Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing upgraded raffinate and extract products from lubricant boiling range feeds and/or other feeds having a boiling range of 400° F. (204° C.) to 1500° F. (816° C.) or more. The upgraded raffinate and/or extract products can have a reduced or minimized concentration of sulfur, nitrogen, metals, or a combination thereof. The reduced or minimized concentration of sulfur, nitrogen, and/or metals can be achieved by hydrotreating a suitable feed under hydrotreatment conditions corresponding to relatively low levels of feed conversion. Optionally, the feed can also dewaxed, such as by catalytic dewaxing or by solvent dewaxing. Because excessive aromatic saturation is not desired, the pressure for hydrotreatment (and optional dewaxing) can be 500 psig (˜3.4 MPa) to 1200 psig (˜8.2 MPa).

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for integration of use deasphalted resid as a feed for fuels and/or lubricant base stock production with use of the corresponding deasphalter rock for gasification to generate hydrogen and/or fuel for the fuels and/or lubricant production process. The integration can include using hydrogen generated during gasification as a fuel to provide heat for solvent processing and/or using the hydrogen for hydroprocessing of deasphalted oil.

Abstract: Methods are provided for in-situ detection of varnish and/or deposit precursors in a lubricant in a lubricating environment. An electrostatic accumulator can be used within a lubricating environment to enhance accumulation of varnish and/or deposit precursors on portions of the electrostatic accumulator. The deposits accumulated on the electrostatic accumulator can then be characterized in-situ. The potential difference across portions of the electrostatic accumulator can cause an enhanced rate of deposit accumulation on the electrostatic accumulator, which can facilitate characterization of the tendency of a lubricant to accumulate deposits in the lubricating environment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of fabricating novel cross-linked membranes and to cross-linked membranes produced by the disclosed methods. Specifically, methods of fabricating cross-linked membranes according to the present invention may comprise direct crosslinking, crosslinking by addition of a small molecule, interfacial crosslinking of free-standing film, and interfacial crosslinking on a solid support.

Abstract: A base stock having at least 90 wt. % saturates, an amount and distribution of aromatics, as determined by ultra violet (UV) spectroscopy, including an absorptivity between 280 and 320 nm of less than 0.015 l/gm-cm, a viscosity index (VI) from 80 to 120, and having a cycloparaffin performance ratio greater than 1.05 and a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. between 4 and 6 cSt. A base stock having at least 90 wt. % saturates, an amount and distribution of aromatics, as determined by UV spectroscopy, including an absorptivity between 280 and 320 nm of less than 0.020 l/gm-cm, a viscosity index (VI) from 80 to 120, and having a cycloparaffin performance ratio greater than 1.05 and a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. between 10 and 14 cSt. A lubricating oil having the base stock as a major component, and one or more additives as a minor component. Methods for improving oxidation performance and low temperature performance of formulated lubricant compositions through the compositionally advantaged base stock.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for conversion of gas phase reactants including CO and H2 to C2+ products using multiple catalysts in a single reactor while reducing or minimizing deactivation of the catalysts. Separate catalysts can be used that correspond to a first catalyst, such as a catalyst for synthesis of methanol from synthesis gas, and a second catalyst, such as a catalyst for conversion of methanol to a desired C2+ product. The separate catalysts can be loaded into the reactor in distinct layers that are separated by spacer layers. The spacer layers can correspond to relatively inert particles, such as silica particles. Optionally, the spacer layer can include an adsorbent, such as boron supported on alumina or boron carbide particles. The adsorbent can be suitable for selective adsorption of the one or more reaction products (such as one or more reaction by-products), to allow for further reduction or minimization of the deactivation of the conversion catalysts.

Abstract: A low transition temperature mixture (LTTM) or deep eutectic solvent (DES) useful as a lubricating oil base stock and lubricating oil including a eutectic mixture of at least a first component and at least a second component. The at least first component comprises a hydrogen bond acceptor and the at least second component comprises a hydrogen bond donor. The eutectic mixture includes an equilibrium phase between the at least first component and the at least second component. The equilibrium phase does not exhibit physical characteristics of the at least first component in an unmixed state and the at least second component in an unmixed state. The at least first component and the at least second component form an intermolecular interaction between each other sufficient to prevent crystallization of the at least first component and the at least second component in the eutectic mixture. The eutectic mixture is a liquid at 20° C.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for separating a feedstock into a plurality of separation products using dividing wall column technology that includes a plurality of dividing walls. Including a plurality of dividing walls in the column can provide reduced energy consumption and reduced equipment footprint for production of a plurality of high purity distillation products. The systems and methods can allow for separation of a large number of products from a feed while having a reduced or minimized number of liquid splits and/or vapor splits.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing selective catalytic reduction on engine exhaust using ethanol from the engine fuel as the reducing agent. Fuel from a fuel tank or other fuel source can be passed through a separation module to produce a fuel stream with a reduced ethanol content and an ethanol-enriched fraction. After combustion of fuel under lean conditions, the combustion exhaust can be exposed to a catalyst system in the presence of the ethanol-enriched fraction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for modifying or selecting processing conditions for bright stock formation based on compositional characterization of the feedstock and/or bright stock products. In some aspects, the compositional information can include Z-class characterization of the components of a feed and/or bright stock product, optionally in combination with carbon number and/or molecular weight for the components. The compositional information can be used to select processing conditions to allow for removal and/or modification of selected components within a bright stock in order to improve throughput and/or provide desirable cold flow properties.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for conversion of light paraffinic gases to form liquid products in a process performed in a fixed bed radial-flow reactor. The light paraffins can correspond to C3+ paraffins. Examples of liquid products that can be formed include C6-C12 aromatics, such as benzene, toluene, and xylene. The fixed bed radial-flow reactor can allow for improved control over the reaction conditions for paraffin conversion in spite of the fixed bed nature of the reactor. This can allow the process to operate with improved efficiency while reducing or minimizing the complexity of operation relative to non-fixed bed reactor systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) agent to provide adaptive tuning of process controllers, such as Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers. The agent can monitor process controller performance, and if unsatisfactory, can attempt to improve it by making incremental changes to the tuning parameters for the process controller. The effect of a tuning change can then be observed by the agent and used to update the agent's process controller tuning policy. It has been unexpectedly discovered that providing adaptive tuning based on incremental changes in tuning parameters, as opposed to making changes independent of current values of the tuning parameters, can provide enhanced or improved control over a controlled variable of a process.

