Abstract: A process for the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons by alkylating aromatic hydrocarbons with linear olefinic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The linear olefinic hydrocarbons are produced by dehydrogenating linear paraffinic hydrocarbons which are extracted from a heartcut that is distilled from a kerosene boiling range fraction in either a dividing wall fractionation column or in two fully thermally coupled fractionation columns. The process significantly decreases the cost of utilities in producing alkylaromatic precursors for detergent manufacture.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for decreasing the emissions of chlorine-containing species from a moving bed process for regenerating spent catalyst particles with a recycle gas stream. A recycle gas stream contacts spent catalyst particles at regeneration conditions, thereby producing a flue gas stream. The flue gas stream which contains chlorine-containing species contacts spent catalyst particles at sorption conditions. The sorption conditions are characterized by the substantial absence of carbon combustion. The spent catalyst particles sorb the chlorine-containing species from the flue gas stream, thereby producing the recycle gas stream. A portion of the recycle gas stream is vented from the process. This method captures and returns to the process the chlorine-containing species that would be lost from the process and that would need to be replaced by the injection of make-up chlorine-containing species. This method results in a significant savings in capital and operating costs of the process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for contacting fluids in a fluid-solids contacting chamber is disclosed. The fluid-solid contacting chamber has a plurality of beds, and the chamber comprises a plurality of conduits and outlet ports that are capable of providing improved fluid distribution of fluids that are introduced above or between the beds. One or more conduits are arranged within a single conduit, which provides a compact and inexpensive assembly for conveying the fluids to each conduit's outlet port. In operation, the fluid flow to the outlet port of each conduit is regulated within that outlet port's most efficient operating range, and since the flows can regulated simply by hand, the method of this invention can be practiced readily. Catalytic condensation and other hydrocarbon process units that employ this invention will have increased on-stream efficiencies and realize significant economic benefits.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing aryl-alkanes by paraffin isomerization followed by paraffin dehydrogenation and then by alkylation of an aryl compound by a lightly branched olefin. The effluent of the alkylation zone comprises paraffins that are recycled to the isomerization step or to the dehydrogenation step. This invention is also a process that that sulfonates phenyl-alkanes having lightly branched aliphatic alkyl groups that to produce modified alkylbenzene sulfonates. In addition, this invention is the compositions produced by these processes, which can be used as detergents having improved cleaning effectiveness in hard and/or cold water while also having biodegradability comparable to that of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, as lubricants, and as lubricant additives. This invention is moreover the use of compositions produced by these processes as lubricants and lubricant additives.

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: This invention relates to a process for reactivating a dehydrocyclodimerization catalyst. Dehydrocyclodimerization catalysts which contain an aluminum phosphate binder can be deactivated when they are exposed to hydrogen at temperatures above 500° C. The instant process restores substantially all of the catalyst's lost activity. The process involves treating the catalyst with a fluid comprising water and drying the catalyst. The process is employed particularly advantageously in combination with coke removal for reactivating catalysts that contain coke deposits and that have also been hydrogen deactivated. This invention also relates to a method of producing a dehydrocyclodimerization catalyst that is resistant to hydrogen deactivation.

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: 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 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 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.

Abstract: A process for producing alkyl aromatics using a transalkylation reaction zone and an alkylation reaction zone is disclosed. One portion of the transalkylation reaction zone effluent passes to an alkylation reaction zone where an aromatic substrate is alkylated to the desired alkyl aromatic. At least a portion of the alkylation reaction zone effluent and another portion of the transalkylation reaction zone effluent pass to a product recovery zone. This process decreases the capital and operating costs of recycling aromatic substrate to the transalkylation and/or alkylation reaction zone while maintaining operational flexibility. This process is well suited for solid transalkylation and alkylation catalysts. Ethylbenzene and cumene may be produced by this process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for removing water from a recycle gas stream in a catalyst regeneration process. A recycle gas stream contacts catalyst and the catalyst sorbs water from the recycle gas. Some of the now-dried recycle gas recirculates to the regeneration process, thereby decreasing the water content in the regeneration process. The catalyst containing sorbed water passes to a desorption zone, where water is desorbed from the catalyst and the desorbed water is rejected from the process. This method and apparatus are useful for extending the life of catalyst in catalytic hydrocarbon processes that employ continuous or semi-continuos catalyst regeneration zones.

