conversion to a mixture of alcohols. In particular the disclosure relates to continuous processes which produce high yields of alcohols through recycling gases and further employ dual reactor configurations which improve overall alcohol yields. Processes for producing higher ethers and olefins from the so-formed alcohols, through alcohol coupling and subsequent dehydration are also provided. The resulting distillate range ethers and olefins are useful as components in liquid fuels, such as diesel and jet fuel.

Processes for producing alcohols from biomass are provided. The processes utilize supercritical methanol to depolymerize biomass with subsequent conversion to a mixture of alcohols. In particular the disclosure relates to continuous processes which produce high yields of alcohols through recycling gases and further employ dual reactor configurations which improve overall alcohol yields. Processes for producing higher ethers and olefins from the so-formed alcohols, through alcohol coupling and subsequent dehydration are also provided. The resulting distillate range ethers and olefins are useful as components in liquid fuels, such as diesel and jet fuel.

A pervaporation membrane formed on a porous support containing a composition encompassing a polysiloxane, a crosslinker and a catalyst are disclosed and claimed. Also disclosed are the fabrication of membranes which exhibit unique separation properties, and their use in the separation of organic volatiles from biomass and/or organic waste, including butanol, ethanol, and the like.

A pervaporation membrane formed on a porous support containing a composition encompassing a polysiloxane, a crosslinker and a catalyst are disclosed and claimed. Also disclosed are the fabrication of membranes which exhibit unique separation properties, and their use in the separation of organic volatiles from biomass and/or organic waste, including butanol, ethanol, and the like.

Process for preparing metal alkoxides by means of transalcoholization, wherein a lower metal alkoxide is fed via a side feed into a reactive distillation column comprising a rectifying section situated above the feed and a stripping section situated below the feed; a higher alcohol is fed into the stripping section, the bottom and/or a bottoms circuit of the column; a solution of a higher metal alkoxide in the higher alcohol is taken off at the bottom of the column and/or from the bottoms circuit; and a vapor comprising lower alcohol is taken off at the top of the column, the vapor is at least partially condensed and a substream of the condensate is recycled to the top of the column as reflux. The process enables the preparation of metal alkoxides with a reduced energy requirement.

Process for preparing metal alkoxides by means of transalcoholization, wherein a lower metal alkoxide is fed via a side feed into a reactive distillation column comprising a rectifying section situated above the feed and a stripping section situated below the feed; a higher alcohol is fed into the stripping section, the bottom and/or a bottoms circuit of the column; a solution of a higher metal alkoxide in the higher alcohol is taken off at the bottom of the column and/or from the bottoms circuit; and a vapor comprising lower alcohol is taken off at the top of the column, the vapor is at least partially condensed and a substream of the condensate is recycled to the top of the column as reflux. The process enables the preparation of metal alkoxides with a reduced energy requirement.

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 hydrogenation unit producing a second process stream; passing the second process stream through an isomerization unit producing a third process stream; and passing the third process stream through a hydration unit producing the fuel additive and a recycle stream.