Abstract: A free-flowing, stable liquid flame retardant mixture comprised of or formed by mixing together components comprised of: A) at least one organic halogen-containing reactive flame retardant in which the halogen is bromine, chlorine or both; and B) a liquid additive that is comprised of at least one aliphatic polyepoxide of the formula R(EP)n, wherein R is a straight chain or branched chain aliphatic moiety which consists of carbon, hydrogen, and optionally, one or more ether oxygen atoms and/or one or more epoxy oxygen atoms; Ep is a terminal epoxy group: and n is a whole or fractional number in the range of 2 to about 6. Such mixtures can be effectively used in the preparation of flame retardant rigid polyurethanes and rigid foams thereof, and rigid polyisocyanurate and rigid foams thereof. Component B) serves as an effective hardener for such polymers and foams.

Abstract: High assay reaction-derived decabromodiphenylethane product is produced and provided. The process comprises feeding diphenylethane, a partially brominated diphenylethane, or both subsurface into the liquid phase of a reaction mixture formed from components comprising excess liquid bromine and aluminum-based Lewis acid bromination catalyst. The temperature of the reaction mixture, the catalyst concentration in the excess bromine in the reaction mixture, and the feed time are coordinated in the processes to produce high assay reaction-derived decabromodiphenylethane product. Ways of effecting such coordination are described.

Abstract: A process for the production of a ketone having a carbon number between about 20 and about 40 comprising contacting fatty acids containing from about 10 to about 21 carbons atoms with a hydrotalcite catalyst under conditions effective to decarboxylate said acids. More particularly said decarboxylation conditions comprise: a temperature in the range between about 300° C. and about 400° C.; a pressure in the range between about 0.01 and about 5 bar; and a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of from about 0.1 to about 10 hr?1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for alkylating a hydrocarbon feed which comprises contacting the hydrocarbon feed to be alkylated with an alkylation agent in the presence of a catalyst comprising a solid acid, a hydrogenation metal, and 1.5-6 wt % of water, measured as the loss on ignition at 600° C. The presence of 1.5-6 wt % of water results in a higher activity and a higher alkylate quality compared with a comparable but drier catalyst.

Abstract: A fiber or filament which is formed from ingredients comprising (a) at least one fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer, and (b) at least one polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer is provided. The polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer has a bromine content of at least about 50 wt %. When the fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer is a polyester, the polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer is present in a flame resistant or flame retardant amount. When the fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide, the polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer is at least about 2 wt % of the fiber or filament. When the fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer is a polyolefin, at least one synergist is present and the polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer is no more than about 15 wt % of the fiber or filament.

Abstract: A fiber or filament which is formed from ingredients comprising (a) at least one fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer and (b) at least one polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer is provided. The polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer has a bromine content of at least about 50 wt %, and a GPC weight average molecular weight in the range of about 5000 to about 40,000, or a GPC weight average molecular weight of at least about 600,000. When the fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer is a polyester, the polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer is present in a flame resistant or flame retardant amount. When the fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide, the polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer is at least about 2 wt % of the fiber or filament. When the fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer is a polyolefin, at least one synergist is present and the polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer is no more than about 15 wt % of the fiber or filament.

Abstract: Concurrently fed into a reaction zone held at about 10° C. or less are brominating agent, aluminum halide catalyst, and a solution of anionic styrenic polymer having a GPC Mn about 2000-30,000. The components are in at least two separate feed streams. The feeds are proportioned to maintain (a) the amount of aluminum halide being fed at about 0.8 mole percent or less based on the amount of aromatic monomeric units in the polymer being fed, and (b) amounts of brominating agent and unbrominated polymer in the reaction zone that produce a final washed and dried polymer product containing about 60-71 wt % bromine. The catalyst is deactivated, bromide ions and catalyst residues are washed away from the reaction mixture, and the brominated anionic styrenic polymer is recovered and dried. The dried polymer has a volatile bromobenzene content of about 600 ppm (wt/wt) or less as well as other beneficial properties.

Abstract: Preparing brominated styrenic polymer by maintaining a mixture formed from (i) brominating agent, (ii) a solvent solution of styrenic polymer, and (iii) aluminum halide catalyst, at ?20 to +20° C., and terminating bromination in 20 minutes or less. New brominated anionic styrenic polymers have better melt flow and/or lower initial ?E values than the best previously-known brominated anionic styrenic polymers. Other features of such new polymers include high thermal stabilities at 320° C. and/or very low initial color values. Brominated styrenic polymers, especially brominated anionic styrenic polymers, are useful as flame retardants for thermoplastic polymers.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a sulfur-containing catalyst composition suitable for the hydrotreating of hydro-carbon feeds which comprises a Group VIB metal component selected from molybdenum, tungsten, and mixtures thereof, a Group V metal component selected from vanadium, niobium, tantalum, and mixtures thereof, and a Group VIII metal component selected from nickel, cobalt, iron, and mixtures thereof, the metal components (calculated as oxides) making up at least 50 wt. % of the catalyst, wherein the molar ratio between the metal components satisfies the following formula: (Group VIB+Group V):(Group VIII)=0.5-2:1. This catalyst has been found to show a high activity in sulfur removal in combination with good aromatics removal properties.

