Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for upgrading of methane and/or small alkanes to distillate boiling range hydrocarbons. The upgrading is performed using a reaction system where various types of integration are provided from downstream reaction stages to upstream reaction stages. Such integration can include recycle of various reaction products as well as thermal integration. Having a reaction system that begins with reforming of hydrocarbons and finishes with production of distillate can enable unexpected synergies between downstream reaction stages and upstream reaction stages.

Abstract: Methods are provided for treatment of kerosene/jet fuel boiling range fractions, such as previously qualified jet fuel fractions, to allow blending of the kerosene/jet fuel boiling range fractions to produce a jet fuel boiling range blend having a breakpoint that is equal to or greater than the breakpoint of at least one of the kerosene jet fuel boiling range fractions used to form the blend. The breakpoint of the jet fuel boiling range blend can be maintained by treating at least one of the component fractions of the blend and/or by treating the blend to reduce a nitrogen content. The reduced nitrogen content can correspond to a reduced content of total nitrogen and/or a reduced content of unexpected nitrogen compounds.

Abstract: Methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) conversion may be performed with a methanol recycling. Methanol may be fed to a first reactor where it may be catalytically converted under dimethyl ether formation conditions in the presence of a first catalyst to form a product mixture comprising dimethyl ether (DME), methanol, and water. The DME may be separated from the methanol and the water and delivered to a second reactor. In the second reactor, the DME may be catalytically converted under MTG conversion conditions in the presence of a second catalyst to form a second product mixture comprising gasoline hydrocarbons and light hydrocarbon gas. The methanol and the water from the first reactor may be separated further to obtain substantially water-free methanol, which may be returned to the first reactor. The separation of methanol from the water may be performed using the light hydrocarbon gas to effect stripping of the methanol.

Abstract: A method of upgrading refining streams with high polynucleararomatic hydrocarbon (PNA) concentrations can include: hydrocracking a PNA feed in the presence of a catalyst and hydrogen at 380° C. to 430° C., 2500 psig or greater, and 0.1 hr?1 to 5 hr?1 liquid hourly space velocity (LSHV), wherein the weight ratio of PNA feed to hydrogen is 30:1 to 10:1, wherein the PNA feed comprises 25 wt % or less of hydrocarbons having a boiling point of 700° F. (371° C.) or less and having an aromatic content of 50 wt % or greater to form a product comprising 50 wt % or greater of the hydrocarbons having a boiling point of 700° F. (371° C.) or less and having an aromatic content of 20 wt % or less.

Abstract: Processes are provided for preparing molecular sieves for use as catalysts. The process involves preparing a synthesis mixture for the molecular sieve wherein the synthesis mixture includes a morphology modifier which may be selected from cationic surfactants having a single quaternary ammonium group comprising at least one hydrocarbyl group having at least 12 carbon atoms, nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, sugars, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Methods of preparing organosilica materials using a starting material mixture comprising at least one compound of Formula [(RO)2SiCH2]3 (Ia) and at least one compound of Formula [R?ROSiCH2]3 (Ib), wherein each R? independently represents an RO—, an R group, or an (RO)3Si—CH2— group, at least one R? being (RO)3Si—CH2—; and R represents a C1-C4 alkyl group, in the absence of a structure directing agent and/or porogen are provided herein. Processes of using the organosilica materials, e.g., for gas separation, etc., are also provided herein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for concentration of a sorbate in a feedstream and subsequent adsorption utilizing a Type V adsorbent are provided.

Abstract: A process and system that use the heat produced in the generation of Syngas to provide heat to an endothermic reaction zone are disclosed. A method for providing heat to an endothermic reaction may comprise producing Syngas in a reforming reactor. The method may further comprise recovering heat from the producing the Syngas to heat an endothermic reaction stream in a heat transfer zone. The method may further comprise allowing reactants in the endothermic reaction stream to react to form an endothermic reaction product stream. The method may further comprise withdrawing the endothermic reaction product stream from the heat transfer zone.

Abstract: Fuel compositions that are low sulfur and have adequate combustion quality are disclosed. An example fuel composition that is low sulfur may have the following enumerated properties: a sulfur content of about 0.50% or less by weight of the fuel composition; a calculated carbon aromaticity index of about 870 or less; a density at 15° C. of about 900 kg/m3 to about 1,010 kg/m3; a kinematic viscosity at 50° C. of about 100 centistokes to about 700 centistokes; and an estimated cetane number of about 7 or greater.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling chemical production and/or petroleum processing reaction systems to allow for improved control of control variables relative to desired set points. The improved control can be achieved by use of a modified proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller or a similar type of controller that includes dynamic tuning logic. The modified PID controller can be operated using different coefficients based on the relative values of a control variable and a reasonable progress curve determined based on the values of the control variable.

