Abstract: A process and apparatus for rapidly screening materials using, for example, mass spectrometry has been developed. More specifically, an array of materials on a fluid permeable support contained within a reaction cell having a semipermeable membrane can be rapidly screened for characteristics such as catalytic activity, selectivity, and adsorption and desorption properties.

Abstract: The invention comprises multiple configurations of downcomers in a parallel flow multiple downcomer tray for vapor-liquid contacting processes such as the separation of chemical compounds via fractional distillation or the removal of a component of a gas stream with a treating liquid. In one embodiment, side downcomers are incorporated into a parallel flow multiple downcomer tray. In another embodiment, the downcomers have an inclined side wall that directs liquid onto the deck below the downcomer. The inclined side wall also provides additional volume above the inferior downcomer inlet to reduce pinching at this inlet without the need for a stilling deck.

Abstract: Enabling a transalkylation process to handle both C10 alkylaromatics and unextracted toluene permits the following improvements to be realized. No longer extracting toluene allows a reformate-splitter column to be eliminated. The extraction unit can be moved to the overhead of a benzene column that is also closely integrated with the transalkylation unit. No longer requiring a rigorous split between C9 and C10 alkylaromatics allows a heavy aromatics column to be eliminated. Such an enabled transalkylation process requires stabilization of a transalkylation catalyst through the introduction of a metal function. These improvements result in an aromatics complex apparatus with savings on inside battery limits curve costs and an improvement on the return on investment in such a complex.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and process for controlling space velocity in a fluidized catalytic conversion reactor. The catalyst flux rate can be adjusted during the process of the reaction to adjust the space velocity and maintain a fast fluidized flow regime therein. The set parameter in the reactor may be pressure drop which is proportional to catalyst density.

Abstract: Enabling a transalkylation process to handle both C10 alkylaromatics and unextracted toluene permits the following improvements to be realized. No longer extracting toluene allows a reformate-splitter column to be eliminated. The extraction unit can be moved to the overhead of a benzene column and integrated together with the transalkylation unit to reduce costs. No longer requiring a rigorous split between C9 and C10 alkylaromatics allows a heavy aromatics column to be eliminated. Such an enabled transalkylation process requires stabilization of a transalkylation catalyst through the introduction of a metal function. These improvements result in an aromatics complex apparatus with savings on inside battery limits curve costs and an improvement on the return on investment in such a complex.

Abstract: Increased yields of middle distillate products are obtained in a hydrocracking process by the use of a catalyst containing a beta zeolite. In embodiments, the beta zeolite has not been hydrothermally treated or has been hydrothermally treated at a relatively low temperature. In another embodiment, the catalyst contains a relatively low amount of beta zeolite.

Abstract: Using a high pressure rotary adsorbent wheel, a high value compressed gas feed can be purified by concentrating the impurity such as water, condensing it out, before final purification. Instead of exhausting gas from the system, the effluent can be put back into the feed at a point prior to condensation of the high value gas feed, and therefore the entire feed is purified without any high value gas feed going into a waste stream.

Abstract: A transalkylation process for reacting carbon number nine aromatics with toluene to form carbon number eight aromatics such as para-xylene is herein disclosed. The process is based on the discovery that deactivating contaminants present in typical hydrocarbon feeds, such as chlorides, can be removed with an alumina guard bed prior to contacting with a transalkylation catalyst. Effective transalkylation catalysts have a solid-acid component such as mordenite, and a metal component such as rhenium. The invention is embodied in a process, a catalyst system, and an apparatus. The invention provides for longer catalyst cycle life when processing aromatics under commercial transalkylation conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus and process in which a catalyst nozzle and a feed nozzle are joined together at a joint in a reactor vessel that contains a disengaging transport conduit in communication with a separator. An inlet to the transport conduit is disposed vertically higher than the joint to reduce the quantity of catalyst that enters the transport conduit with the vapor product.

Abstract: A process for decomposing a cumene oxidation product mixture containing cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) and dimethylphenolcarbinol (DMPC) to produce phenol and acetone.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for rapidly generating a plurality of isolated effluents have been developed. A specific embodiment involves screening a plurality of solids through simultaneously contacting the members of the plurality with a fluid, sampling the resulting fluids, and processing the resulting fluids to, for example, determine changes as compared to the feed fluid or as compared to other resulting fluids.

Abstract: A process for the decomposition of a cumene oxidation product mixture to produce phenol and acetone with reduced by-product formation by introducing the cumene oxidation mixture into an inlet of a decomposing vessel containing indirect heat exchange surfaces wherein the cumene oxidation product mixture and a circulating stream are admixed, reacted and cooled by passage around the indirect heat exchange surfaces.

