Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid by carbonylating methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof with carbon monoxide in a carbonylation reactor containing a liquid reaction composition comprising an iridium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide co-catalyst, a finite concentration of water, acetic acid, methyl acetate, at least one promoter selected from ruthenium, osmium and rhenium and a stablising compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal iodides, alkaline earth metal iodides, metal complexes capable of generating I?, salts capable of generating I?, and mixtures of two or more thereof wherein the molar ratio of promoter to iridium is greater than 2:1, and the molar ratio of stabilising compound to iridium is in the range [greater than 0 to 5]:1.

Abstract: A product comprising a lower alkyl ester of a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid is produced by a process comprising reacting a lower alkyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising mordenite and/or ferrierite, optionally including an additional framework metal such as gallium, boron and/or iron, under substantially anhydrous conditions. More specifically, methyl acetate is selectively produced by reaction of dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising mordenite or ferrierite, under substantially anhydrous conditions.

Abstract: A process for the production of ethyl acetate by reacting ethylene with acetic acid and water in the presence of a heteropolyacid catalyst in which the concentrations of reactants in the feed stream to the reactor are such that the mole ratio of ethylene to acetic acid lies in the range 6.0 to 12.2, the mole ratio of ethylene to water lies in the range 8.0 to 17.0 and the mole ratio of acetic acid to water lies in the range 1.25 to 1.40. It has been found that by careful control of the relative concentration of the reactants and of the process operating conditions the relative amounts of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK, 2-butanone) coproduced with the desired ethyl acetate can be reduced and the catalyst life can thereby be extended.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for steam cracking hydrocarbons, which method consists in heating a mixture of hydrocarbons and steam to a desired temperature that is high enough to crack the hydrocarbons and transform them into olefins, the source of energy needed for heating the mixture is supplied essentially by cogeneration using combustion of a fuel to produce simultaneously both heat energy and mechanical work which is transformed into electricity by an alternator, and wherein the mixture is initially subjected to preheating using the heat energy supplied by the cogeneration and is subsequently heated to the desired cracking temperature by means of electrical heating using the electricity supplied by the cogeneration.

Abstract: A process for the production of a carboxylic acid and/or the alcohol ester of a carboxylic acid by carbonylating an alcohol and/or a reactive derivative thereof with carbon monoxide employing as the carbonylation catalyst, cobalt, rhodium or iridium coordinated with a tridentate ligand.

Abstract: An oxidation process for the production of alkenes and carboxylic acids from a feed comprising alkene and/or alkane, carbon monoxide, a molecular oxygen containing gas and optionally water in the presence of an oxidation catalyst in which the level of carbon monoxide is maintained between 1% and 20% by volume of the total feed to the reactor.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid by carbonylating methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof in a carbonylation reactor in a liquid reaction composition comprising an iridium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide, methyl acetate, water, acetic acid and at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhenium and osmium, characterized in that there is also present in the reaction composition a bis-phosphonate compound having the formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 are independently hydrogen or an organic functional group; Y is an optionally substituted C1-C10 alkylene or C6-C10 aryl group.

Abstract: A process for the separation of volatile material from particulate polymer which has been substantially freed from unreacted monomer in an earlier separation step, comprising (a) feeding the particulate polymer to a purge vessel, optionally causing it to move through the vessel in substantially plug-flow mode, (b) heating the particulate polymer in the purge vessel to a temperature greater than 30° C. but insufficiently high to cause the particles to become agglomerated, and/or maintaining the polymer at a temperature in this range in the purge vessel, (c) feeding air to the purge vessel counter-current to the movement of the particulate polymer to remove volatile material therefrom, (d) removing the particulate polymer from the purge vessel. Preferably the particulate polymer fed to the purge vessel is caused to move through the vessel in substantially plug-flow mode. The process is particularly suitable for polyethylene.

Abstract: A supported polymerisation catalyst system comprises a porous support, a polymerisation catalyst and a cocatalyst wherein the support has been treated with an inert material such as polyisobutene. The support is preferably silica and is preferably treated with the inert material prior to contact with the other components. Preferably the polymerisation catalyst is a metallocene and the polymerisation catalyst system reduces the initial peak isotherm allowing for a smoother activity increase in particular for polymerisations carried out in the gas phase.

Abstract: Process for producing an alkyl carboxylate, comprising contacting in an oxidation reaction zone a C2 to C4 alkane, a molecular oxygen-containing gas, the corresponding alkene and optionally water, in the presence of at least one catalyst active for the oxidation of the alkane to the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid, to produce a first product stream comprising alkene, unreacted alkane, carboxylic acid and water; separating in a first separation means at least a portion of the product stream produced in the oxidation reaction zone into a gaseous stream comprising alkene and unreacted alkane and a liquid stream comprising carboxylic acid and water; and separating by chemical treatment at least a portion of the gaseous stream obtained from the first separation means into respective streams rich in alkene and alkane; wherein the chemical treatment comprises the steps of: (1) contacting the alkene/alkane gaseous stream with a solution of a metal salt capable of selectively chemically absorbing the alkene t

