The present invention relates to a process for preparing cyclohexane by isomerizing a hydrocarbon mixture (HM1) comprising methylcyclopentane (MCP) in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst is preferably an acidic ionic liquid. The starting material used is a stream (S1) which originates from a steamcracking process. The hydrocarbon mixture (HM1) obtained from this stream (S1) in an apparatus for aromatics removal has a reduced aromatics content compared to stream (S1), and (HM1) may optionally also be (virtually) free of aromatics. Depending on the type and amount of the aromatics remaining in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM1), especially in the case that benzene is present, the isomerization may additionally be preceded by performance of a hydrogenation of (HM1). In addition, depending on the presence of other components of (HM1), further purification steps may optionally be performed prior to or after the isomerization or hydrogenation. High-purity (on-spec) cyclohexane is preferably isolated from the hydrocarbon mixture (HM2) obtained in the isomerization, the specifications being, for example, those applicable to the use of the cyclohexane for the preparation, known to those skilled in the art, of caprolactam.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing cyclohexane by isomerizing a hydrocarbon mixture (HM1) comprising methylcyclopentane (MCP) in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst is preferably an acidic ionic liquid. The starting material used is a stream (S1) which originates from a steamcracking process. The hydrocarbon mixture (HM1) obtained from this stream (S1) in an apparatus for aromatics removal has a reduced aromatics content compared to stream (S1), and (HM1) may optionally also be (virtually) free of aromatics. Depending on the type and amount of the aromatics remaining in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM1), especially in the case that benzene is present, the isomerization may additionally be preceded by performance of a hydrogenation of (HM1). In addition, depending on the presence of other components of (HM1), further purification steps may optionally be performed prior to or after the isomerization or hydrogenation. High-purity (on-spec) cyclohexane is preferably isolated from the hydrocarbon mixture (HM2) obtained in the isomerization, the specifications being, for example, those applicable to the use of the cyclohexane for the preparation, known to those skilled in the art, of caprolactam.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing cyclohexane by isomerizing a hydrocarbon mixture (HM1) comprising methylcyclopentane (MCP) in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst is preferably an acidic ionic liquid. The starting material used is a stream (S1) which originates from a steamcracking process. The hydrocarbon mixture (HM1) obtained from this stream (S1) in an apparatus for aromatics removal has a reduced aromatics content compared to stream (S1), and (HM1) may optionally also be (virtually) free of aromatics. Depending on the type and amount of the aromatics remaining in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM1), especially in the case that benzene is present, the isomerization may additionally be preceded by performance of a hydrogenation of (HM1). In addition, depending on the presence of other components of (HM1), further purification steps may optionally be performed prior to or after the isomerization or hydrogenation. High-purity (on-spec) cyclohexane is preferably isolated from the hydrocarbon mixture (HM2) obtained in the isomerization, the specifications being, for example, those applicable to the use of the cyclohexane for the preparation, known to those skilled in the art, of caprolactam.

A method to generate cyclic hydrocarbons from farnesene to increase both the density and net heat of combustion of the product fuels.

A method to generate cyclic hydrocarbons from farnesene to increase both the density and net heat of combustion of the product fuels.

A method to generate dense, multi-cyclic diamondoid fuels from bio-derived sesquiterpenes. This process can be conducted with both heterogeneous and homogenous catalysts and produces the targeted isomers in high yield. The resulting multi-cyclic structures impart significantly higher densities and volumetric net heats of combustion while maintaining low viscosities which allow for use at low temperature/high altitude. Moreover, bio-derived sesquiterpenes can be produced from renewable biomass sources. Use of these fuels will decrease Navy dependence on fossil fuels and will also reduce net carbon emissions.

A method to generate dense, multi-cyclic diamondoid fuels from bio-derived sesquiterpenes. This process can be conducted with both heterogeneous and homogenous catalysts and produces the targeted isomers in high yield. The resulting multi-cyclic structures impart significantly higher densities and volumetric net heats of combustion while maintaining low viscosities which allow for use at low temperature/high altitude. Moreover, bio-derived sesquiterpenes can be produced from renewable biomass sources. Use of these fuels will decrease Navy dependence on fossil fuels and will also reduce net carbon emissions.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing cyclohexane from methylcyclopentane (MCP) and benzene. In the context of the present invention, MCP and benzene are constituents of a hydrocarbon mixture (HM1) additionally comprising dimethylpentanes (DMP), possibly cyclohexane and possibly at least one compound (low boiler) selected from acyclic C.sub.5-C.sub.6-alkanes and cyclopentane. First of all, benzene is converted in a hydrogenation step to cyclohexane (that present in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM2)), while MCP is isomerized in the presence of a catalyst, preferably of an acidic ionic liquid, to cyclohexane. After the hydrogenation but prior to the isomerization the dimethylpentanes (DMP) are removed, with initial removal of the cyclohexane present in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM2) together with DMP. This cyclohexane already present prior to the isomerization can be separated again from DMP in a downstream rectification step and isolated and/or recycled into the process for cyclohexane preparation. Between the DMP removal and MCP isomerizationif low boilers are present in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM1)low boilers are, optionally removed. After the isomerization, the cyclohexane is isolated, optionally with return of unisomerized MCP and optionally of low boilers. Preferably, cyclohexane and/or low boilers are present in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM1), and so a low boiler removal is preferably conducted between the DMP removal from isomerization. It is additionally preferable that the removal of the cyclohexane from DMP is additionally conducted, meaning that the cyclohexane component which arises in the benzene hydrogenation and may be present in the starting mixture (HM1) is isolated and hence recovered.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing cyclohexane from methylcyclopentane (MCP) and benzene. In the context of the present invention, MCP and benzene are constituents of a hydrocarbon mixture (HM1) additionally comprising dimethylpentanes (DMP), possibly cyclohexane and possibly at least one compound (low boiler) selected from acyclic C.sub.5-C.sub.6-alkanes and cyclopentane. First of all, benzene is converted in a hydrogenation step to cyclohexane (that present in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM2)), while MCP is isomerized in the presence of a catalyst, preferably of an acidic ionic liquid, to cyclohexane. After the hydrogenation but prior to the isomerization the dimethylpentanes (DMP) are removed, with initial removal of the cyclohexane present in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM2) together with DMP. This cyclohexane already present prior to the isomerization can be separated again from DMP in a downstream rectification step and isolated and/or recycled into the process for cyclohexane preparation. Between the DMP removal and MCP isomerizationif low boilers are present in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM1)low boilers are, optionally removed. After the isomerization, the cyclohexane is isolated, optionally with return of unisomerized MCP and optionally of low boilers. Preferably, cyclohexane and/or low boilers are present in the hydrocarbon mixture (HM1), and so a low boiler removal is preferably conducted between the DMP removal from isomerization. It is additionally preferable that the removal of the cyclohexane from DMP is additionally conducted, meaning that the cyclohexane component which arises in the benzene hydrogenation and may be present in the starting mixture (HM1) is isolated and hence recovered.

A method to generate dense, multi-cyclic diamondoid fuels from bio-derived sesquiterpenes. This process can be conducted with both heterogeneous and homogenous catalysts and produces the targeted isomers in high yield. The resulting multi-cyclic structures impart significantly higher densities and volumetric net heats of combustion while maintaining low viscosities which allow for use at low temperature/high altitude. Moreover, bio-derived sesquiterpenes can be produced from renewable biomass sources. Use of these fuels will decrease Navy dependence on fossil fuels and will also reduce net carbon emissions.