Abstract: A process is disclosed for shut-down of a membrane separation zone comprising a non-permeate side and a permeate side and processing a feed stream comprising a non-permeable component, a less-readily permeable, condensable component, and a readily permeable component. When the feed stream is not passed to the membrane separation zone, a purge stream is passed to the non-permeate side of the membrane separation to remove a residual gas stream and thereby prevent condensation of the less-readily permeable, condensable component upon depressurization and/or cooling of the membrane separation zone. This purge stream is provided by taking a feed stream, lowering its pressure which leads to cooling and then passing the cooled stream through a gas-liquid separator to removed condensed liquids.

Abstract: The economics of a catalytic process using a fluidized conversion zone and a relatively expensive catalyst for converting an oxygenate to light olefins are substantially improved by recovering and recycling effluent contaminating catalyst particles from the product effluent stream withdrawn from the conversion zone which are present despite the use of one or more vapor-solid cyclone separating means to clean up this effluent stream. The contaminating catalyst particles are separated from this product effluent stream using a wet scrubbing zone and an optional dewatering zone to recover a slurry containing the contaminated particles which, quite surprisingly, can be successfully directly recycled to the oxygenate conversion zone or to the associated catalyst regeneration zone without loss of any substantial amount of catalytic activity thereby decreasing the amount of fresh catalyst addition required to make up for this source of catalyst loss.

Abstract: The invention comprises a temperature swing adsorption system for providing dry air to an air brake system. More particularly, there is provided a desiccant wheel upstream of the air compressor to dry air prior to its compression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of light weight olefins comprising olefins having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms per molecule from an oxygenate feedstock. The process comprises passing the oxygenate feedstock to an oxygenate conversion zone containing a metal alumino phosphate catalyst to produce a light weight olefin stream. A propylene stream and/or mixed butylene is fractionated from said light weight olefin stream and a medium weight C4 to C7 stream is cracked in a separate olefin cracking reactor to enhance the yield of ethylene and propylene products.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a process for producing propylene comprising the steps of contacting an olefin feed containing between about 40 and about 80 wt-% olefins and between about 20 and about 60 wt-% olefins and aromatics with a spherical catalyst to form a cracked product, the catalyst comprising about 30 to about 80 wt-% of a crystalline zeolite, the reaction conditions including a temperature from about 500° to 650° C., a hydrocarbon partial pressure of 70 to 280 kPa (10 to 40 psia), a liquid hourly space velocity in the range of 5 to 40 hr?1 and wherein propylene comprises at least 90 mol-% of the total C3 products.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a process and apparatus for producing olefins from oxygenates in a reactor. This process comprises these oxygenates with a catalyst to produce a gaseous mixture comprising light olefins and by-products, sending the mixture to a single stage cyclone within said reactor to separate said catalyst from said gaseous mixture and then sending said the to a second stage cyclone. The second stage cyclone is located outside of said reactor and it functions to remove the catalyst from the mixture. Then the catalyst can be returned to the reactor after having been treated in a regeneration zone to remove carbonaceous deposits from the catalyst.

Abstract: A method is provided for production of low dust adsorbents and catalysts. A thin layer of metal oxide derived from a colloidal solution of the oxide is deposited on the adsorbent or catalyst particle, which greatly improves the physical properties of the particle with regards to attrition and dust formation while retaining the adsorbent and catalytic properties of the particle. The method is applicable to a variety of porous refractory oxides. For example, treatment with colloidal silica improves greatly the physical stability of alumina adsorbents.

Abstract: An improved mixed matrix membrane for the separation of gases comprises polyethylene glycol, silicone rubber and activated carbon on a porous support. The membrane preferably also comprises a carbonate such as potassium carbonate. The gases which may be separated by the membrane include mixtures of oxygen and nitrogen and mixtures of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Membranes of this design may be used in processing natural gas or other gases.

Abstract: Applicant has developed an improved adsorbent useful in removing contaminants from various air streams. The adsorbent contains a zeolite, an alumina and a metal component. The metal component is present in an amount at least 10 mol-% of the stoichiometric amount of metal (expressed as the oxide) needed to balance the negative charge of the zeolite lattice. In a specific application an adsorbent comprising zeolite X, alumina and sodium is used to purify an air stream in order to remove water, carbon dioxide and other impurities including hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Cartridge type extraction trays for use in a small diameter liquid-liquid extraction column comprise a novel vertical wall which surrounds the active (perforated) area of the tray. This wall extends upward to a sufficient height to retain the heavy liquid on the active area of the tray preventing the heavy liquid from reaching the edge of the tray when it may possibly leak downward due to a gap between the edge of the tray and the inner surface of the column wall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure swing adsorption process for direct reduction of iron wherein a portion of spent reducing gas withdrawn from the direct reduction reactor is subjected to a PSA process for the removal of carbon dioxide from the spent reducing gas. An improved CO2-rejection method using an external natural gas purge stream after depressurization and before the product purge step is described. The PSA process comprises an external purge step with a non-absorbable gas, which surprisingly reduces the adsorbent regeneration requirements to maintain the selective adsorption of carbon dioxide from the spent reducing gas. The external natural gas purge results in a cleaner bed before the start of each adsorption cycle. Consequently, significantly more CO2 can be rejected and/or higher hydrogen and CO recoveries can be attained. The external purge stream is fully integrated into the DDRI production scheme.

