Abstract: A catalyst and a process for using the catalyst are disclosed generally for the conversion of hydrocarbons. By the use of at least one high temperature calcination under dry conditions, a catalyst with a beneficial combination of lowered surface area and excellent piece crush is created. X-ray diffraction pattern information is used to distinguish the resulting product.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for ethylbenzene and xylene isomerization in a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene. By addition of trace quantities of water to the reaction zone, equivalent isomerization is effected at lower temperatures wherein benefits could be realized in reduced losses and improved catalyst life.

Abstract: A process for preparing a catalyst, the catalyst itself, and a process for using the catalyst are disclosed generally for the conversion of hydrocarbons. By the use of at least one high temperature calcination under substantially dry conditions, a catalyst with a beneficial combination of lowered surface area and excellent piece crush is created. X-ray diffraction pattern information is used to distinguish the resulting product.

Abstract: A novel catalyst and the use thereof in a reforming process is disclosed. The catalyst comprises a refractory inorganic oxide, platinum-group metal, Group IVA(IUPAC 14) metal, indium and lanthanide-series metal. Utilization of this catalyst in the conversion of hydrocarbons, especially in reforming, results in significantly improved selectivity to the desired gasoline or aromatics product.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for the selective disproportionation of toluene. The process preferably uses a disproportionation catalyst comprising MFI bound with alumina phosphate. Running the process at a hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio between 0.2 to 0.5 improves the yield of para-xylene. Optional periodic rejuvenation by increasing the hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio removes some carbon deposits and restores catalyst activity.

Abstract: A novel catalyst and the use thereof in a reforming process is disclosed. The catalyst comprises a refractory inorganic oxide, platinum-group metal, uniform Group IVA(IUPAC 14) metal and surface-layer lanthanide-series metal. The catalyst is particularly suitable for the reforming of a hydrocarbon feedstock to obtain an aromatics-rich product.

Abstract: A zeolitic catalyst useful in the selective disproportionation and transalkylation of toluene comprises a molecular sieve having a pore diameter of about 5 to 8 Å, a refractory inorganic oxide and a reduced weak non-framework metal which is believed to provide Lewis acidity.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for the selective disproportionation of toluene. The process uses a zeolitic catalyst which is selectively precoked prior to toluene disproportionation in a manner to avoid a large temperature rise across a bed of the catalyst during precoking. The catalyst and process provide enhanced selectivity for the production of paraxylene.

Abstract: This invention is drawn to a process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene using an oil-dropped catalyst comprising a zeolite, a platinum-group metal and an aluminophosphate binder, resulting in a greater yield of para-xylene at favorable conditions compared to processes of the known art.

Abstract: An arrangement for a heat exchange surface in a boiling application that retains particulate material between fins to provide nucleate boiling sites. The heat exchange surface most typically is part of a heat exchange tube and retains the particulate material by transversely extending the tops of the fins. The fins and extended tops form channels with a restricted opening at the top of the channel that prevents passage of the particulate material out of the channel. The surface may be formed on the inside or outside of tubes.

Abstract: A high efficiency FCC process obtains the necessary regenerated catalyst temperature for a principally thermal cracking stage by cracking a light feedstock such as naphtha or a middle distillate in a first riser that principally performs thermal cracking and then cracks a heavy FCC feed in a second riser with a blend of catalyst from the principally thermal cracking step and recycle catalyst from the heavy feed to provide the necessary coke content on the catalyst that will produce high regenerated catalyst temperatures. The high temperature of the regenerated catalyst in the first riser provides a convenient means of cracking naphtha under high severity conditions and then using the remaining activity of the contacted catalyst for the principally catalytic reaction of the heavier feed. A separate thermal cracked product may be recovered from an intermediate blending vessel downstream of the first riser.

Abstract: The invention improves a system and apparatus for the recovery of fine solid particles entering the slurry system of a fluidized catalytic contacting process by returning a portion of the recovered solids from the main separator directly back to the reactor stripper. The invention recovers fine particulate material from an FCC main column and returns the particulate material to an FCC stripper to reduce the amount of fine material that continues to recycle through the FCC reactor and product separator. By returning fine particulate material from the FCC product separation zone directly to a low velocity area of the stripping section, the invention breaks the reactor--main column recycle loop that concentrates the fines. Fines entering the reactor stripper will not be carried back into the cyclones for unwanted return to the main column. By the recycling of fines to the stripper via this invention, the fines concentration in the slurry system can decrease by up to 300%.

