Abstract: A method of operating a continuous system for a catalyst regeneration process wherein the regeneration section includes a combustion zone, at least one oxygen boost zone, a halogenation zone and a drying zone in serial progression.

Abstract: A process for the purification of a diolefin hydrocarbon stream containing acetylene and sulfur compounds.

Abstract: An apparatus provides for increased feed throughput without loss of conversion or selectivity by increasing the catalyst volume in a final reactor of at least three reaction zones. The catalyst volume of the final reactor may be larger because the inner and outer screens that define a radial flow bed are extended. A low LHSV is maintained by increasing the catalyst volume in the final reactor.

Abstract: A reactor and regeneration for effecting radial flow contact of a reactant stream with catalyst particles movable as an annular-form bed by gravity flow and for reducing stresses in the bed is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for reactivating a dehydrocyclodimerization catalyst. Dehydrocyclodimerization catalysts which contain an aluminum phosphate binder can be deactivated when they are exposed to hydrogen at temperatures above 500° C. The instant process restores substantially all of the catalyst's lost activity. The process involves treating the catalyst with a fluid comprising water and drying the catalyst. The process is employed particularly advantageously in combination with coke removal for reactivating catalysts that contain coke deposits and that have also been hydrogen deactivated. This invention also relates to a method of producing a dehydrocyclodimerization catalyst that is resistant to hydrogen deactivation.

Abstract: An apparatus provides for increased feed throughput without loss of conversion or selectivity by increasing the catalyst volume in a final reactor of at least three reaction zones. The catalyst volume of the final reactor may be larger because the inner and outer screens that define a radial flow bed are extended. A low LHSV is maintained by increasing the catalyst volume in the final reactor.

Abstract: A method increases the feed throughput for a process of dehydrogenating light hydrocarbons without loss of conversion or selectivity by increasing the catalyst volume in only the final reactor of at least three reaction zones. The catalyst volume of the final reactor may be increased relative to the other reactors by extending the inner and outer screens that define a radial flow bed therein. Maintaining a low LHSV by increasing the catalyst volume in only the final reactor greatly reduces the expense of improving the capacity and yield of such a process. This method provides the most benefit to moving bed reactor systems since modifications are limited to the last reactor. A further benefit is derived from the simplified method of raising only a section of the last reactor to increase the catalyst volume.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for reactivating a dehydrocyclodimerization catalyst. Dehydrocyclodimerization catalysts which contain an aluminum phosphate binder can be deactivated when they are exposed to hydrogen at temperatures above 500° C. The instant process restores substantially all of the catalyst's lost activity. The process involves treating the catalyst with a fluid comprising water and drying the catalyst. The process is employed particularly advantageously in combination with coke removal for reactivating catalysts that contain coke deposits and that have also been hydrogen deactivated. This invention also relates to a method of producing a dehydrocyclodimerization catalyst that is resistant to hydrogen deactivation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for reactivating a dehydrocyclodimerization catalyst. Dehydrocyclodimerization catalysts which contain an aluminum phosphate binder can be deactivated when they are exposed to hydrogen at temperatures above 500° C. The instant process restores substantially all of the catalyst's lost activity. The process involves treating the catalyst with a fluid comprising water and drying the catalyst. The process is employed particularly advantageously in combination with coke removal for reactivating catalysts that contain coke deposits and that have also been hydrogen deactivated. This invention also relates to a method of producing a dehydrocyclodimerization catalyst that is resistant to hydrogen deactivation.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrogenation of trace quantities of acetylene compounds contained in a stream of diolefins to achieve extended on-stream performance by simultaneously contacting the selective catalyst with a diolefin feed, hydrogen and a polymer solvent.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrogenation of trace quantities of acetylene compounds contained in a stream of diolefins to achieve extended on-stream performance by contacting an off-line selective hydrogenation reaction zone containing selective catalyst with hydrogen and a polymer solvent.

Abstract: A method for improving the operation of a propane-propylene splitter in a process for the dehydrogenation of propane wherein the propane is dehydrogenated to produce a stream containing propylene and trace quantities of methyl acetylene and propadiene compounds and which stream is selectively hydrogenated to selectively saturate at least a majority of the trace quantities of methyl acetylene and propadiene compounds. The resulting effluent from the selective hydrogenation zone is fractionated in a propane-propylene splitter to produce a high-purity propylene product stream, an unconverted propane stream which is introduced to the dehydrogenation zone and a small slip stream or side-cut containing methyl acetylene and propadiene compounds which is introduced into the selective hydrogenation zone.

Abstract: A cyclic process for the purification of a diolefin hydrocarbon stream produced in a naphtha steam cracker to produce a high quality diolefin hydrocarbon stream having extremely low levels of acetylene over an extended period because of the ability to readily cyclically regenerate catalyst contained in an off-line selective hydrogenation reaction zone. The spent or partially spent catalyst is contacted with a stream containing naphtha and hydrogen to restore at least a portion of the fresh catalyst activity by the extraction of polymer compounds therefrom.

