Abstract: A hydrocarbon oligomer and a process for its production is disclosed that is useful as a pour point depressant and as a combination pour point depressant and viscosity index improver for mineral oil or synthetic oil. The oligomer is also useful in modifying wax crystal formation at low temperature when added to distillate fuels. The oligomer is a near linear copolymer of a mixture of ethylene and C.sub.3 -C.sub.28 1-alkenes, or only 1-alkenes, wherein a large proportion of the pendant alkyl groups of the recurring 1-alkene monomer units contain between 14 and 22 carbon atoms. The oligomer is produced by polymerization of mixed 1-alkenes with reduced chromium oxide catalyst on silica support.

Abstract: A process is presented for the hydration of light olefins to produce C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 aliphatic alcohols with improved selectivity, catalyst productivity and catalyst stability. Acidic medium pore, shape selective metallosilicate catalyst particles are contacted with a feedstream containing light olefin plus water at elevated temperature above the dew point of water, i.e., in a gas phase, wherein the reaction mixture is essentially starved with respect to the mole ratio of water to C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 light olefin. Isopropanol is produced at a selectivity greater than 70 weight percent when the mole ration of water to propylene is between 0.05 and 0.499. Zeolite ZSM-5, ZSM-23, ZSM-35 and ferrierite are preferred catalysts.

Abstract: A distributor system for uniformly directing vapor and liquid across the surface of a fixed bed of solids in a downflow reactor comprising a distributor tray, and a plurality of open-ended downpipes extending through the tray. A first array of the downpipes has a plurality of vertically spaced elevations of holes above the level of the tray. A second array of the downpipes has at least one elevation of holes at substantially the same height above the level of the tray as one of the upper elevations of holes in the first array of the downpipes. But, the second array has no elevation of holes corresponding to the lowermost elevation of holes, and possibly other lower elevations of holes, in the first array of downpipes. The absence of the lowermost holes in the second array of downpipes causes the liquid flow rate through the distributor tray at a given liquid height to be reduced when that liquid height falls below the elevation of the holes second from the bottom in the first array.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a polymer concentrate which is a relatively concentrated solution in a base stock oil, e.g., a mineral oil or synthetic hydrocarbon oil, of a highly branched polymer having segments of a polymer of p-tert-butylstyrene (t-BS), comprising the free radical solution polymerization in the base stock oil of t-BS and optionally, one or more additional polymerizable monoethylenically unsaturated (monofunctional) monomers together with a small amount of a multiethylenically unsaturated (multifunctional) cross-linking agent, e.g., divinylbenzene (DVB). Optionally, the polymer solution obtained from the polymerization may be diluted with an additional amount of the base stock oil employed in the polymerization to obtain a polymer concentrate having a lower polymer concentration and viscosity than the polymerization solution.

Abstract: A process for desulfurizing a hydrocarbon stream which includes at least 50 ppmw sulfur in the form of organic sulfur compounds, and C.sub.5 + hydrocarbons including benzene. The hydrocarbon stream is contacted in the absence of added hydrogen with a fluidized bed of an acidic catalyst having a structure of ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-48, MCM-22, MCM-36, MCM-49, zeolite Y, zeolite beta or mixtures thereof to convert the organic sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide. The catalyst contacts the hydrocarbon stream at a pressure of from 0.0 psig to about 400 psig, a temperature of from about 400.degree. F. to about 900.degree. F., and a weight hourly space velocity of from about 0.1 hr..sup.-1 to about 10.0 hr..sup.-1. Thereafter, the hydrogen sulfide is removed from the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: A multi-bed process of removing sulfur oxides and/or other combustible sulfur-containing compounds from a gas stream including combusting the other combustible sulfur-compounds when present in the gas stream with air or oxygen to convert such sulfur-containing compounds to sulfur oxide and form a sulfur oxide enriched gas stream. The sulfur oxide enriched gas stream is contacted with first and second serially connected solid adsorbent beds for adsorbing the sulfur oxides in the form of inorganic sulfates and/or sulfur oxides. A third adsorbent bed is contacted with a reducing gas stream to regenerate the bed by reducing the retained inorganic sulfates and/or sulfur oxides to hydrogen sulfide and/or sulfur dioxide, to thereby form a hydrogen sulfide and/or sulfur dioxide bearing stream. The feeds to each of the beds are realigned to place the second and third beds in series with the sulfur oxide and/or sulfur dioxide enriched stream being fed to the second bed and to place the first bed in a regenerative mode.