Abstract: A process for the production of C.sub.8 and higher carbon number alkene oligomers by the oligomerization of light olefins to heavier olefins is improved by the addition of heavy paraffins to the oligomerization zone. The recycle of the heavy paraffins extends the catalyst activity and improves the catalyst life. The non-reactive paraffin stream may be recycled through the process with minimal losses and make-up.

Abstract: A process for the production of C.sub.8 and higher olefins by the oligomerization of light olefins to heavier olefins is improved by the addition of cycloparaffins to the oligomerization zone. The recycle of the cycloparaffins extends the catalyst activity and improves the catalyst life. Cyclohexane provides an excellent solvent for removing deposits from the catalyst with chemical inertness to the process and a boiling range that allows its essentially complete recovery when producing nonenes and higher olefins from propylene feeds.

Abstract: A catalyst system comprising a physical mixture of particles of a non-acidic large-pore zeolite containing a platinum-group metal and particles comprising a refractory inorganic oxide which is metal-free is effective for the reforming of a hydrocarbon feedstock. Reforming of paraffinic feedstocks to effect aromatization, particularly of a raffinate from aromatics extraction, provides improved activity in producing gasoline-range products when using the catalyst system of the invention.

Abstract: A process and arrangement for contacting a moving bed of compact particulate material, usually catalyst, with a radial flow of fluid maintains an unconfined surface of catalyst particles in place by passing fluid axially into the upper surface of the bed and maintaining radial gas flow across an inlet screen at an elevation that is above the upper most elevation of perforations for withdrawing gas flow from the particulate bed. Two vertical screens confine the bed of catalyst. Perforations cover substantially the entire length of the inlet screen. The outlet portion of the screen has perforations that end below the top of the free surface of the catalyst bed and define an upper bed portion therebetween. The inlet screen directs gas flow radially across the inlet screen into an upper portion of the bed and cause at least partial axial flow of gas through the upper portion of the particle bed.

Abstract: A novel catalyst and the use thereof in a reforming process is disclosed. The dual-function catalyst comprises a refractory inorganic oxide, indium, Group IVA(IUPAC 14) metal, and a platinum-group metal concentrated in the surface layer of each catalyst particle. Utilization of this catalyst in the conversion of hydrocarbons, especially in reforming, results in significantly improved selectivity to the desired gasoline or aromatics product.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for enhancing the production of light olefins with a catalytic reaction zone containing small pore zeolitic and non-zeolitic catalysts which can significantly improve the yield of ethylene and propylene in a process for the conversion of light olefins having four carbon atoms per molecule and heavier. Specifically, a C.sub.4 olefin stream from an ethylene production complex is converted in a reaction zone over a non-zeolitic catalyst at effective conditions to produce a product mixture containing ethylene and propylene. Ethylene and propylene are separated from the product mixture and recovered. A portion of the remaining heavy hydrocarbons and paraffins may be recycled to the reaction zone for further conversion, or oligomerized to produce valuable downstream products. The additional step of removing iso-olefins from the recycle stream provided significant advantages.

Abstract: A spectroscopic fluid sample cell for the transmission and detection of radiation with the key components being a housing; a centripetal acceleration chamber formed by the housing and extending through the housing for circulating a fluid through the housing over a curvilinear flow path about a rotational axis; a pair of windows aligned along a common axis intersecting a portion of the chamber and parallel to the rotational axis; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in communication with the centripetal acceleration chamber; and a flow director positioned in the housing to induce centripetal acceleration on fluid passing through the chamber and establish a radial composition gradient across the fluid chamber has been developed.

Abstract: The assembly of a connection that uses cooperating grooved surfaces to provide an easily disassembled and assembled connection is improved by the use of a centering surface and cooperating lip that engages the faces of the connection end to prevent lateral misalignment while the pipe ends are brought together for axial alignment. The centering device may be used with a clamping mechanism to provide single person assembly of this type of connection despite normal field misalignments. The centering surface in the face of the connection ends may use any type of gasketing surface to provide the desired amount of seal strength.