Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for the selective transalkylation of toluene and, optionally, of C9 aromatics. The process preferably uses a bound sulfated zirconia catalyst to provide improved selectivity for the production of xylenes.

Abstract: A novel catalyst and the use thereof in a reforming process is disclosed. The catalyst comprises a refractory inorganic oxide, platinum-group metal, uniform Group IVA(IUPAC 14) metal and surface-layer lanthanide-series metal. The catalyst is particularly suitable for the reforming of a hydrocarbon feedstock to obtain an aromatics-rich product.

Abstract: A process for the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons by alkylating aromatic hydrocarbons with olefinic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The olefinic hydrocarbons are produced by dehydrogenating paraffinic hydrocarbons. Aromatic byproducts formed in dehydrogenation are removed using an aromatic byproducts removal zone and either a dividing wall distillation column or thermally coupled distillation columns. The process significantly decreases the cost of utilities in producing alkylaromatics, such as precursors for detergent manufacture.

Abstract: Two separate paraffinic hydrocarbon products, such as normal and monomethyl branched C10-C23 paraffins, are recovered from a mixture comprising the product hydrocarbons and many other hydrocarbons in a process employing two adsorptive separation zones in series. A single desorbent comprising a light paraffin is used in both zones and recovered in a single system, thus reducing capital and operating costs. The recovered paraffinic hydrocarbons may then be dehydrogenated and reacted with benzene to form alkylaromatic hydrocarbons useful as a detergent precursor.

Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process wherein a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock is converted by combining with a hot recycle stream containing hydrogen, and the mixture is passed to a denitrification and desulfurization reaction zone, and then to a hydrocracking zone. The resulting hot, uncooled effluent from the hydrocracking zone is hydrogen stripped in a stripping zone maintained at essentially the same pressure as the hydrocracking zone to produce a vapor stream containing hydrogen, hydrocarbonaceous compounds boiling at a temperature below the boiling range of the fresh feedstock, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, and a liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream wherein at least a portion of this liquid stream is then passed to the denitrification and desulfurization reaction zone.

Abstract: Construction and operational costs of recovering the extract or raffinate product of a simulated moving bed adsorptive separation process units are reduced by employing a dividing wall column to perform the separation. The raffinate or extract stream is passed into the column at an intermediate point on the first side of the dividing wall, with the column delivering the adsorptive separation product as a sidedraw from the opposite side of the dividing wall. A stream of co-adsorbed impurity is removed as an overhead stream and desorbent is recovered as a net bottoms stream.

Abstract: An alkylating agent alkylates an alkylation substrate in a solid catalyst alkylation process in which an alkylation reactor produces a reaction effluent and a catalyst regeneration zone produces a hydrogen-containing regeneration effluent. The alkylation effluent passes to an alkylate fractionation zone, while the regeneration effluent passes to a hydrogen fractionation zone to remove hydrogen and produce a hydrogen-depleted stream that passes to the alkylate fractionation zone. The process recycles hydrogen, and can recycle halogen-containing species as well, within the process while preventing admixture of hydrogen with the alkylating agent. This invention is particularly applicable to alkylation processes that use an olefinic alkylating agent.

Abstract: Liquid distributors collect liquid falling out of the spout group at the ends of a downcomer of a fractionation tray. The devices then distribute the liquid against the wall of the column or onto the decking of the next lower tray so to cause uniform liquid flows across the terminal decking section of the next lower multiple downcomer tray. The apparatus improves the liquid flow path on the terminal decking section of the tray, thus increasing the overall efficiency of the tray.

Abstract: A hydrocracking process wherein a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and a hot hydrocracking zone effluent containing hydrogen is passed to a hydrocracking reaction zone to produce lower boiling hydrocarbon compounds. The resulting hot, uncooled effluent from the hydrocracking zone is hydrogen stripped in a stripping zone maintained at essentially the same pressure as the preceding hydrocracking reaction zone with a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to produce a vapor stream comprising hydrogen, hydrocarbonaceous compounds boiling at a temperature below the boiling range of the fresh feedstock, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, and a liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream which is countercurrently contacted with hydrogen in a hydrogenation zone located in the bottom end of the stripping zone.

