Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for preparing spherical oxide particles comprising the steps of shaping a starting material comprising an oxide hydrate into particles of substantially constant length by leading the material to a set of two rolls rotating towards each other followed by leading the material to a roll equipped with grooves to form rod-type shapes, cutting the rod-type shapes into particles of substantially constant length, converting the thus formed particles into spheres, and heating the particles to convert the oxide hydrate into an oxide. The process results in particles in which there is substantially no difference in density between the core portion and the shell portion of the particles, which results in a high abrasion resistance. The particles prepared by the claimed process are particularly suitable for the preparation of hydroprocessing catalysts, more in particular for the preparation of hydroprocessing catalysts suitable for the hydroprocessing of heavy hydrocarbon feeds.

Abstract: This patent describes economical and environment-friendly processes for the synthesis of anionic clays. It involves reacting a slurry comprising boehmite, which has been peptized with acid with a divalent metal source followed by addition of source of base. The slurry is then hydrothermally aged. There is no necessity to wash or filter the product and it can be spray dried directly to form microspheres, or can be extruded to form shaped bodies. The product can be combined with other ingredients in the manufacture of catalysts, absorbents, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, detergents, polymeric nanocomposites and other commodity products that contain anionic clays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cracking catalyst composition comprising a physical mixture of 10-90 weight % of a cracking catalyst A and 90-10 weight % of a cracking catalyst B, whereby catalyst A is a zeolite-containing cracking catalyst, and catalyst B is a catalyst having a higher average pore volume in the pore diameter range of 20-200 Å than catalyst A in the same pore diameter range and not containing M41S material. These compositions can suitably used for the fluid catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon feeds with high metal concentrations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for improving the purity of a composition comprising a quaternary ammonium hydroxide comprising the steps of (a) providing an electrolysis cell which comprises an anolyte compartment containing an anode, a catholyte compartment containing a cathode, and at least one intermediate compartment, said at least one intermediate compartment being separated from the anolyte and catholyte compartments by cation selective membranes, (b) charging water, optionally containing a supporting electrolyte, to the anolyte compartment, charging water, optionally containing a quaternary ammonium hydroxide, to the catholyte compartment, and charging the composition comprising the quaternary ammonium hydroxide to be purified to the intermediate compartment, (c) passing a current through the electrolysis cell to produce a purified aqueous quaternary ammonium hydroxide solution in the catholyte compartment, and (d) recovering the purified aqueous quaternary ammonium hydroxide solution from

Abstract: A process for preparing molecular sieves of type Y faujasite structure is described, as well as pre-shaped bodies of faujasite structure type Y molecular sieves. The process comprises preparing a precursor gel from a source of silica-alumina or a source of alumina and a source of silica with a template agent at a SiO2/Al2O3 greater than 7 and suitable for forming a type Y zeolite, drying the precursor gel and contacting the dried precursor gel with steam, optionally followed by caustic washing, without the formation of crystalline phases other than type Y zeolite being observed. Advantageously, the pre-shaped bodies prepared with the precursor gel of Y zeolite, when subjected to the process of the invention, will have their outer surface covered by type Y zeolite crystals. The molecular sieves so obtained may be employed as catalysts or adsorbents in various processes of the chemical or oil industry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a silica-filled, sulfur-vulcanizable rubber composition comprising an unsaturated rubber, 20 to 100 phr of a silica, 1.6 to 8 phr of a silica coupling agent, 0.05 to 5 phr of an antidegradant, 0.1 to 5 phr of a vulcanization accelerator, 0.1 to 10 phr of sulfur, and 0.5 to 5 phr of a quinone diimine, with the proviso that the antidegradant is not a quinone diimine. The invention also relates to a vulcanization process comprising mixing and heating said rubber composition and to rubber articles, such as pneumatic tires, comprising the rubber vulcanizate obtained by said process.