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.

A process increases the concentration of non normal paraffins in a feed stream comprising separating a naphtha feed stream into a normal paraffin rich stream and a non-normal paraffin rich stream. The non-normal paraffin rich stream is isomerized over an isomerization catalyst to convert non-normal paraffins to normal paraffins, hydrocrack C5+ hydrocarbon to C2-C4 paraffins and produce an isomerization effluent stream. The isomerization effluent stream is separated into a C3− off gas, C4 rich stream and C5+ stream that is recycled to the naphtha feed stream. A depentanizer column may be positioned to either remove C6+ from the naphtha feed stream or from a bottoms stream from a stabilizer column. The amount of C2-C4 paraffins that are provided is increased from about 55% to as much as 77% and even more with further modifications including operating at higher temperatures or increasing the volume of catalyst.

A process increases the concentration of non normal paraffins in a feed stream comprising separating a naphtha feed stream into a normal paraffin rich stream and a non-normal paraffin rich stream. The non-normal paraffin rich stream is isomerized over an isomerization catalyst to convert non-normal paraffins to normal paraffins, hydrocrack C5+ hydrocarbon to C2-C4 paraffins and produce an isomerization effluent stream. The isomerization effluent stream is separated into a C3− off gas, C4 rich stream and C5+ stream that is recycled to the naphtha feed stream. A depentanizer column may be positioned to either remove C6+ from the naphtha feed stream or from a bottoms stream from a stabilizer column. The amount of C2-C4 paraffins that are provided is increased from about 55% to as much as 77% and even more with further modifications including operating at higher temperatures or increasing the volume of catalyst.

Methods of producing an isomerization catalyst include preparing a catalyst precursor solution, hydrothermally treating the catalyst precursor solution to produce a magnesium oxide precipitant, calcining the magnesium oxide precipitant to produce an isomerization catalyst precursor, soaking the isomerization catalyst precursor in an acid solution comprising sulfuric acid to product a isomerization catalyst precursor precipitant, and calcining the isomerization catalyst precursor precipitant to produce the isomerization catalyst. The catalyst precursor solution includes at least a magnesium precursor, a hydrolyzing agent, and cetrimonium bromide. Methods of producing 1-butene from a 2-butene-containing feedstock with the isomerization catalyst are also disclosed.

Methods of producing an isomerization catalyst include preparing a catalyst precursor solution, hydrothermally treating the catalyst precursor solution to produce a magnesium oxide precipitant, calcining the magnesium oxide precipitant to produce an isomerization catalyst precursor, soaking the isomerization catalyst precursor in an acid solution comprising sulfuric acid to product a isomerization catalyst precursor precipitant, and calcining the isomerization catalyst precursor precipitant to produce the isomerization catalyst. The catalyst precursor solution includes at least a magnesium precursor, a hydrolyzing agent, and cetrimonium bromide. Methods of producing 1-butene from a 2-butene-containing feedstock with the isomerization catalyst are also disclosed.

A systems and a method for isomerizing a feedstock to form an alpha-olefin product stream are provided. An exemplary method includes calcining the red mud, flowing an olefin feedstock over the red mud in an isomerization reactor, and separating the alpha-olefin from a reactor effluent.

System and method for producing 1-butene are disclosed. The method includes dehydrogenating butane to form a mixture comprising butene isomers. 1-butene is separated from the mixture using a system that includes a membrane. The system also includes an isomerizing unit for isomerizing cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene to form additional 1-butene.

A process and system for converting bio ethanol to high purity isobutene is provided. The system includes a dehydration unit configured to receive a bio ethanol containing stream, convert the bio ethanol to bio ethylene, and produce a bio ethylene containing stream, a dimerization unit configured to receive the bio ethylene stream, dimerize ethylene, and produce an n-butenes containing stream, a skeletal isomerization unit configured to receive the n-butenes containing stream, convert n-butenes to produce a skeletal isomerization stream comprising an isobutene, isobutane, n-butenes, and n-butane, and a catalytic separation unit configured to receive the skeletal isomerization stream, convert olefins and/or isoolefins contained therein to produce a converted skeletal isomerization reaction product, and to fractionate the skeletal isomerization reaction product and produce bio isobutene.

A process and system for converting bio ethanol to high purity isobutene is provided. The system includes a dehydration unit configured to receive a bio ethanol containing stream, convert the bio ethanol to bio ethylene, and produce a bio ethylene containing stream, a dimerization unit configured to receive the bio ethylene stream, dimerize ethylene, and produce an n-butenes containing stream, a skeletal isomerization unit configured to receive the n-butenes containing stream, convert n-butenes to produce a skeletal isomerization stream comprising an isobutene, isobutane, n-butenes, and n-butane, and a catalytic separation unit configured to receive the skeletal isomerization stream, convert olefins and/or isoolefins contained therein to produce a converted skeletal isomerization reaction product, and to fractionate the skeletal isomerization reaction product and produce bio isobutene.

In an embodiment, a process to convert a feed includes introducing a feed to an oligomerization catalyst in an oligomerization reactor to form a first reactor effluent; introducing the first reactor effluent to a distillation unit to form a first distillation effluent and a second distillation effluent, the second distillation effluent comprising an oligomer of isobutylene; and introducing the second distillation effluent to a cracking reactor to form a cracking reactor effluent comprising a high purity isobutylene. In another embodiment, an apparatus includes a feed line coupled to a first end of an oligomerization reactor; a first distillation unit coupled with a second end of the oligomerization reactor; a first end of a cracking reactor coupled to a second end of the first distillation unit via a first line; a first end of an isomerization reactor coupled to: a third end of the first distillation unit and the feed line.