Abstract: A process for reacting in a fluid bed reactor at least one oxidisable reactant with molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalytically active fluidised bed of solid particles. In the process a molecular oxygen-containing gas having an oxygen concentration greater than that of air is introduced into the fluidised bed whilst the fluidised bed is maintained in a turbulent regime. The process is suitable for oxidation, ammoxidation and carboxylation processes, including the production of maleic anhydride, acrylonitrile, ethylene, acetic acid and vinyl acetate.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid which comprises carbonylating methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof in one or more reactors in a liquid reaction composition comprising iridium carbonylation catalyst, ruthenium promoter, methyl iodide co-catalyst, methyl acetate, acetic acid and water. The liquid reaction composition from the one or more reactors is passed to one or more flash separation stages to form (i) a vapor fraction comprising condensable components and a low pressure off-gas comprising carbon monoxide and (ii) a liquid fraction comprising iridium carbonylation catalyst, ruthenium promoter and acetic acid solvent. The condensable components are separated from the low pressure off-gas. The concentration of carbon monoxide in the low pressure off-gas is maintained according to the formula: Y>mX+C wherein Y is the molar concentration of carbon monoxide in the low pressure off-gas, X is the concentration in ppm by weight of ruthenium in the liquid reaction composition, m is about 0.

Abstract: A process for reacting in a fluid bed reactor at least one oxidizable reactant with molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalytically active fluidized bed of solid particles. In the process a molecular oxygen-containing gas having an oxygen concentration greater than that of air is introduced into the fluidized bed while the fluidized bed is maintained in a turbulent regime. The process is suitable for oxidation, ammoxidation and carboxylation processes, including the production of maleic anhydride, acrylonitrile, ethylene, acetic acid and vinyl acetate.

Abstract: 1.

Abstract: A process for maintaining a property P of a polyisobutene around a target value V during a continuous polymerisation of isobutene in a reactor containing a boiling liquid reaction phase in equilibrium with a gas phase above the liquid phase. The process comprises continuously introducing, into the reactor, a catalyst and a C4 hydrocarbon feed and continuously withdrawing, from the reactor, the liquid reaction phase which is subsequently subjected, continuously, to at least one purification step to isolate the polyisobutene. The property P is chosen amongst the viscosity and the average molecular mass of the polyisobutene.

Abstract: Process for preparing a catalyst active for the fluid bed acetoxylation of ethylene to produce vinyl acetate.

Abstract: A complex of transition metal Ti, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Mn, Ta, Rh, Y, Sc, Ru, Pd, Zr, Hf, V or Nb and a mono-, bi-, tri-, or tetra-dentate ligand, wherein at least one of the donor atoms of the ligand is a nitrogen atom N with a 5-membered heterocyclic substituent joined to the N by a carbon atom. The complex is preferably formula (I) wherein R5—N-G-X1 is a bi-, tri, or tetra-dentate ligand, N is joined to G by an imine linkage; G is a bridging group which can contain a third or fourth donor atom; X1 is —O or —S if the X1-M bond is covalent, or if the X1-M bond is dative X1 is ?S, —PR7R8, —PR8R9, ?NR7, ?NR8, —NR7R8 or —NR8R9; R5 and R7 are 5-membered heterocyclic substituents joined to the nitrogen (or phosphorus) atoms via a carbon atom: R8 and R9 are hydrocarbyl or heterohydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl or aryl substituent; X represents an atom or group covalently or ionically bonded to the transition metal M; L is a group datively bound to M, and n is from 0 to 5; q is 1 or 2.

Abstract: A catalyst for the polymerization of 1-olefins is disclosed, which comprises (1) a compound of Formula B wherein M is Fe[II], Fe[III], Co[I], Co[II], Co[III], Mn[I], Mn[II], Mn[III], Mn[IV], Ru[II], Ru[III] or Ru[IV]; X represents an atom or group covalently or ionically bonded to the transition metal M; T is the oxidation state of the transition metal M and b is the valency of the atom or group X; R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl or substituted heterohydrocarbyl; and when any two or more of R1–R7 are hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl or substituted heterohydrocarbyl, said two or more can be linked to form one or more cyclic substituents; and (2) a further catalyst.

Abstract: A process for reacting in a fluid bed reactor at least one oxidizable reactant with molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalytically active fluidized bed of solid particles. In the process a molecular oxygen-containing gas having an oxygen concentration greater than that of air is introduced into the fluidized bed while the fluidized bed is maintained in a turbulent regime. The process is suitable for oxidation, ammoxidation and carboxylation processes, including the production of maleic anhydride, acrylonitrile, ethylene, acetic acid and vinyl acetate.

Abstract: A process for the trimerization of olefins is disclosed, comprising contacting a monomeric olefin or mixture of olefins under trimerization conditions with a catalyst which comprises (a) a source of chromium, molybdenum or tungsten (b) a ligand containing at least one phosphorus, arsenic or antimony atom bound to at least one hydrocarbyl or heterohydrocarbyl group having a polar substituent, but excluding the case where all such polar substituents are phosphane, arsane or stibana groups; and optionally (c) an activator.