Abstract: The invention is a process for recovering heat and removing impurities from a reactor effluent stream withdrawn from a fluidized exothermic reaction zone for conversion of oxygenates into light olefins from an oxygenate feedstream. The process comprises a two-stage quench tower system to remove water from the reactor effluent stream in the first tower and recover heat from the reactor effluent to at least partially vaporize the feedstream by indirect heat exchange between the oxygenate feedstream and either a first stage overhead stream or a first stage pumparound stream. A drag stream withdrawn from the first tower comprises the majority of the impurities and higher boiling oxygenates. The second stage tower further removes water and provides a purified water stream which requires minimal water stripping to produce a high purity water stream. The invention concentrates the impurities into a relatively small stream and results in significant energy and capital savings.

Abstract: A process is provided for the concentration and recovery of ethylene and heavier components from an oxygenate conversion process. A separation process such as a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process is used to remove hydrogen and methane from a demethanizer overhead stream comprising hydrogen, methane and C2 hydrocarbons and subsequently return the recovered C2 hydrocarbons to be admixed with the effluent from the oxygenate conversion process. This integration of a separation zone with a fractionation scheme in an ethylene recovery scheme using an initial demethanizer zone resulted in significant capital and operating cost savings by the elimination of cryogenic ethylene-based refrigeration from the overall recovery scheme.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for the operation of a fuel cell to generate electric power from a feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon or an alcohol. The fuel cell comprises a proton exchange membrane which produces electric power from a hydrogen product stream which comprises essentially no carbon monoxide. The hydrogen product stream is produced from the feed stream in a novel steam reforming zone containing a steam reforming catalyst disposed in a bell-shaped catalyst zone. The bell-shaped catalyst zone is disposed over a combustion zone such that the exhaust gas from the combustion flows around the bell-shaped catalyst zone to heat the catalyst from the inside and the outside of the catalyst zone. Furthermore, the bell-shaped catalyst zone maintains a high inlet and a high outlet temperature to avoid methane slippage in the steam reforming zone. Heat for the steam reforming zone is provided by a fuel stream and at least a portion of the anode waste gas stream from the fuel cell.

Abstract: A process for using a hydrogen sensor in a liquid metal heat exchange loop in a hydrocarbon conversion process with high hydrogen permeation. The hydrogen sensor of the present invention consists essentially of a hollow nickel membrane probe in intimate contact with liquid metal. A vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the hollow nickel membrane probe through which hydrogen permeates, wherein the vacuum chamber is initially evacuated to a vacuum pressure and is in equilibrium with the vacuum chamber. The hydrogen sensor is useful for measuring the partial pressure of the hydrogen in the liquid metal to provide advisory control for the removal of hydrogen from the liquid metal exchange loop to avoid the problem of metal hydride formation and associated plugging problems.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydrogen generation process for use with fuel cells which includes a preferential oxidation step to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide. The preferential oxidation step includes contacting a fuel stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of an oxygen at a preferential oxidation temperature of between about 70° and about 160° C. with preferential oxidation catalyst for reducing the concentration of carbon monoxide to produce a treated fuel gas stream comprising less than about 50 ppm-vol carbon monoxide. The preferential oxidation catalyst comprises ruthenium metal dispersed on a shaped alumina carrier, wherein at least 60 percent of the ruthenium metal is present in a band extending from the surface towards the center and having a width of about 50 percent of the distance from the surface to the center of the shaped alumina carrier. Superior performance at low preferential oxidation temperatures below 130° C.

Abstract: A process is provided for the concentration and recovery of propylene from propane by a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process using an adsorbent comprising AlPO-14. A PSA process is used to remove propylene from a C3 hydrocarbon stream comprising propylene and propane. The PSA process of the present invention can be employed in petroleum refining and petrochemical processes to purify and separate propylene from mixtures of propylene and propane without fractionation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the recovering heat and removing impurities from a reactor effluent stream withdrawn from a fluidized exothermic reaction zone for the conversion of oxygenates into light olefins from an oxygenate feedstream. The process comprises a novel two-stage quench tower system to remove water from the reactor effluent stream in the first tower and recover heat from the reactor effluent to at least partially vaporize the feedstream by indirect heat exchange between the oxygenate feedstream and either a first stage overhead stream or a first stage pumparound stream. A drag stream withdrawn from the first tower comprises the majority of the impurities and any higher boiling oxygenates. The second stage tower further removes water from the light olefin product stream and provides a purified water stream which requires only minimal water stripping to produce a high purity water stream.

Abstract: In using partially alkali metal exchanged forms of FAU zeolite as selective adsorbents for use in insulated glass windows, particularly for use in a matrix in insulated glass windows, it has been discovered that significant reduction in the nitrogen loading on the zeolite results when the alkali metal content is maintained at a low level. For example, such FAU zeolites, particularly zeolite X which has been ion-exchanged with potassium ions to a level of between about 5 and about 75 equivalent mole percent indicate a nitrogen adsorption loading of between about 400 and 600 percent lower than unexchanged zeolite X and about 200 percent less than fully potassium exchanged zeolite X. The adsorbent is particularly useful in a sealant matrix for insulated glass windows and may be used in combination with zeolite A to reduce out-gassing problems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making an epoxysilicone coated membrane by coating a porous asymmetric membrane layer with a UV-curable controlled release epoxysilicone coating. A mixture of the epoxysilicone resin and an onium photocatalyst are applied to the porous asymmetric membrane layer in a dilute non-polar solution and cured by UV or electron beam radiation to produce a dry epoxysilicone coated membrane. The porous asymmetric membrane layer is comprised of an asymmetric cellulosic membrane or an asymmetric polymer membrane with a low selectivity. The epoxysilicone coating was found to provide the asymmetric membrane layer with improved selectivity which extends to separation temperatures below 70° C. and provides stable flux rates. Membranes produced in this manner are useful for the separation of gases such as carbon dioxide from natural gas.