Ethylbenzene can be separated from a C8 aromatics mixture containing ethylbenzene and a close boiling compound by extractive distillation using an extractive agent comprising a mixture of a chlorinated aromatic compound and another compound selected from furandione derivatives and organic nitriles.

Process for the distillative separation of ethylbenzene from a mixture comprising ethylbenzene and at least one other C8 aromatic compound, comprising distilling said mixture in a distillation column in the presence of an extractive solvent, characterized in that the distillation column is operated at a sub-atmospheric pressure.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods useful in the separation of a mixed gaseous stream into one or more individual components. Resulting products can include, for example, carbon dioxide, sulfurous compounds (e.g., hydrogen sulfide), nitrogen, helium, fuel gas (e.g., natural gas, or a single or mixed hydrocarbon stream), and liquefied natural gas. The methods can include processing within a first contacting column a combination of a multi-component feed stream and an anti-freezing agent, removing from the first contacting column a stream containing a fuel gas, removing from the first contacting column a stream containing a sulfurous material, and processing the stream containing the sulfurous material in a second contacting column to provide a stream comprising at least ethane and to provide a separate stream comprising at least a portion of the sulfurous material.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods useful in the separation of a mixed gaseous stream into one or more individual components. Resulting products can include, for example, carbon dioxide, sulfurous compounds (e.g., hydrogen sulfide), nitrogen, helium, fuel gas (e.g., natural gas, or a single or mixed hydrocarbon stream), and liquefied natural gas. The methods can include processing within a first contacting column a combination of a multi-component feed stream and an anti-freezing agent, removing from the first contacting column a stream containing a fuel gas, removing from the first contacting column a stream containing a sulfurous material, and processing the stream containing the sulfurous material in a second contacting column to provide a stream comprising at least ethane and to provide a separate stream comprising at least a portion of the sulfurous material.

The method of the present invention for producing 1,3-butadiene includes: vaporizing an ethanol feedstock in a vaporizer (104), supplying the feedstock to two or more parallel first reactors (108) to convert ethanol into acetaldehyde in the presence of a first catalyst; supplying a resulting intermediate gas to a second reactor (110) to convert ethanol and acetaldehyde into 1,3-butadiene in the presence of a second catalyst; purifying a resulting crude gas containing 1,3-butadiene by a gas-liquid separator (112), a first distillation column (114), a fourth reactor (116), and a second distillation column (118); and supplying an oxygen-containing gas to at least one of the two or more parallel first reactors (108) under specific conditions, while discharging a carbon dioxide-containing gas from the first reactor (108), to thereby regenerate the first catalyst, while continuing the conversion reaction.

The method of the present invention for producing 1,3-butadiene includes: vaporizing an ethanol feedstock in a vaporizer (104), supplying the feedstock to two or more parallel first reactors (108) to convert ethanol into acetaldehyde in the presence of a first catalyst; supplying a resulting intermediate gas to a second reactor (110) to convert ethanol and acetaldehyde into 1,3-butadiene in the presence of a second catalyst; purifying a resulting crude gas containing 1,3-butadiene by a gas-liquid separator (112), a first distillation column (114), a fourth reactor (116), and a second distillation column (118); and supplying an oxygen-containing gas to at least one of the two or more parallel first reactors (108) under specific conditions, while discharging a carbon dioxide-containing gas from the first reactor (108), to thereby regenerate the first catalyst, while continuing the conversion reaction.

A process can treat a gaseous material mixture obtained by catalytic conversion of synthesis gas that contains at least alkenes, possibly alcohols and possibly alkanes, and also possibly nitrogen as inert gas and unconverted components of the synthesis gas, comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide. After catalytic conversion of synthesis gas, separation of the product mixture obtained in this reaction into a gas phase and a liquid phase is performed by at least partial absorption of the alkenes, possibly of the alcohols and possibly of the alkanes, in a high boiling point hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixture as an absorption medium, separation as the gas phase of the gases not absorbed into the absorption medium, separating an aqueous phase from the organic phase of the absorption medium, preferably by decanting, and desorption of the alkenes, possibly of the alcohols and possibly of the alkanes, from the absorption medium.

A process can treat a gaseous material mixture obtained by catalytic conversion of synthesis gas that contains at least alkenes, possibly alcohols and possibly alkanes, and also possibly nitrogen as inert gas and unconverted components of the synthesis gas, comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide. After catalytic conversion of synthesis gas, separation of the product mixture obtained in this reaction into a gas phase and a liquid phase is performed by at least partial absorption of the alkenes, possibly of the alcohols and possibly of the alkanes, in a high boiling point hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixture as an absorption medium, separation as the gas phase of the gases not absorbed into the absorption medium, separating an aqueous phase from the organic phase of the absorption medium, preferably by decanting, and desorption of the alkenes, possibly of the alcohols and possibly of the alkanes, from the absorption medium.

A process can produce alcohols having at least two carbon atoms by catalytic conversion of synthesis gas into a mixture containing alkanes, alkenes, and alcohols. Alkenes are converted into corresponding alcohols in a subsequent step by hydration of the alkanes. Before the hydration and after the catalytic conversion, gas and liquid phases may be separated. Specific catalysts can be employed that have a markedly higher selectivity for alkenes than for alkanes. These catalysts comprise grains of non-graphitic carbon having cobalt nanoparticles dispersed therein. The cobalt nanoparticles have an average diameter d.sub.p from 1 to 20 nm, and an average distance D between nanoparticles is from 2 to 150 nm. The combined total mass fraction of metal ω in the grains ranges from 30% to 70% by weight of the total mass of the grains of non-graphitic carbon, wherein 4.5 dp/ω>D≥0.25 dp/ω.

A process can produce alcohols having at least two carbon atoms by catalytic conversion of synthesis gas into a mixture containing alkanes, alkenes, and alcohols. Alkenes are converted into corresponding alcohols in a subsequent step by hydration of the alkanes. Before the hydration and after the catalytic conversion, gas and liquid phases may be separated. Specific catalysts can be employed that have a markedly higher selectivity for alkenes than for alkanes. These catalysts comprise grains of non-graphitic carbon having cobalt nanoparticles dispersed therein. The cobalt nanoparticles have an average diameter d.sub.p from 1 to 20 nm, and an average distance D between nanoparticles is from 2 to 150 nm. The combined total mass fraction of metal ω in the grains ranges from 30% to 70% by weight of the total mass of the grains of non-graphitic carbon, wherein 4.5 dp/ω>D≥0.25 dp/ω.