Abstract: A catalytic distillation process for producing high purity ethyl tertiary butyl ether that contains less than 0.6 weight percent ethanol, and preferably less than 0.07 weight percent ethanol, has been developed. The high purity ethyl tertiary butyl ether is withdrawn directly from a catalytic distillation column; no downstream processing is necessary to remove excess ethanol from the ether product. A stream containing largely normal butane is generated by a C.sub.4 distillation column along with a stream containing isobutane. The stream containing isobutane is dehydrogenated to form a stream containing isobutylene. Ethanol, the stream containing isobutylene, and the stream containing largely normal butane are introduced to an etherification zone containing a catalytic distillation column. The catalytic distillation column is operated under conditions which result in the reaction of the ethanol with the isobutylene to form ethyl tertiary butyl ether.

Abstract: A low pressure catalytic distillation process for producing high purity ethyl tertiary butyl ether that contains less than 0.6 weight percent ethanol, and preferably less than 0.07 weight percent ethanol, has been developed. The high purity ethyl tertiary butyl ether is withdrawn directly from a catalytic distillation column. No downstream processing is necessary to remove excess ethanol from the ether product. A stream containing a significant amount of one or more inert azeotropic agents such as normal butane, isopentane, and isobutane is introduced along with the isobutylene and ethanol reactants into an etherification zone containing a catalytic distillation column. The catalytic distillation column is operated under low pressure conditions which result in the reaction of the ethanol with the isobutylene to form ethyl tertiary butyl ether.

Abstract: In an etherification process that uses an FCC effluent as a source of isoolefins, the buildup of nitrites in an alcohol-containing stream that is recycled to the etherification zone is prevented by dragging at least a portion of a water-containing stream produced by a water washing of the FCC effluent and returning the water-containing stream to the FCC gas concentration zone. As a result, the etherification catalyst deactivation rate is reduced and without increasing the net amount of fresh water employed by the process combination.

Abstract: A process for the management of polynuclear aromatic compounds produced in a hydrocarbon dehydrogenation zone wherein the effluent from the hydrocarbon dehydrogenation zone is contacted with an adsorbent to reduce the concentration of polynuclear aromatic compounds. The resulting dehydrogenated hydrocarbon having a reduced concentration of polynuclear aromatic compounds is reacted with methanol to produce an ether. A portion of the ether is contacted with a spent bed of adsorbent to recover at least a portion of the polynuclear aromatic compounds adsorbed thereon to thereby regenerate the adsorbent.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for improving catalyst performance and yields in the manufacture of motor gasoline components. More particularly the process is directed to the removal of trace amounts of acetonitrile or acetone or propionitrile from a hydrocarbon feedstock such as a C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 product fraction from a fluid catalytic cracking unit, which may be used subsequently in an etherification process for the production of ethers such as MTBE and TAME. The hydrocarbon feedstock is passed to a water wash zone for the removal of the trace amounts of acetonitrile or acetone or propionitrile and the spent water comprising the nitriles is contacted with a nitrile-lean stream to regenerate the wash water. A portion of the spent water stream is withdrawn to reduce the nitrile level in the nitrile-lean water stream.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for improving catalyst performance and yields in the manufacture of motor gasoline components. More particularly the process is directed to the removal of trace amounts of acetonitrile or acetone or propionitrile from a hydrocarbon feedstock such as a C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 product fraction from a fluid catalytic cracking unit, which may be used subsequently in an etherification process for the production of ethers such as MTBE and TAME. The hydrocarbon feedstock is passed to a water wash zone for the removal of the trace amounts of acetonitrile or acetone or propionitrile and the spent water comprising the nitriles is contacted with a nitrile-lean stream to regenerate the wash water. A portion of the spent water stream is withdrawn to reduce the nitrile level in the nitrile-lean water stream.

Abstract: A regeneration process for reconditioning catalyst particles containing platinum by transferring the catalyst particles through a combustion zone and a reconditioning zone is disclosed. Drying of the catalyst particles and redispersion of the platinum occur simultaneously in a single reconditioning zone. Catalyst that enters the reconditioning zone is contacted countercurrently with a heated gas stream containing chlorine and oxygen. A low moisture content of the gas stream aids drying and allows the equilibrium reaction between hydrogen chloride and oxygen on the one hand, and water and chlorine on the other hand to be shifted to chlorine. This shift of the equilibrium reaction can be further improved by maintaining an oxygen-enriched environment within the reconditioning zone. By eliminating the need for separate drying and redispersion zones used previously, the regeneration apparatus is less expensive to build and the regeneration process is less expensive to operate.