Abstract: Methods of synthesizing crystalline metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) comprising polytopic organic linkers and cations, where each linker is connected to two or more cations, are provided. In the disclosed methods, the linkers are reacted with a compound of formula MnXm, where M is cationic Be, Mg, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Cd, or Hf, X is anionic, n and m are integers. The reacting is buffered by a buffer devoid of metal coordinating functionality when the pKa of the anion is below a threshold related to the lowest pKa of the linker. The reacting is optionally not buffered when the pKa of the anion is at or above this threshold. The disclosed methods lead to product phase MOF in which crystal growth is controlled leading to control over molecular diffusion.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to heat transfer fluids for use in heat transfer systems. The heat transfer fluids comprise at least one non-aqueous dielectric heat transfer fluid. The non-aqueous dielectric heat transfer fluid has density (?), specific heat (cp), and dynamic viscosity (?) properties.

Abstract: Diesel boiling-range fuel blends including renewable diesel, biodiesel, and petrodiesel, where the diesel boiling-range fuel blend is capable of producing a minimal volume change of at least one swellable elastomer in a diesel boiling-range fuel system are provided herein. Methods of making the diesel boiling-range fuel blend as well as methods of reducing swellable elastomer shrinkage are also provided herein.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided herein utilizing a membrane cascade to separate a hydrocarbon feed into boiling point fractions. Also provided herein are methods for selecting membranes for said cascades to achieve the desired boiling point fraction separation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for conversion of oxygenate-containing feeds to a hydrocarbon effluent that includes a naphtha boiling range portion with an increased research octane number and/or increased octane rating. The conditions for converting the oxygenate-containing feed can correspond to conversion conditions for fluidized bed operation and/or moving bed operation, with a low acidity catalyst that also includes phosphorus to improve the hydrogen transfer rate relative to the expected hydrogen transfer rate for a low acidity catalyst. In addition to providing a naphtha fraction with an improved research octane number and/or octane rating, the amount of durene in the naphtha fraction can be reduced or minimized.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for interfacing multiple layers of optimization for a model of one or more processes in a processing environment to achieve increased or maximized stability in the underlying layer. To improve consistency between the solutions at the different model levels, the lower level of optimization can have extra constraints added to the optimization problem which target variables at their unconstrained values in the upper layer of optimization. The systems and methods can facilitate selection of variables to receive an external target such that stability of the solution is improved or maximized. This can be achieved, at least in part, by identifying variables that provide a reduced or minimized condition number for a sub-matrix in the lower level model when an additional external constraint is applied.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for processing a feed derived from a renewable source to form oligomerized compounds corresponding to waxes, ketone waxes, and/or lubricant boiling range compounds. The oligomerized compounds derived from the renewable source can have various novel properties relative to waxes and/or lubricant boiling range compounds derived from mineral sources or derived from renewable sources in a conventional manner. The oligomerized compounds can be derived from a renewable source including fatty acids and/or fatty acid derivatives, such as glycerides (including triglycerides) and fatty amides. Optionally but preferably, at least a portion of the fatty acids and/or fatty acid derivatives can include olefinic bonds.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for block operation during lubricant and/or fuels production from deasphalted oil. During “block” operation, a deasphalted oil and/or the hydroprocessed effluent from an initial processing stage can be split into a plurality of fractions. The fractions can correspond, for example, to feed fractions suitable for forming a light neutral fraction, a heavy neutral fraction, and a bright stock fraction, or the plurality of fractions can correspond to any other convenient split into separate fractions. The plurality of separate fractions can then be processed separately in the process train (or in the sweet portion of the process train) for forming fuels and/or lubricant base stocks. This can allow for formation of unexpected base stock compositions.

Abstract: In various aspects, the performance optimization system described herein optimizes vehicle performance through smart alerts communicated to an operator, owner, or fleet manager of a vehicle. When a vehicle characteristic is outside of the target range, a smart alert can be communicated to the user to encourage the user to bring the vehicle characteristic back into a target range. Aspects of the performance optimization system can focus on tire characteristics, which are one type of vehicle characteristic. Exemplary tire characteristics can include tire pressure, tire tread, and tire alignment. In order to generate smart alerts, vehicle information can be gathered from a variety of sources. In particular, information about a tire can be collected from an onboard tire pressure monitoring system, tire mats, or other mechanisms. This information can be analyzed to determine whether vehicle characteristics are inside or outside of a target range for the particular characteristic.