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for sulfiding a catalyst composition comprising at least one hydrogenation metal component of Group VI and/or Group VIII of the Periodic Table, and an organic additive wherein the catalyst composition is first contacted with an organic liquid, followed by the catalyst being contacted with hydrogen and a sulfur-containing compound in the gaseous phase, wherein less than about 40%, preferably less than about 35%, more preferably less than about 25%, most preferably less than about 15%, of the sulfur present in the sulfided catalyst is added with the organic liquid. The process of the present invention makes it possible to use additive-containing catalysts without loss of activity in units which cannot effect gas phase start-up or are required to carry out a pressure test. The organic liquid may be a hydrocarbon with a boiling range of about 150-500° C., preferably gasoline, white spirit, diesel, gas oil, mineral lube oil, or white oil.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a carrier composition comprising (a) at least 30 wt % of a synthetic cracking component, based on the total weight of the carrier composition, which comprises oxidic compounds of one or more trivalent metallic elements, tetravalent metallic elements, and divalent metallic elements, said cracking component comprising elemental clay platelets with an average diameter of 1 &mgr;m or less and an average degree of stacking of 20 platelets per stack or less, and/or comprising a cogel with a saponite content CA of less than 60%, in which the total of sodium and potassium amounts to less than 1 wt %, based on the total weight of the cogel, and (b) 1-25 wt % of a zeolite Y, based on the total weight of the carrier composition, with a unit cell size below 24.35 Å. The invention further pertains to a catalyst comprising said carrier composition and at least a hydrogenation metal, and a process for converting heavy feedstock into middle distillates using said catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the in-situ preparation of a composite comprising a cationic clay and binder/matrix material from sources comprising an aluminum containing source, a silicon containing source and a di-valent metal containing source comprising the steps of: a. preparing a precursor mixture by mixing the aluminum containing source, the silicon containing source and the di-valent metal containing source with seeding material, b. homogenizing the precursor mixture, and c. aging the precursor mixture to obtain the composite. One or two of the aluminum containing source, silicon containing source or di-valent metal containing source is to be in excess of the amount required for stoichiometry of the three sources with respect to the formation of the cationic clay. The excess source or sources will form the binder/matrix material of the composite. The invention also includes a body comprising a composite obtained by this process having binding/matrix material present in a discontinuous phase.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of anionic clay and boehmite-containing compositions. These compositions may also contain unreacted trivalent metal source and/or divalent metal source. The process involves subjecting a precursor mixture comprising a divalent metal source and a trivalent metal source to at least two aging steps, wherein at least once between two aging steps an aluminum source is added. An advantage of the invention is that the crystallinity of the boehmite in the composition can be tuned.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to cheaper process for the preparation of quasi-crystalline boehmite containing additive in a homogeneously dispersed state. In this cheaper process an inexpensive quasi-crystalline boehmite precursor is and additive are combined and aged to form a quasi-crystalline boehmite containing additive in a homogeneously dispersed state. Suitable inexpensive quasi-crystalline boehmite precursors are aluminum trihydrate and thermally treated forms thereof and inorganic aluminum salts. Suitable additives are compounds containing elements selected from the group of rare earth metals alkaline earth metals, transition metals, actinides, silicon, gallium, boron, and phosphorus.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having an MFI structure comprising crystallizing the zeolite from an alkaline aqueous reaction mixture that comprises SiO2 and Al2O3 or their hydrated derivatives, and an amorphous aluminosilicate nucleating gel with an SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of from about 10 to less than 20. The reaction mixture does not contain an organic template.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spherical catalyst composition comprising a Group VI metal component and optionally a Group VIII metal component on a carrier, which catalyst has a particle size of 0.5-7 mm, a total pore volume of 0.5-1.3 ml/g, an average pore diameter of 15-30 nm, and a % PV(>100 nm) of 2-30%, there being substantially no difference in density between the core region of the carrier particles and their surface regions. The catalyst is particularly suitable for use in non-fixed bed processes for the hydroprocessing of heavy hydrocarbon feeds. It has high hydrodesulfurization and hydrodemetallization activity in combination with a high abrasion resistance.

