Abstract: A method for the liquid-phase alkylation of an aromatic substrate is disclosed. A reaction zone has at least one catalyst bed containing a first catalyst modified by the inclusion of a rare earth metal ion.

Abstract: Methods and processes for increasing the efficiency and/or expanding the capacity of a dehydrogenation unit by use of at least one direct heating unit are described.

Abstract: A process for making ethylbenzene and/or styrene by reacting toluene with methane is disclosed. In one embodiment the process can include reacting toluene with methane to form a product stream comprising ethylbenzene and further processing the ethylbenzene to form styrene in an existing styrene production facility.

Abstract: A method for the production of styrene comprising reacting toluene and syngas in one or more reactors is disclosed.

Abstract: Dehydrogenation of a reactor system of one or more vertically oriented flow reactors equipped with a system for introducing a catalyst extender into the inlet of the reactor. A vertically oriented radial flow reactor comprises inner and outer reactor tubes having perforated wall members extending longitudily of the reactor and defining an annulus containing a dehydrogenation catalyst. A supply line to the reactor is equipped with a rotation vane. An injection nozzle comprising a coaxial flow tube extends into the supply line downstream of the vane. The coaxial flow tube has an interior chamber and an annular chamber surrounding the interior chamber and extending into the supply line along with the interior chamber. The interior chamber is connected to a catalyst extender source and the annular chamber is connected to a source of a carrier gas which is effective to disperse the extender within feedstock flowing into the reactor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to safely terminate a runaway reaction within a reaction vessel, comprising: sensing an increase in pressure in the reaction vessel, opening a barrier blocking a flow path into the reactor, wherein the barrier opening is achieved via a mechanical response to the sensed increase in pressure, and injecting a kill agent into the reaction vessel via the opened flow path, thereby terminating the reaction. Also disclosed is a system for performing the method. The system functions without an external electrical source and is therefore compliant with ASME standards.

Abstract: A method for the separation of hydrocarbon compounds utilizing a dividing wall distillation column is described. The dividing wall distillation column enables one or more side draw stream to be removed from the dividing wall distillation column in addition to an overhead stream and a bottoms stream.

Abstract: A method for the in-situ preparation of an ionic comonomer, such as zinc dimethacrylate, dissolved in styrene monomer, for use in production of polystyrene is disclosed. The method generally includes adding comonomer chemical precursors to a solution of styrene and nonionic surfactant. The resulting ionic comonomer may be further dissolved in styrene and polymerized to form a product that may have improved properties.

Abstract: A method for the production of styrene comprising reacting toluene and syngas in one or more reactors is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for the in-situ preparation of an ionic comonomer from its chemical precursors, prepared in a solution of styrene monomer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the ionic comonomer is zirconium methacrylate, Zr(MA)4 or zirconyl methacrylate, ZrO(MA)2, or a combination thereof, and zirconium carbonate hydroxide oxide, ZrCO3(OH)2.ZrO2, and methacrylic acid, CH2?C(CH3)—COOH, are used as precursors used for its in-situ preparation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing an activating support for metallocene complexes in the polymerisation of olefins comprising the steps of: I) providing a support prepared consisting in particles formed from at least one porous mineral oxide; II) optionally fixing the rate of silanols on the surface of the support; III) functionalising the support with a solution containing a fluorinated functionalising agent; IV) heating the functionalised and fluorinated support of step c) under an inert gas and then under oxygen; V) retrieving an active fluorinated support. That activating support is used to activate a metallocene catalyst component for the polymerisation of olefins.

Abstract: High density polyethylene barrier grade films comprising at least one layer of polymer wherein the polymer comprises a density greater than about 0.955 g/cc and a rheological breadth parameter of greater than about 0.22 are disclosed. Methods for producing such films on a film line with a neck height configuration of greater than about 15 inches are disclosed.