Abstract: There is disclosed a linear block copolymer comprising at least one triblock I--B--I, wherein I is a block of a polymerized conjugated diene of at least 5 carbon atoms, such as isoprene, and B is a block of a polymer of a conjugated diene, different from that of formula (1), of at least 4 carbon atoms, such as 1,3-butadiene. The B block is selectively hydrogenated, while each of the I blocks retains a sufficient amount of its original unsaturation to vulcanize the copolymer. There is also disclosed an alternative linear block copolymer containing at least one triblock of the first polymer block made from an aryl-substituted olefin, such as styrene, and the conjugated diene used to polymerize the block I, the second middle polymer block of the diene used to polymerize the block B, and the third polymer block which is the same as the first polymer block.

Abstract: Secondary alcohols are converted to symmetrical secondary alkyl ethers in high selectivity. The method employs acidic solid metallosilicate catalyst particles to accomplish the etherification by selective intermolecular dehydration of secondary alcohol to form di-secondary alkyl ethers. Preferably, the catalysts are solid shape selective aluminosilicate particles, especially zeolite such as ZSM-5, zeolite HY and zeolite Beta. Continuous separation of by-product olefin and ether during the etherification reaction improves selectivity.

Abstract: There are disclosed novel, solid, elastomeric block copolymers having excellent oxidative and thermal stability, wherein the terminal blocks are each a polymer (D polymer) of at least one conjugated diene D, which is a hydrocarbon containing a 1,3-conjugated diene structure wherein the 2 and 3 carbon atoms are each additionally bonded to a hydrocarbyl side group, e.g., 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, with a preponderance of polymerized D units being 1,4 units; and at least one interior block is a hydrogenated polymer (I polymer) of at least one conjugated diene I which is a hydrocarbon containing a 1,3-conjugated diene structure wherein one of the 2- and 3-carbon atoms is additionally bonded to a hydrocarbyl side group and the other is additionally bonded to a hydrogen atom, e.g. isoprene.

Abstract: Waste from stretch wrap films is recycled into non-blocking films useful as bags and liners as well as in food applications, by incorporating a polymer which contains cross-linked rubber particles, such as high impact polystyrene or an EPDM elastomer. The recycled films may include up to about 50 percent recycled stretch wrap with LLDPE and up to about 10 percent of the third polymer. The films may be single layer extrusions or multi-layer (A/B, A/B/A) coextrusions.

Abstract: A regenerative mercury removal process for simultaneously removing high mercury and water content from a fluid comprising; contacting for a sufficient time a high content mercury-containing fluid with an adsorbent bed having sufficient silver coated or impregnated thereon to remove therefrom substantial amounts of mercury and water; regenerating the adsorbent using a regenerative gas and condensing-out and recovering the mercury to yield a fuel substantially free from mercury.

Abstract: There are disclosed novel, solid, elastomeric block copolymers with improved resistance to cold flow wherein either 1) the terminal blocks are polymers of at least one conjugated diene I, e.g., isoprene, which contains at least five carbon atoms with at least one of each pair of double-bonded carbon atoms in the polymerized diene I units being additionally single-bonded to two carbon atoms, at least one middle or interior block is a polymer of butadiene, and at least one middle or interior block is a polymer of at least one aryl-substituted olefin, e.g., styrene; or 2) the terminal blocks are random copolymers of at least one diene I as previously defined and butadiene, and at least one middle or interior block is a polymer of at least one aryl-substituted olefin.

Abstract: A process for upgrading low octane naphthas to produce gasoline products with low levels of benzene and aromatics while retaining a high pool octane uses a paraffinic naphtha reformer feed which is dehexanized to provide a C.sub.7 + fraction which is fed to the reformer and a C.sub.6 fraction which is fed together with the C.sub.6 fraction from the reformer effluent to a catalytic upgrading step where the low octane components from the naphtha and the benzene from the reformate are converted to a low benzene, high octane gasoline by alkylation of the benzene and other aromatics present in the reformate. The process has the advantage that benzene make in the reformer is reduced by the partial by-passing of the C.sub.6 benzene precursors around the reformer; in addition, improved benzene alkylation results from the presence of additional light olefins generated by the cracking of paraffins from the paraffinic naphtha. the reaction is preferably carried out in a turbulent fluidized bed reaction zone.