Abstract: This patent describes economical and environment-friendly processes for the synthesis of Mg-containing non-Al anionic clays. It involves a one-step process wherein a suspension comprising a trivalent metal source and at least a magnesium containing source as a divalent metal source is reacted to obtain a magnesium-containing non-Al anionic clay. The anionic clay has interlayers containing anions comprising hydroxycarbonate, carbonate, bicarbonate, acetate, hydroxyacetate, oxalate, nitrate, hydroxyl, and/or formate or mixtures thereof. There is no necessity to wash or filter the product. It can be spray dried directly to form microspheres or can be extruded to form shaped bodies. The product can be combined with other ingredients in the manufacture of catalysts, absorbents, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, detergents, and other commodity products that contain anionic clays.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for the hydroprocessing of a hydrocarbon feedstock wherein said feedstock is contacted at hydroprocessing conditions with a catalyst composition which comprises bulk catalyst particles which comprise at least one Group VIII non-noble metal and at least two Group VIB metals. The Group VIII and Group VIB metals comprise from about 50 wt. % to about 100 wt. %, calculated as oxides, of the total weight of the bulk catalyst particles. The metals are present in the catalyst composition in their oxidic and/or sulfidic state. The catalyst composition has an X-ray diffraction pattern in which the characteristic full width at half maximum does not exceed 2.5° when the Group VIB metals are molybdenum, tungsten, and, optionally, chromium, or does not exceed 4.0° when the Group VIB metals are molybdenum and chromium or tungsten and chromium.

Abstract: A vulcanizable composition comprising a sulfur vulcanizable rubber, a sulfur vulcanizing agent, an accelerating agent selected from the group consisting of non-thiazole sulfenamide accelerators in an amount effective to not substantially inhibit vulcanization and an amount effective to improve the hardness stabilization of said rubber upon vulcanization of a hardness stabilization agent comprising a pyrimidine derivative. A method of improving the hardness stabilization of a composition comprising a sulfur vulcanizable rubber by adding to said composition the accelerators and pyrimidine derivative.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a hydroprocessing catalyst, to the catalyst composition obtainable by said process, and to the use of said catalyst composition in hydroprocessing applications. The process comprises the steps of combining and reacting at least one Group VIII non-noble metal component in solution and at least two Group VIB metal components in solution in a reaction mixture to obtain an oxygen-stable precipitate, and sulfiding the precipitate.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for regenerating a used additive-based catalyst comprising the step of regenerating the catalyst by contacting it with an oxygen-containing gas at a maximum temperature of 500° C. Preferably, the maximum catalyst temperature during the regeneration step is 300-500° C., more preferably 320-475° C., even more preferably 350-425° C. The regenerated additive-based catalyst obtained with the process according to the invention has a higher activity than an additive-based catalyst regenerated at a higher temperature. Additionally, its activity is also higher than that of a corresponding catalyst, which never contained an additive.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an improved nozzle, particularly for use in wear-resistant rotary atomizers, to atomizer wheels containing such improved nozzles and to a method for obtaining microspherical particles with a narrower particle size distribution when using such nozzles. The atomizer wheels and nozzles have at least the same wear resistance as those described in the prior art, but have been improved to provide microspherical particles with a very narrow particle size distribution. The nozzle of the present invention comprises a flow channel in the shape of a vertical slot that may be lined with wear-resistant sintered material. The vertical slot may be uniformly rounded. It was found that when these improved nozzles are used for spray-drying suspensions, microspherical particles with a narrower particle size distribution are obtained than when using nozzles with cylindrical flow channels.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 3R1-type crystalline anionic clay comprising the steps of: a) preparing an aqueous precursor mixture comprising aluminum trihydrate or a thermally treated form thereof and a magnesium source, the magnesium source is milled before use or when present in the precursor mixture, b) aging the precursor mixture at temperatures in the range 30°-100° C. to obtain the crystalline clay product, and c) optionally shaping the product of step b). Milling of the magnesium source, either alone or in combination with the (thermally treated) aluminum trihydrate, results in a faster reaction and higher conversion to anionic clay. The resulting anionic clay can be obtained by simply drying the slurry retrieved from the reactor. There is no need for washing or filtering, and a wide range of ratios of Mg/Al in the reaction product is possible.