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: A process for producing isopropyl aromatics using a transalkylation reaction zone and an alkylation reaction zone is disclosed. Portions of the transalkylation reaction zone effluent pass to a multibed alkylation reaction zone where aromatics in the transalkylation reaction zone effluent are alkylated to the desired isopropyl aromatics. At least a portion of the transalkylation reaction zone effluent passes to an alkylation bed other than the first alkylation bed of the multibed alkylation reaction zone. This process decreases the capital and operating costs of recycling the aromatics in the transalkylation reaction zone effluent. This process is well suited for solid transalkylation and alkylation catalysts. Cumene may be produced by this process.

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: A process for producing ethyl aromatics using a transalkylation reaction zone and an alkylation reaction zone is disclosed. Portions of the transalkylation reaction zone effluent pass to a multibed alkylation reaction zone where aromatics in the transalkylation reaction zone effluent are alkylated to the desired ethyl aromatics. At least a portion of the transalkylation reaction zone effluent passes to an alkylation bed other than the first alkylation bed of the multibed alkylation reaction zone. This process decreases the capital and operating costs of recycling the aromatics in the transalkylation reaction zone effluent. This process is well suited for solid transalkylation and alkylation catalysts. Ethylbenzene may be produced by this process.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing aryl-alkanes by paraffin isomerization followed by paraffin dehydrogenation and then by alkylation of an aryl compound by a lightly branched olefin. The effluent of the alkylation zone comprises paraffins that are recycled to the isomerization step or to the dehydrogenation step. This invention is also a process that that sulfonates phenyl-alkanes having lightly branched aliphatic alkyl groups that to produce modified alkylbenzene sulfonates. In addition, this invention is the compositions produced by these processes, which can be used as detergents having improved cleaning effectiveness in hard and/or cold water while also having biodegradability comparable to that of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, as lubricants, and as lubricant additives. This invention is moreover the use of compositions produced by these processes as lubricants and lubricant additives.

Abstract: A solid catalyst alkylation process that wets catalyst particles with the alkylation substrate prior to introducing the catalyst particles to a liquid phase alkylation reactor is disclosed. A vapor stream from the wetting step that comprises the alkylation substrate and a reactor effluent stream comprising product alkylate and excess alkylation substrate are both passed to the product recovery zone, which recovers the alkylate product and recycles the alkylation substrate. Routing the vapor stream and the reactor effluent stream together to the product recovery zone minimizes pressure imbalances, ensures steady catalyst flow, and minimizes equipment costs. This process is applicable to alkylation processes that produce motor fuels.

Abstract: Detergent-quality linear alkylaromatics are recovered from an alkylation reactor effluent containing polymeric byproducts, such as dimers and trimers of the olefinic feedstock. The effluent stream passes to another reactor operating at a higher temperature than the first reactor. Heavy alkylate is separated from the detergent-quality linear alkylaromatics by conventional separation methods such as distillation. This invention decreases the concentration of polymeric byproducts in the linear alkylaromatics. The benefits of this invention include a higher linearity and/or a lower bromine index in the detergent-quality linear alkylaromatic product, as well as a lower color after sulfonation of the linear alkylbenzene sulfonate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for decreasing the emissions of chlorine-containing species from a moving bed process for regenerating spent catalyst particles with a recycle gas stream. A recycle gas stream contacts spent catalyst particles at regeneration conditions, thereby producing a flue gas stream. The flue gas stream which contains chlorine-containing species contacts spent catalyst particles at sorption conditions. The spent catalyst particles sorb the chlorine-containing species from the flue gas stream, thereby producing the recycle gas stream. A portion of the recycle gas stream is vented from the process. This method captures and returns to the process the chlorine-containing species that would be lost from the process and that would need to be replaced by the injection of make-up chlorine-containing species. This method results in a significant savings in capital and operating costs of the process.