Abstract: A zeolitic catalyst useful in the selective disproportionation and transalkylation of toluene comprises a molecular sieve having a pore diameter of about 5 to 8 Å, a refractory inorganic oxide and a reduced weak non-framework metal which is believed to provide Lewis acidity.

Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process which provides for the simultaneous production of LPG and distillate hydrocarbons. The feedstock is introduced into a denitrification and desulfurization zone and then passed directly to a hot, high pressure stripper utilizing a hot, hydrogen-rich stripping gas to produce a first liquid stream boiling in the range of the feedstock and a first vapor stream comprising hydrocarbonaceous compounds boiling at a temperature below the boiling range of the feedstock. The first liquid stream is hydrocracked in a first hydrocracking zone and then passed to the denitrification and desulfurization zone. At least a portion of the first vapor stream is condensed to produce a second liquid stream comprising hydrocarbonaceous compounds boiling at a temperature below the boiling range of the feedstock.

Abstract: A hydrocracking process wherein the undesirable production of polynuclear aromatic compounds is controlled by removing a small dragstream of high pressure product stripper bottoms to reject polynuclear aromatic compounds and recovering valuable diesel boiling range hydrocarbons and unconverted feedstock by routing the dragstream to a hot flash separator and subsequently to a divided wall fractionation zone to produce a concentrated stream of polynuclear aromatic compounds while recovering the valuable hydrocarbon compounds.

Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process wherein a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and a liquid recycle stream is contacted with hydrogen in a hydrocracking reaction zone at elevated temperature and pressure to obtain conversion to lower boiling hydrocarbons. A liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream produced from the effluent of the hydrocracking reaction zone is fractionated in a first zone of a divided-wall fractionation zone to produce at least one liquid hydrocarbonaceous product stream and a liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream containing hydrocarbons boiling at a temperature in the boiling range of the feedstock and heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds. At least a portion of the liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream containing heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds is introduced into a second zone of the divided-wall fractionation zone to produce a stream rich in polynuclear aromatic compounds.

Abstract: A process for recovering halides from hydrocarbon containing streams is disclosed using a sulfonated hexafluro bis-A-polysulfone membrane of polymers and copolymers having the polymer repeat unit of the formula: in the polymer or copolymer. This process is applicable to recovering and recycling hydrogen chloride, which is used as a catalytic promoter, in hydrocarbon conversion processes such as isomerization and alkylation.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for the selective disproportionation of toluene. The process uses a zeolitic catalyst which is oil-dropped in an amorphous aluminum phosphate binder and optionally is selectively precoked prior to toluene disproportionation. The catalyst and process provide enhanced selectivity for the production of paraxylene.

Abstract: A reforming process, selective for the dehydrocyclization of paraffins to aromatics, is effected using a large-pore molecular-sieve catalyst containing a uniformly distributed platinum-group metal component, and a tin component incorporated into the large-pore molecular sieve by secondary synthesis. The use of this catalyst results in greater selectivity of conversion of paraffins to aromatics and in improved catalyst stability.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for the selective transalkylation of toluene and, optionally, of C9 aromatics. The process preferably uses a bound sulfated zirconia catalyst to provide improved selectivity for the production of xylenes.

Abstract: This invention is drawn to a process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene using a catalyst comprising a zeolite, a platinum-group metal and a silica binder, resulting in a greater yield of para-xylene at favorable conditions compared to processes of the known art.

Abstract: Construction and operational costs of simulated moving bed adsorptive separation process units are reduced by recovering desorbent from both the extract and raffinate streams of the process in a single column. Both streams are fractionated in the same column to recover desorbent, which is removed at the bottom of the column. The bottom of the column is divided into a reboiler sump section and a bottoms product-desorbent inventory section, with this reducing the equipment required in the overall process.

Abstract: A method for regenerating a hydrocarbon conversion catalyst wherein at least a portion of a halogen-containing compound is precombusted in a precombustion zone, and the catalyst is regenerated in the presence of the halogen. By precombusting the halogen-containing compound in a precombustion zone rather than in the regeneration zone, this invention decreases the risk of permanent catalyst deactivation and of costly equipment damage in the regeneration zone. This method is adaptable to many processes for the catalyst conversion of hydrocarbons in which deactivated catalyst particles are regenerated in a moving bed.