Abstract: A process for the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons that operates with a high water content in an alkylation zone and a low water content in a transalkylation zone is disclosed. An aromatic feed and an acyclic feed are first passed through the alkylation reaction zone that operates at a high water content. A stripping column receives the effluent of the alkylation reaction zone, removes water and unreacted aromatic feed and produces a bottom stream containing unreacted aromatic feed and alkylated aromatics. A recycle column receives the bottom stream and produces an overhead stream of unreacted aromatic feed having a low water content. The overhead stream and a stream of polyalkylated aromatics are contacted in the transalkylation zone.

Abstract: A process and a control system are disclosed for continuous cooling of a condensable process stream by the integration of a sorption cooling section for producing a chilled stream therewith. The condensable process stream is cooled with a cooled hot exit stream from the sorption cooling section to provide a hot working fluid stream to desorb an adsorption zone in the sorption cooling zone. A cold working fluid stream comprising a condensed portion of the condensable stream is passed to the sorption cooling section to facilitate adsorption in another adsorption zone in the sorption cooling section and a warm exit stream is withdrawn. The hot exit stream and the warm exit stream are cross-exchanged to smooth out the temperature variations which reduce the size and operating cost of producing the chilled stream.

Abstract: A simplified solution to the problem of salt precipitation on the trays of a the FCC main column removes salt or salt forming compounds from an naphtha slip stream. The invention removes solubilized salt from the a cooled naphtha fraction of the main column by water washing to absorb dissociated ions of the salts and separation of the aqueous phase for removal of the salts from the separation loop.

Abstract: A process to separate in a fractionation zone an admixture comprising phenol, alpha-methylstyrene and water to produce an alpha-methylstyrene stream containing a minimum of phenol. The pH of the overhead aqueous phase is adjusted with a base to greater than about 6.

Abstract: A FCC product recovery section operates at greater efficiency by recovering separate riser product streams and reactor product streams and quenching and absorbing lighter, more valuable hydrocarbon products from the reactor product stream in separate quench and absorption vessels. The quench and absorbtion vessels are intergrated with a main fractionator and gas concentration section of a typical FCC product recovery section. Heavy hydrocarbons, clarified oil and/or cycle oil absorb hydrocarbons from the reactor product stream in the quench and absorption vessels and return the absorbed products to the main fractionator while net gasoline product from the reactor product stream enter the primary absorber of the gas concentration section. This arrangement is particularly useful in increasing the product recovery capacity of an existing FCC product separation section.

Abstract: A process for the continuous preparation of a cumene feed for cumene oxidation from a fresh cumene stream and a recycle cumene stream containing trace quantities of at least one organic acid compound by a dilute caustic wash of the contaminated cumene streams followed by a water wash of the cumene streams in a single vessel with multiple contacting sections. A portion of the water wash is supplied by a waste water stream from an oxidate wash zone having trace quantities of cumene hydroperoxide.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a cumene feed for cumene oxidation from a fresh cumene stream and a recycle cumene stream containing trace quantities of at least one organic acid compound by means of introducing the fresh cumene stream and the recycle cumene stream containing trace quantities of an organic acid compound into a lower zone of a generally vertical elongated countercurrent contacting zone having a caustic/hydrocarbon contacting section in a lower portion of the countercurrent contacting zone and a water/hydrocarbon contacting section in an upper portion of the countercurrent contacting zone; introducing a water stream to provide water to the water/hydrocarbon contacting section; including an aqueous caustic scrubbing solution to provide caustic solution to the caustic/hydrocarbon contacting section; removing spent aqueous caustic solution from the countercurrent contacting zone; and removing and recovering a cumene feed from the countercurrent contacting zone.

Abstract: A dehydrogenation process, where a hydrocarbon feed is dehydrogenated in a dehydrogenation zone and then oxidatively reheated by the combustion of hydrogen in an oxidation zone containing an oxidation catalyst, is improved by using a stream of dilution steam as an educing fluid to draw oxygen into contact with the effluent from the dehydrogenation zone ahead of the oxidation zone. A stream of dilution steam is often combined with the dehydrogenation zone effluent in order to control the oxygen concentration ahead of the oxidation zone and to lower the hydrogen partial pressure. Educing the oxygen-containing gas for the oxidation zone into the process by using the dilution steam an an educing fluid eliminates the need for compression of the oxygen-containing gas and prevents oxygen from contacting the dehydrogenation zone effluent before the dilution steam is admixed therewith. This process is particularly beneficial in the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to produce styrene.

Abstract: More efficient mixing, more complete hydrogen consumption, and more thorough cooling of a dehydrogenation zone effluent is obtained by educting a portion of the dehydrogenation effluent from the reaction and externally cooling the withdrawn effluent in a heat exchanger and externally admixing the withdrawn effluent with an oxygen-containing stream. Eduction of the hydrogenation effluent by the oxygen-containing stream provides the necessary pressure drop for passing the dehydrogenation effluent through the heat exchanger and then admixing the effluent and oxygen-containing stream.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic reforming of a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock at reforming conditions including a pressure of from about 50 to about 250 psig. is disclosed. A portion of the hydrogen-rich vapor phase recovered from the reforming zone effluent at a relatively low pressure is compressed and recycled to the reforming zone without further purification. The balance of said hydrogen-rich vapor phase, or the net hydrogen, is compressed to a relatively high pressure and recontacted with at least a portion of the liquid hydrocarbon phase recovered from said low pressure separation to effect a further purification of said net hydrogen and to maximize the recovery of C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 + material in the liquid phase.