Grt, Inc.

University of California

Michael J Weiss

Eric W McFarland

Jeffrey H Sherman

Galen D Stucky

Ivan Marc Lorkovic

Philip Grosso

Peter C Ford

Dieter J Schaefer

Leroy E Laverman

Shouli Sun

Michael Francis Doherty

Ashley W Breed

Michael Wyrsta

Peter K Stoimenov

Sagar B Gadewar

Ashley W Rreed

Maria Noy

Eric W Mcfarland

Improvements in previously disclosed methods of and apparatuses for converting alkanes, alkenes, and aromatics to olefins, alcohols, ethers, and aldehydes includes: safety improvements, use of alternative feedstocks, process simplification, improvements to the halogenation step, improvements to the reproportionation step, improvements to the solid oxide reaction, improvements to solid oxide regeneration, improvements in separations, maintenance, start-up, shut-down, and materials of construction.

Hydrocarbon conversion process improvements

An improved process and a zone reactor for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into higher hydrocarbons is provided. A first zone in the reactor contains both a material capable of releasing hydrogen halide (HX) and a carbon-carbon coupling catalyst; a second zone is initially empty or contains a halogenation and/or oxyhalogenation catalyst; and a third zone contains both a carbon-carbon coupling catalyst and a material capable of capturing HX. Air or oxygen is introduced into the first zone, a feedstock is introduced into the second zone, and products are produced in the third zone. HX produced during the reaction is reversibly captured and released in zonesand

Zone reactor incorporating reversible hydrogen halide capture and release

A process is provided for separating one or more light gases from bromine or chlorine using one or more physical separations and contact with a chemical scrubber to recover additional halogen. In one aspect, the process comprises (a) providing a feed of halogen containing one or more light gases to a distillation column or flash vaporizer; (b) operating the distillation column or flash vaporizer to separate the feed into (i) a first liquid containing a major amount of halogen and no more than a minor amount of light gas(es), and (ii) a first vapor containing a major amount of light gas(es) and no more than a minor amount of halogen; and (c) providing the vapor to a chemical scrubber to recover halogen from the vapor.

Separation of light gases from halogens

A method of synthesizing hydrocarbons from smaller hydrocarbons includes the steps of hydrocarbon halogenation, simultaneous oligomerization and hydrogen halide neutralization, and product recovery, with a metal-oxygen cataloreactant used to facilitate carbon-carbon coupling. Treatment with air or oxygen liberates halogen and regenerates the cataloreactant.

Hydrocarbon synthesis

A reactant selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, dienes, and aromatics is reacted with a halide selected from the group including chlorine, bromine, and iodine to form a first reaction product. The first reaction product is reacted with a solid oxidizer to form a product selected from the group including olefins, alcohols, ethers, and aldehydes, and spent oxidizer. The spent oxidizer is oxidized to form the original solid oxidizer and the second reactant which are recycled.

Method and apparatus for synthesizing olefins, alcohols, ethers, and aldehydes

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Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Michael J Weiss