Abstract: Polypropylene heterophasic copolymers are produced having increased impact strength through the use of controlled rheology techniques by the addition of a peroxide at conditions which increase the deactivation or half life of the peroxide. The increased half life slows down the vis-breaking process and allows better dispersion of rubber particles within the polymer. In this way, copolymers having a high melt flow can be prepared while obtaining high impact strength and lower stiffness values, without the need for additional elastomeric modifiers.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process and apparatus for improving the catalyst life and efficiency in a gas flow catalyst bed reactor assembly. The reactor comprises an outer reaction vessel, an inner displacement cylinder, and an annular catalyst bed surrounding the displacement cylinder having a top half and a bottom half. Fluid flow improvement is achieved by adding at least one baffle to the top half of the displacement cylinder to improve uniformity of fluid flow in the reaction vessel and across the catalyst bed. Also disclosed is a process for improving fluid flow uniformity in a gas phase reactor comprising an outer reaction vessel, an inner displacement vessel having a top half and a bottom half and a reaction outer surface and an inert inner space, and an annular catalyst bed. The process comprises conducting fluid flow simulations using actual reactor conditions. During simulation, baffles are added on the outer reaction surface of the displacement reactor to improve simulated fluid flow.

Abstract: A new synthesis of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst uses a multi-step preparation that includes treating a magnesium dialkoxide compound with two halogenating/titanating agents, the second stronger than the first, an organoaluminum preactivating agent, and a heat treatment. The catalyst may be used in the polymerization of olefins, particularly ethylene, to control the molecular weight distribution of the resulting polyolefins.

Abstract: The present invention includes a bimodal polyethylene polymerization process wherein metallocene catalyst to is used to adjust the hydrogen response of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst. The polymerization may be carried out in a single reactor or in two or more reactors in series, preferably two or more continuously stirred tank reactors in series. In an embodiment having two or more reactors, the Zeigler-Natta catalyst is added to a first reactor and the metallocene catalyst is added to a downstream reactor. In another embodiment having two or more reactors, the Zeigler-Natta catalyst and metallocene catalyst are added to the same reactor, preferably an upstream reactor. A preferred Zeigler-Natta catalyst comprises TiCl4, and a preferred metallocene catalyst comprises bis(cyclopentadienyl) titanium dichloride.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems useful for removing phenylacetylene from crude styrene feedstock are disclosed. Generally the processes and systems comprise the catalytic reduction of phenylacetylene to produce styrene via injection of a phenylacetylene reducing agent, such as hydrogen. A phenylacetylene reduction catalyst preferred herein comprises palladium on a calcium aluminate carrier, wherein the catalyst comprises less than 0.3 weight percent palladium.

Abstract: A process for the transalkylation of an aromatic feedstock containing a benzene component and a polyalkylated aromatic component comprising at least one polyalkyl aromatic compound of at least nine carbon atoms. The feedstock is supplied to a reaction zone containing a metal modified zeolite transalkylation catalyst. The reaction zone is operated under conditions providing an equivalent conversion of pure toluene in the presence of the catalyst within the range of 40-55%, resulting in a transalkylated product with a reduced polyalkyl benzene content and an enhance monoalkyl benzene content relative to the transalkylation feedstock. In continued operation of the transalkylation reaction zone, at least one of the reaction conditions of temperature, pressure, and space velocity is adjusted in order to maintain a constant reaction severity to provide a desired equivalent conversion of toluene within a tolerance range of ±2%.

Abstract: It has been discovered that sequential polyperoxides can be beneficially used as initiators for vinylaromatic/diene copolymers to give high grafting values and reasonable molecular weights. A new cyclic diperoxide did not give these same results. The sequential polyperoxide initiators can be used as the only initiators or together with other conventional peroxide initiators to advantage. The polymerization rate can also be increased using these sequential polyperoxide initiators.

Abstract: A new synthesis of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst uses a multi-step preparation that includes treating a magnesium dialkoxide compound with halogenating/titanating agents, and an organoaluminum preactivating agent. The catalyst may be used in the polymerization of olefins, particularly ethylene, to control the molecular weight distribution and the fluff morphology of the resulting polyolefins.