Abstract: Despite the frangibility of additive-free granules of brominated anionic styrenic polymer, it has been found possible by use of special mechanical processing to provide pellets of unadulterated brominated anionic styrenic polymer having a bromine content of at least about 50 wt % and in which at least about 70 wt % (preferably at least about 75 wt %) of the pellets are retained on a standard US No. 40 sieve and no more than about 30 wt % (preferably no more than about 25 wt %) are retained on a standard US No. 5 sieve. In preferred embodiments such pelletized anionic styrenic polymer is brominated anionic polystyrene having a bromine content of at least about 67 wt %, e.g., in the range of about 67 to about 71 wt %. Also preferred are pelletized brominated anionic styrenic polymers in which the melt flow index (ASTM D 1238-99) at 220° C., 2.16 kg is at least 4 g/10 min and preferably is at least 5 g/10 min.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising anionic clay and rare earth metal hydroxy carbonate. This composition can suitably be used in FCC for the reduction of NOx and/or SOx emissions, the reduction of the S and/or N-content in fuels, and as a metal trap. The composition can be prepared by precipitating a divalent metal salt, a trivalent metal salt, and a rare earth metal salt to form a precipitate, calcining the precipitate at 200-800° C., and rehydrating the precipitate in the presence of a carbonate source to form a composition comprising anionic clay and a rare earth metal hydroxy carbonate.

Abstract: A composition comprising FCC catalyst particles and additive particles suitable for the reduction of NOx emissions from a FCC regenerator, said additive particles comprising a Mg and Al-containing anionic clay or solid solution, a rare earth metal oxide, alumina and/or silica-alumina, and Y-type zeolite. The invention further relates to a process for preparing such a composition and its use for reducing NOx emissions.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for hydroprocessing a heavy hydrocarbon oil, comprising bringing a heavy hydrocarbon oil into contact with hydroprocessing catalyst I in the presence of hydrogen in a first stage, after which the effluent of the first stage is contacted in whole or in part with hydroprocessing catalyst II in the presence of hydrogen in a second stage. The method according to the invention combines efficient contaminant removal with high cracking rate and low sediment formation. The invention also pertains to the combination of catalysts.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of an additive-containing anionic clay comprising the steps of (a) preparing a physical mixture of a divalent and a trivalent metal compound, (b) calcining the physical mixture at a temperature in the range 200-800° C. without performing a prior aging or shaping step, thereby forming a product containing at least 5 wt % of a rehydratable compound, and (c) rehydrating the calcined mixture in aqueous suspension containing an additive to form the additive-containing anionic clay. This process provides a simple and cost-effective way of preparing additive-containing anionic clays. The process does neither require aging or reaction steps before calcination, nor does it require precipitation of metal salts or the handling of inhomogeneous slurries.

Abstract: A combined process for the conversion of solid starting particles into solid intermediate particles and reducing the median diameter of the intermediate particles to obtain product particles. This process involves flowing a suspension of starting particles through a series of at least two conversion vessels, thereby converting at least part of the starting particles into intermediate particles, adding a supercritical fluid to one or more of the conversion vessels, thereby forming a supercritical suspension, and releasing pressure from the supercritical suspension, thereby expanding the suspension and converting the intermediate particles into product particles.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to A cyclic process for testing FCC catalysts with resid feedstock on a small scale wherein in a first cycle: a) the feed to be cracked is heated to a temperature between 50 and 500° C., b) the heated feed is injected into a riser reactor containing the FCC catalyst to be tested having a temperature between 500 and 800° C., the injection time being less than 2 seconds, c) an inert gas is injected into the lower end of said reactor riser together in the vicinity of the feed injection in a volume ratio of inert gas to vaporized feed of about 0.03 and 10, the mixing of feed and inert gas occurring in said riser reactor; d) the feed is contacted with the FCC catalyst under fluidized conditions for a contact time of less than 8 seconds; e) the feed is stripped from the FCC catalyst and the properties of the product are analyzed; and in a second cycle a quench liquid is injected into said riser reactor in an amount of up to about 20 wt.

Abstract: Bromination of styrenic polymer is carried out in a closed reaction system to retain HX coproduct (where HX is HBr or HCl, or both) in the bromination reaction mixture at superatmospheric pressure. Preferably, the reaction mixture which includes the brominated styrenic polymer and substantially all of the HX coproduct formed is discharged into an aqueous quenching medium. By operating in this manner, the reaction is terminated and the brominated styrenic polymer of desired bromine content and substantially all HX coproduct are captured in the same operation, process equipment costs are reduced, and processing of the reaction mixture is facilitated.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst with improved attrition resistance. According to this preparation process, an aqueous slurry comprising a zeolite, day, and poly aluminum chloride is spray-dried and subsequently calcined, the poly aluminum chloride having the formula [Al2(OH)yCl6-y]x, wherein x is at least 1 and y is greater than 2 and smaller than 4.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recovering antimony catalysts wherein the formation of insoluble solids is reduced.

Abstract: A compacted particulate polymer additive composition in a dry granular form formed from a substantially uniform mixture of the following components: (a) at least one particulate sterically-hindered phenolic compound; and (b) one or more particulate polymer additives other than a sterically-hindered phenolic compound; wherein the particles of said composition are held together in compacted dry granular form exclusively or substantially exclusively by contact with dried surfaces of in situ desolvated particles from particles of one or more at least partially solvated components of (a), and optionally by contact with dried surfaces of in situ desolvated particles from particles of one or more at least partially solvated components of (b). Compositions of this type except that there is no component (b) are also described.