Abstract: Low sulfur gasoline of relatively high octane number is produced from a catalytically cracked, sulfur-containing naphtha by hydrodesulfurization followed by treatment over an acidic catalyst comprising zeolite beta. The treatment over the acidic catalyst in the second step restores the octane loss which takes place as a result of the hydrogenative treatment and results in a low sulfur gasoline product with an octane number comparable to that of the feed naphtha. In favorable cases, using feeds of extended end point such as heavy naphthas with 95 percent points above about 380.degree. F. (about 193.degree. C.), improvements in both product octane and yield relative to the feed may be obtained.

Abstract: Low sulfur gasoline of relatively high octane number is produced from a cracked, sulfur-containing olefinic naphthas by hydrodesulfurization followed by treatment over an acidic catalyst comprising zeolite beta with a metal hydrogenation component, preferably a mild hydrogenation component such as molybdenum. The treatment over the acidic catalyst in the second step restores the octane loss which takes place as a result of the hydrogenative treatment and results in a low sulfur gasoline product with an octane number comparable to that of the feed naphtha. In favorable cases, using feeds of extended end point such as heavy naphthas with 95 percent points above about 380.degree. F. (about 193.degree. C.), improvements in both product octane and yield relative to the feed may be obtained.

Abstract: Low sulfur gasoline of relatively high octane number is produced from a catalytically cracked, sulfur-containing naphtha by hydrodesulfurization followed by treatment over an acidic catalyst, preferably an intermediate pore size zeolite such as ZSM-5. The treatment over the acidic catalyst in the second step restores the octane loss which takes place as a result of the hydrogenative treatment and results in a low sulfur gasoline product with an octane number comparable to that of the feed naphtha. In favorable cases, using feeds of extended end point such as heavy naphthas with 95 percent points above about 380.degree. F. (about 193.degree. C.), improvements in both product octane and yield relative to the feed may be obtained.

Abstract: Low sulfur distillate fuel oils such as road diesel oil having a maximum sulfur content of 0.05 weight percent, are produced by segregation of a distillate range feed into a lower boiling fraction and higher boiling fraction with the cut point between the two fractions between about 600.degree. and 650.degree. F. (about 315.degree. to 345.degree. C.). The higher boiling fraction is hydrodesulfurized under relatively severe conditions and then combined with the lower boiling fraction to be hydrodesulfurized under less severe conditions. Operation in this manner enables the refractory dibenzothiophenes to be removed while maintaining a lower hydrogen consumption.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an HF alkylation system comprising a reactor, a settler, an HF acid regenerator and a source of fresh HF acid wherein a stream of olefins and a stream of isobutanes are contacted in the reactor in the presence an HF acid catalyst. At least the reactor feed is sampled, and the sample is passed to an analyzer using an attenuated total reflectance cell. Signals are generated which are representative of infrared spectra of the samples in a range providing information on the amount of at least one of HF, water, ASO and sulfolane. These signals are simultaneously determined and generated because all absorb in the same spectral region. This aspect provides for viewing these distortions of the main HF absorption band to quantify these three components. The infrared spectra signals are compared with stored signals to generate control signals; and at least one of HF, water and sulfolane fed to the reactor feed is adjusted in response to the control signal.

Abstract: A process for desulfurizing a hydrocarbon stream which includes at least 100 ppmw sulfur in the form of organic sulfur compounds, and C.sub.4 -hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon stream is contacted in the absence of added hydrogen with a fluidized bed of an acidic catalyst having a structure of ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-48, MCM-22, MCM-36, MCM-49, zeolite Y, zeolite beta or mixtures thereof to convert the organic sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide. The catalyst contacts the hydrocarbon stream at a pressure of from 0.0 psig to about 400 psig, a temperature of from about 400.degree. F. to about 900.degree. F., and a weight hourly space velocity of from about 0.1 hr..sup.-1 to about 10.0 hr..sup.-1. Thereafter, the hydrogen sulfide is removed from the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for synthesizing a reactive sulfur-containing adsorbent material for removing metals, preferably mercury, from hydrocarbon fluids. The method includes impregnating a porous polystyrene resin with elemental sulfur, and heating the impregnated resin/sulfur mixture to chemically fix the sulfur to the resin. The elemental sulfur may be in solid, liquid, or vapor phase under conditions of contact with the resin. Also disclosed is the reactive adsorbent synthesized by this method. Also, a process is disclosed for removing mercury from hydrocarbon fluids by using a reactive adsorbent of the invention.