Abstract: Catalysts comprise a combination of molecular sieve having a pore diameter of from about 4 to 8 angstroms and a catalytically-effective amount of molybdenum hydrogenation component and a sufficient amount of at least one platinum group metal hydrogenation component to enhance the isomerization activity of the catalyst.

Abstract: Transalkylation catalysts comprising acidic molecular sieve, iridium and germanium have good activities and attenuate aromatic ring saturation and lights co-production where high atomic ratios of germanium to iridium are present.

Abstract: Transalkylation catalysts comprising acidic molecular sieve, palladium and germanium have good activities and attenuate aromatic ring saturation and lights co-production provided that sufficient palladium is contained in the catalyst.

Abstract: Transalkylation catalysts comprising acidic molecular sieve, rhenium, tin and germanium have good activities and attenuate aromatic ring saturation and lights co-production.

Abstract: Catalysts comprising a combination of molecular sieve having a pore diameter of from about 4 to 8 angstroms and a catalytically-effective amount of molybdenum hydrogenation component in an amorphous aluminum phosphate binder provide processes for isomerizing xylene and dealkylating ethylbenzene in feed streams that exhibit stability, selectivity and low ring loss.

Abstract: A process for isomerizing xylenes while retaining ethylbenzene in a C8-aromatics stream in liquid phase uses a gallium-substituted pentasil zeolite in the absence of hydrogen.

Abstract: In processes for recovering one or more xylene isomers and isomerizing the remaining isomers for recycle, the isomerate is distilled to provide a toluene-containing overhead, a mid-boiling fraction containing C8 aromatics and a bottoms fraction containing C8 aromatics and C9+ aromatics. The mid-boiling fraction is recycled to the unit for recovering the sought xylene isomers and has sufficiently low content of C9+ aromatics that the separation feed to the unit for recovering the sought xylene isomers contains up to about 500 ppm-mass C9+ aromatics. The processes provide a high quality xylene isomer product while achieving at least one of debottlenecking, energy savings and capital savings.

Abstract: A process vessel containing both an evaporation zone for evaporating a liquid feed and a treatment zone for treating the resulting vapor comprises an injector having an orifice, the orifice being in the evaporation zone, at least one evaporation surface for evaporating feed and generating vapor, the evaporation surface being located in the evaporation zone, wherein the injector orifice and the evaporation surface are positioned to prevent the formation of a drop at the orifice, a treatment zone for treating the vapor and at least one heater associated with at least a portion of the process vessel.

Abstract: A vessel arrangement having a base and multiple vessels suited for simultaneously conducting a plurality of isolated experimental reactions or treatments at atmospheric process conditions or elevated temperatures and pressure condition has been developed. A component of a first material is introduced into one independent vessel through an opening in its top of the first vessel and another component of a second material is introduced into a different independent vessel through its top. Both vessels are removably located about a base at different first locations. Transformation of the components in the vessels then occurs to produce different materials therein. After completion of the experiments a displacement medium simultaneously urges the vessels from their respective locations about the base for discard or reuse after any necessary cleaning. Typically at least one property of the materials from the vessels is determined either within the vessel or after recovery of the materials.

Abstract: A catalyst and process is disclosed to selectively upgrade a paraffinic feedstock to obtain an isoparaffin-rich product for blending into gasoline. The catalyst comprises a support of a sulfated oxide or hydroxide of a Group IVB (IUPAC 4) metal, a first component of at least one lanthanide element or yttrium component, which is preferably ytterbium, and at least one platinum-group metal component which is preferably platinum.

Abstract: Processes for making xylene isomer use integrated transalkylation and isomerization reaction zones to enhance xylene recovery and enable reduction in capital costs and energy consumption.

Abstract: This invention relates to regeneration of coked catalyst by combustion so that the catalyst can be reused in a hydrocarbon conversion reaction. The completion of coke burn is generally measured with a combination of temperature or change in oxygen concentration. Dropping outlet temperatures require time to wait for increases in inlet temperature to correspondingly move down the regenerator. Faster response times might be expected from increasing oxygen concentration, but a small increase in concentration can lead to a significant increase in peak burn temperature which negatively impacts catalyst life. Controlled peak burning is difficult over the entire bed by merely controlling inlet and outlet oxygen concentrations. The invention accordingly combines a measured lag time for temperature travel with an inlet temperature ramping step to ensure complete coke combustion with high oxygen efficiency, thus providing a rapid regeneration that permits more time for operation at desired reaction conditions.

Abstract: A transalkylation process for reacting carbon number nine aromatics with toluene to form carbon number eight aromatics such as para-xylene is herein disclosed. The process is based on the discovery that deactivating contaminants present in typical hydrocarbon feeds, such as chlorides, can be removed with an alumina guard bed prior to contacting with a transalkylation catalyst. Effective transalkylation catalysts have a solid-acid component such as mordenite, and a metal component such as rhenium. The invention is embodied in a process, a catalyst system, and an apparatus. The invention provides for longer catalyst cycle life when processing aromatics under commercial transalkylation conditions.

Abstract: An aromatics complex flow scheme has been developed. The isomerized xylenes effluent from a xylene recovery zone is recycled to a transalkylation stripper without requiring C8 aromatic hydrocarbons to be separated. This improvement results in an aromatics complex with savings on capital and utility costs and an improvement on the return on investment in such a complex.

Abstract: Catalysts comprising a combination of molecular sieve having a pore diameter of from about 4 to 8 angstroms and a catalytically-effective amount of molybdenum hydrogenation component in an amorphous aluminum phosphate binder provide processes for isomerizing xylene and dealkylating ethylbenzene in feed streams that exhibit stability, selectivity and low ring loss.

Abstract: Reduced co-production of toluene and C9 and higher aromatics such as trimethylbenzene, methylethylbenzene, and diethylbenzene is achieved in processes for the isomerization of xylenes to close to equilibrium using a layered catalyst having a thin outer layer of molecular sieve and hydrogenation metal component on a core, wherein at least about 75 mass-% of the hydrogenation metal component is in the outer layer.

Abstract: An aromatics complex flow scheme has been developed in which C7-C8 aliphatic hydrocarbons are recycled to an isomerization unit of a xylene recovery zone to increase the efficiency of the isomerization unit. This improvement results in an aromatics complex with savings on capital and utility costs and an improvement on the return on investment.

Abstract: A process for simultaneously testing a plurality of catalysts using combinatorial chemistry has been developed. The process involves containing the plurality of catalysts in an array of parallel reactors with each reactor containing a bed of catalyst. Each bed of catalyst is then simultaneously contacted, at reaction conditions, with a reactant to form an effluent of each reactor. The reactant or an inert fluid is at a space velocity sufficient to fluidize the catalyst beds. Each of the effluents is analyzed.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and a method for mass analyses of an array of samples contained in distinct sample holders. The sample holders are placed on a plurality of sensors which preferably comprise an array of microbalances providing output signals comprising mass data on the array of samples.

Abstract: A process for preparing a transalkylation catalyst, the catalyst itself, and a transalkylation process for using the catalyst are herein disclosed. The catalyst comprises rhenium metal on a solid-acid support such as mordenite, which has been treated with a sulfur-based agent. Such treatment reduces the amount of methane produced by metal hydrogenolysis in a transalkylation process wherein heavy aromatics like A9+ are reacted with toluene to produce xylenes. Reduced methane production relative to total light ends gas production results in lower hydrogen consumption and lower reactor exotherms.