Abstract: A process for selectively hydrogenating C4-acetylenes in a liquid hydrocarbon stream containing largely butadiene has been developed. Hydrogen and the hydrocarbon stream are contacted with a catalytic composite comprising an inorganic oxide support having dispersed thereon finely divided copper metal and an activator metal of nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium, manganese, or a combination thereof where 1) the catalytic composite has an average diameter of up to about {fraction (1/32)} inch (800 microns) and/or 2) at least 70 weight percent of the copper metal and the activator metal are dispersed on the outer 200 micron layer of the support.

Abstract: In a process for the oligomerization of light olefins (e.g. propylene) to more valuable higher olefins (e.g. hexene), the use of a molecular sieve (e.g. SAPO-11) that has been acid washed has shown to provide superior selectivity to, and yield of, the desired product. These benefits are attributed to a reduction in non-selective acid sites as well as an increase in phosphorous content (in the case of SAPO molecular sieves) at the molecular sieve crystallite surface, a probable result of removing amorphous silicon aluminum phosphate acid, silicophosphorous acids, and/or phosphoric acids. Furthermore, this removal is likely accompanied by an increased accessibility of olefinic feed components to the so-called “selective” acid sites within the sieve pores. Post-synthesis acid washing of the molecular sieve has not only demonstrated a narrower carbon number distribution of olefin oligomers, but also improved the linearity of the oligomerized olefinic product slate in general.

Abstract: A hybrid reactor arrangement provides a reactive design that achieves higher acrylonitrile yield and lower catalyst circulating rate. The hybrid reactor design first passes a mixture of reactants and catalyst through a circulating bubbling bed reaction section. Heat exchange coils or other cooling medium in the bubbling bed reactor section maintain temperature in a range that will maximize the selectivity of reactants to the acrylonitrile product. The bubbling bed reactor section provides the initial conversion of the reactant. A circulating fluidized bed reaction zone finishes the conversion of reactants to a high yield under conditions that reduce the occurrence of secondary reactions that could otherwise produce unwanted by-products. The circulating fluidized bed reactor section maintains nearly plug flow conditions that allow continued conversion of unreacted feed components through primary reactions while limiting the time for secondary reactions to continue and diminish the final yield of products.

Abstract: A process to remove polymeric by-products from the product of an acetylene selective hydrogenation reactor has been developed. The product is generated by introducing hydrogen and a liquid hydrocarbon stream containing largely butadiene and some acetylenes to a reactor containing a catalyst effective for the selective hydrogenation of acetylenes. The product contains at least hydrogen, butadiene, and polymeric by-products. The pressure of the product is reduced and the product cooled. The cooled product is conducted to a low pressure flash drum to produce a hydrogen enriched stream and a butadiene and polymeric by-product-enriched stream. The hydrogen-enriched stream is removed. The butadiene and polymeric by-product is passed to a knockout drum to produce a stream enriched in butadiene and polymeric by-products having less than about 12 carbon atoms and a stream enriched in polymeric by-products having about 12 or more carbon atoms.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for the removal of nitrogen compounds from light hydrocarbon streams. Such nitrogen removal enhances the performance of catalytic processes which upgrade light hydrocarbons, especially light olefins, such as isomerization and etherification. The nitrogen-removal process can usefully be combined with steps for removal of sulfur compounds and highly unsaturated compounds in a process combination for upgrading the light hydrocarbons.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for the isomerization of butenes and/or pentenes using a catalyst comprising a non-zeolitic molecular sieve. It is of particular interest to increase the proportion of olefins containing tertiary carbons in the product with low formation of undesirable by-products. Product olefins may be further processed to obtain ethers, which enjoy high current interest as components for reformulated gasoline.

Abstract: Methane is upgraded to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons in a process using a novel catalyst comprising oxides of boron, tin and zinc. The feed admixture also comprises oxygen. The novel catalyst may comprise one or more Group I-A or II-A elements, preferably potassium and is characterized by its method of manufacture.

Abstract: The subject Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprises moderated ruthenium on an inorganic oxide support. The preferred moderator is silicon. Preferably the moderator is effectively positioned in relationship to ruthenium particles through simultaneous placement on the support using reverse micelle impregnation.

Abstract: A novel catalytic composite and a process for its use is disclosed. The catalyst composite comprises a first component selected from Group IA and Group IIA elements of the Periodic Table of the Elements, a second component selected from iridium, and osmium, or mixtures thereof, a third component selected from the elements of Group IVA of the Periodic Table of the Elements, platinum, and a support having a nominal dimension (d) of from 50 to 10,000 microns. The catalytic composite is characterized in that both the second component and platinum are surface-impregnated upon the support, with the concentration gradient of the second component being steeper than that of platinum. The second component is eggshell surface-impregnated.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process which utilizes a novel catalytic composite is disclosed. The catalyst composite comprises a platinum group metal component, a first modifier selected from Group IA and IIA elements of the Periodic Table, a second modifier component selected from the group of elements consisting of palladium, iridium, and osmium, and a third modifier component selected from the elements of Group IVA of the Periodic Table of the Elements. All of the catalytic components are located on a refractory oxide support having a nominal diameter (d) of from 50 to 10,000 microns. The catalytic composite is characterized in that the second modifier components is surface-impregnated upon the support in such a manner that the average concentration of the surface-impregnated second modifier component on the outside 0.2d micron catalyst layer is at least 2 times the average concentration of the second modifier component in 0.

