Integrated process and apparatus to produce hydrocarbons from aqueous solutions of lactones, hydroxy-carboxylic acids, alkene-carboxylic acids, and/or alcohols

A process for producing alkenes having a chain length of C8 or greater, the process comprising:

• (a) reacting lactones, hydroxy-carboxylic acids, alkene-carboxylic acids, or mixtures thereof, or an aqueous solution comprising lactones, hydroxy-carboxylic acids, alkene-carboxylic acids, or mixtures thereof with a first acid catalyst, at a first temperature, and a first pressure, to yield a first product mixture comprising olefins;
• and
• then
• (b) separating from the first product mixture at least a fraction of any water present therein;
• and then
• (c) reacting the first product mixture with a second acid catalyst, at a second temperature, and a second pressure, to yield a second product mixture comprising alkenes having a chain length of C8 or greater;
• wherein the process is conducted in an integrated reactor comprising
• (i) a first reaction chamber in which step (a) is conducted;
• (ii) a phase separator in which step (b) is conducted, wherein the phase separator is operationally connected to the first reaction chamber;
• and
• (iii) a second reaction chamber in which step (c) is conducted, wherein the second reaction chamber is operationally connected to the phase separator.