Abstract: High temperature antioxidant additives and methods that improve a liquid fuel composition's thermal oxidative stability are disclosed. A liquid fuel composition may comprise a liquid fuel and a high temperature antioxidant additive. The high temperature antioxidant additive may comprise an aromatic carbocyclic ring that is monocyclic and comprises substituents comprising a hydroxyl group and an iminomethyl group positioned in an ortho relationship.

Abstract: Methods are provided for performing fluid catalytic cracking (and/or other hydrothermal processing for cracking of hydrocarbons) on a feedstock containing hydrocarbons in the presence of a catalyst that includes zeolite Beta that is stabilized toward hydrothermal conditions. The hydrothermally stabilized zeolite Beta (including any of the various polymorphs) corresponds to zeolite Beta that is formed without the use of an organic structure directing agent, and that is further stabilized by addition of one or more stabilizers, such as lanthanide series elements or phosphorus.

Abstract: Marine diesel fuel/fuel blending component compositions and fuel oil/fuel blending component compositions are provided that are derived from crude oils having high naphthenes to aromatics volume and/or weight ratios and a low sulfur content. In addition to having a high naphthenes to aromatics ratio, a low sulfur content, and a low but substantial content of aromatics, such fuels and/or fuel blending components can have a reduced or minimized carbon intensity relative to fuels derived from conventional sources. The unexpected ratio of naphthenes to aromatics contributes to the fuels and/or fuel blending components further having additional unexpected properties, including low density, low kinematic viscosity, and/or high energy density.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing on-board separation of a fuel into a higher octane fuel fraction and a lower octane fuel fraction using a membrane under osmosis conditions. By performing the separation under osmosis conditions, the feed for separation can be exposed to the membrane without requiring prior heating. This can avoid the need for having a separate heat exchanger system for heating the feed to the membrane to a desired temperature range. Additionally or alternately, the permeate from the membrane separation can be at a pressure of roughly 100 kPa-a or higher. This can avoid the need for having an eductor to provide a pressure below 100 kPa-a for the permeate side of the membrane. The fuel fractions produced during the membrane separation can then be used as fuel in a dual-fuel spark ignition engine.

Abstract: A systems and method for manufacturing a base stock from an ethanol stream are described herein. An example method includes dehydrating an ethanol stream to form an impure ethylene mixture, recovering an ethylene stream from the impure ethylene mixture, and oligomerizing the ethylene stream to form a raw oligomer stream. A heavy olefinic stream is distilled from the raw oligomer stream. The heavy olefinic stream is hydro-processed to form a hydro-processed stream, and the hydro-processed stream is distilled to form the base stock.

Abstract: Methods, catalysts, and corresponding catalyst precursors are provided for performing dewaxing of diesel or distillate boiling range fractions. The dewaxing methods, catalysts, and/or catalyst precursors can allow for production of diesel boiling range fuels with improved cold flow properties at desirable yields. The catalysts and/or catalyst precursors can correspond to supported metal catalysts and/or catalyst precursors that include at least one noble metal, such as Pt, at least one Group 8-10 base metal, preferably a non-noble Group 8-10 base metal, such as Ni and/or Co along with a Group 6 metal, such as Mo and/or W as supported metals along. The support can include a zeolitic framework structure. The catalyst precursors can be formed, for example, by impregnating a support including a zeolitic framework structure with impregnation solution(s) that also includes a dispersion agent.

Abstract: Viscous aqueous injections fluids including polymers having hydrophilic moieties and hydrophobic groups and at least one of crude oil emulsions and amphiphilic diblock copolymers are provided herein. Methods of making the aqueous injection fluids, and methods of using the aqueous injection fluids for oil recovery are also provided.

Abstract: A method for selective extraction of naphthenic acids from an acidic crude oil, including: providing an acidic crude oil including naphthenic acids and having a total acid number (TAN) greater than 0.4; mixing the acidic crude oil with a first aqueous solution including water and a weak base to extract a portion of naphthenic acids from the acidic crude oil thereby creating a second aqueous solution containing a mixture of the portion of naphthenic acids, the water and the weak base in an emulsion; separating the second aqueous solution from the emulsion; wherein the second aqueous solution contains an additional portion of the acidic crude oil; adding a salt to the second aqueous solution, thereby causing the additional portion of the acidic crude oil to separate from the second aqueous solution; removing the additional portion of the acidic crude oil from the second aqueous solution; and extracting the portion of the naphthenic acids from the second aqueous solution.