Abstract: Methane is upgraded to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons in a process using a novel catalyst comprising boron, tin and zinc. The feed admixture also comprises oxygen. The novel catalyst may comprise one or more Group I-A or II-A elements, preferably potassium.

Abstract: A Fischer-Tropsch type process produces hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen using a novel catalyst comprising moderated ruthenium on an inorganic oxide support. The preferred moderator is silicon. Preferably the moderator is effectively positioned in relationship to ruthenium particles through simultaneous placement on the support using reverse micelle impregnation.

Abstract: A novel catalytic composite and a process of its use is disclosed. The catalyst comprises a platinum group metal component, a first modifier component selected from Group IA and IIA elements of the Periodic Table, a second modifier components selected from the group of elements consisting of palladium, iridum, and osmium, and a third modifier component selected from the elements of Group IVA of the Peridoic Table of the Elements. All of the catalytic components are located on a refractory oxide support having a nominal diameter (d) of from 50 to 1000 microns. The catalytic composite is characterized in that the second modifier component is surface-impregnated upon the support in such a manner that the average concentration of the surface-impregnated second modifier component on the outside 0.2d micron catalyst layer is at least 2 times the average concentration of the second modifier component in 0.

Abstract: A novel catalytic composite comprising a platinum group metal component; a modifier metal component selected from the group consisting of a tin component, germanium component, rhenium component and mixtures thereof; an optional alkali or alkaline earth metal component or mixtures thereof, an optional halogen component, and an optional catalytic modifier component on a refractory oxide support having a nominal diameter of at least about 850 microns. The distribution of the platinum group metal component is such that the platinum group component is surface-impregnated where substantially all of the platinum group metal component is located at most within a 400 micron exterior layer of the support. The effective amount of the modifier metal component is uniformly dispersed throughout the refractory oxide support.

Abstract: A novel catalytic composite comprising a platinum group metal component; a modifier metal component selected from the group consisting of a tin component, germanium component, rhenium component and mixtures thereof; an optional alkali or alkaline earth metal component or mixtures thereof, an optional halogen component, and an optional catalytic modifier component on a refractory oxide support having a nominal diameter of at least about 850 microns. The distribution of the platinum group metal component is such that the platinum group component is surface-impregnated where substantially all of the platinum group metal component is located at most within a 400 micron exterior layer of the support. The effective amount of the modifier metal component is uniformly dispersed throughout the refractory oxide support.

Abstract: A catalyst composition for synthesis gas conversion comprising a ruthenium metal component deposited on a support carrier wherein the average metal particle size is less than about 100 A. The method of manufacture of the composition via a reverse micelle impregnation technique and the use of the composition in a Fischer-Tropsch conversion process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel dehydrogenation process is disclosed. This process comprises contacting dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons with a catalytic composite comprising a platinum component, a tin component, a potassium component, a lithium component, and an alumina support, wherein the lithium to potassium atomic ratio of said catalytic composite is in the range of from 3:1 to 5:1. The process of the invention has particular utility for the dehydrogenation of C.sub.3 -C.sub.30 paraffins.

Abstract: A novel catalytic composite is disclosed. Also disclosed is a use for the novel composite and a method for preparing the same. The catalytic composite comprises a Group VIII, noble metal component, a co-formed IVA metal component, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal component and an alumina support having a surface area of from 5 to 150 m.sup.2 /g. Additionally the alumina support is such that less than about 18% of the total pore volume of the support is associated with pores having mean diameters of about 300 Angstroms or less and more than about 55% of the total pore volume of the support is associated with pores having mean diameters of about 600 Angstroms or more. The novel catalytic composite has particular utility as a paraffin dehydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: A novel catalytic composite is disclosed. Also disclosed is a use for the novel composite and a method for preparing the same. The catalytic composite comprises a Group VIII, noble metal component, a co-formed IVA metal component, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal component and an alumina support having a surface area of from 5 to 150 m.sup.2 /g. Additionally the alumina support is such that less than about 18% of the total pore volume of the support is associated with pores having mean diameters of about 300 Angstroms or less and more than about 55% of the total pore volume of the support is associated with pores having mean diameters of about 600 Angstroms or more. The novel catalytic composite has particular utility as a paraffin dehydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: A novel hydrocarbon conversion catalyst is disclosed. Additionally, a method of preparing the catalyst and a process for its use are disclosed. The catalyst comprises a platinum group component, a Group IVA component and an alkali component on a carrier material. The alkali component further comprises from about 0.05 to about 10.0 wt. %, on the weight of the composite, of a second alkali metal. The catalyst has particular utility as a dehydrogenation catalyst.