Abstract: An improved methanol-to-olefin (MTO) product recovery scheme is provided which enables substantial reduction in the amount of light olefins that are undesirably captured in a dimethylether (DME) recycle stream when a portion of the methanolic feed to the MTO reaction zone is used as the scrubbing solvent in a primary DME absorption zone in order to recycle this DME oxygenate by-product to the MTO reaction zone. In accordance with the present invention, a liquid solvent stream recovered from the primary DME absorption zone is subjected in a stripping zone to light olefin stripping conditions sufficient to lift a substantial portion of the light olefins that are absorbed in the DME solvent without stripping a significant portion of this methanol solvent, thereby increasing the recovery of desired light olefins while simultaneously diminishing the amount of light olefins carried by the DME recycle stream back to MTO conversion step.

Abstract: The invention is a process and the corresponding apparatus for producing light olefins from oxygenates in an OTO reactor comprising sending an oxygenate feed stream through a feed stream distributor into an OTO reactor, contacting the oxygenates with a catalyst to produce a mixture comprising light olefins, diolefins, unreacted oxygenate and other by-products; separating the unreacted oxygenate and diolefins from said light olefins and said by-products; and returning the unreacted oxygenate and diolefins to the OTO reactor. The unreacted oxygenate and diolefins are sent through at least one feed nozzle into said reactor at a point separate from the oxygenate feed stream.

Abstract: A particular arrangement of an FCC unit creates an immediate and sustained gravity separation of catalyst and hydrocarbon vapors in short contact time cracking operation. A transverse feed contactor ejects the mixture of catalyst and hydrocarbon vapors transversely into a central portion of a separation vessel for vertical disengagement of catalyst from vapors. The vapors travel upwardly in the vessel into an inertial separator that quickly segregates entrained catalyst from the hydrocarbon vapors and collects separated catalyst at a higher elevation for stripping of adsorbed hydrocarbons from the catalyst.

Abstract: An improved methanol-to-olefin (MTO) product recovery scheme is provided which enables substantial reduction in the amount of light olefins that are undesirably captured in a dimethylether (DME) recycle stream and improved recovery of methanol when a portion of the methanolic feed to the MTO reaction zone is used as the scrubbing solvent in a primary DME absorption zone in order to recycle this DME oxygenate by-product to the MTO reaction zone. In accordance with the present invention, a liquid solvent stream recovered from the primary DME absorption zone is subjected in a stripping zone to light olefin stripping conditions sufficient to lift a substantial portion of the light olefins that are absorbed in the DME solvent without stripping a significant portion of this methanol solvent, thereby increasing the recovery of desired light olefins while simultaneously diminishing the amount of light olefins carried by the DME recycle stream back to MTO conversion step.

Abstract: A novel process effective for the removal of organic sulfur compounds, organic nitrogen compounds and light olefins from liquid hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process more specifically addresses the removal of these contaminants from aromatic compounds including benzene and toluene and from naphtha. The liquid hydrocarbons are contacted with a blend of at least one metal oxide and an acidic zeolite. Preferably, the metal oxide comprises nickel oxide and molybdenum oxide and the acidic zeolite is acidic stabilized zeolite Y. This blend has a significant capacity for adsorption of impurities and can be regenerated by oxidative treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for rapidly generating a plurality of isolated effluents have been developed. A specific embodiment involves screening a plurality of solids through simultaneously contacting the members of the plurality with a fluid, simultaneously sampling the resulting fluids, and processing the resulting fluids to, for example, determine changes as compared to the feed fluid or as compared to other resulting fluids.

Abstract: The use of two transalkylation catalysts to react aromatic compounds of carbon number nine (and heavier carbon numbers) with benzene to form carbon number eight aromatics is disclosed. The two catalyst system preserves ethyl-group species on the heavier aromatics that would otherwise de-ethylate over most gas-phase transalkylation catalysts to form undesired ethane gas with benzene or toluene. Thus, by using a transalkylation step to save ethylbenzene, a greater yield of para-xylene or other carbon number eight aromatics may be achieved within an integrated complex. An apparatus and process for the two transalkylation catalyst system is disclosed with a liquid-phase unit and a gas-phase unit.

Abstract: A process for producing food grade wax which contains exceedingly low levels of nitrogen, sulfur and aromatic compounds. A waxy feedstock is firstly hydrotreated in a first hydrogenation zone to reduce the level of contaminants such as sulfur, nitrogen and aromatic compounds, and the resulting effluent from the first hydrogenation zone is introduced into a hot, high pressure stripper and contacted with a hot, hydrogen-rich stripping gas to remove ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. The stripped, hot liquid hydrocarbons are removed from the bottom of the hot, high-pressure stripper to further reduce the concentration of aromatic compounds by being hydrogenated in a second hydrogenation zone containing a platinum or palladium catalyst.