Abstract: A process for alkylation of an alkylatable aromatic compound to produce a monoalkylated aromatic compound, comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least one reaction zone having a water content with at least one alkylation catalyst having an activity and a selectivity for said monoalkylated benzene, said alkylation catalyst comprising a porous crystalline molecular sieve of a MCM-22 family material, said MCM-22 family material is characterized by having an X-ray diffraction pattern including d-spacing maxima at 12.4±0.25, 3.57±0.07 and 3.42±0.

Abstract: A film structure including at least a base layer containing a thermoplastic polymer and at least an outer layer containing a low melting point polymer. Methods of manufacturing the film structure, including the steps of coextruding melts corresponding to the individual layers of the film structure through a die and thereafter: simultaneously biaxially stretching the coextruded film sheet; or sequentially biaxially stretching the coextruded film sheet, wherein the machine-direction orientation (MDO) is performed with a radiant-heated MDO stretcher. An extrusion-coated film structure exhibiting strong bond adhesion, and a method of manufacturing the same are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for separating mixture components such as reactor effluent components. In particular, the invention relates to the use of an extractive agent such as a hydrocarbon in an extractive distillation process to separate monomers such as a C4-C7 isoolefins such as isobutylene from mixtures such as reactor effluents including one or more hydrofluorocarbon(s) (HFC).

Abstract: The invention relates to novel air barriers made from elastomeric compositions. In particular, the invention relates to novel air barriers such as innerliners, air sleeves, and innertubes made from novel C4 to C7 isoolefin based polymers with new sequence distributions or that are substantially free of long chain branching.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to form a nanocomposite including blending a high molecular weight elastomer, a low molecular weight elastomer, and a clay to form a nanocomposite; wherein the high molecular weight elastomer has a weight average molecular weight greater than 250000; wherein the low molecular weight elastomer has a weight average molecular weight less than 150000. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method to form a nanocomposite including the steps of blending a low molecular weight elastomer and a clay to form a first mixture; blending a high molecular weight elastomer and the first mixture to form the nanocomposite; wherein the low molecular weight elastomer has a weight average molecular weight less than 150000; and, wherein the high molecular weight elastomer has a weight average molecular weight greater than 250000.

Abstract: Provided for herein is a process for separating a hydrocarbon-rubber from a hydrofluorocarbon diluent comprising contacting a polymer slurry comprising the hydrocarbon-rubber dispersed within the hydrofluorocarbon diluent with a hydrocarbon solvent capable of dissolving the hydrocarbon-rubber, to produce a first liquid phase and a second liquid phase, and separating the first liquid phase from the second liquid phase.

Abstract: The present invention is a process to produce a nanocomposite of a elastomer and organic clay, e.g. an exfoliated clay, suitable for use as an air barrier. The process can include the steps of: (a) contacting a solution (10) of butyl rubber in an organic solvent with a halogen (12) to form a halogenated butyl rubber solution (16); (b) neutralizing the halogenated butyl rubber solution; (c) functionalizing at least a portion (18) of the halogenated butyl rubber; (d) mixing a dispersion (22) of clay with the functionalized butyl rubber (18) to form a masterbatch (26) comprising a polymer-clay nanocomposite; (e) combining the masterbatch (26) with the rest of the halogenated butyl rubber solution (20) to form a second mixture (28); (e) recovering the nanocomposite from the second mixture (28). The nanocomposite so formed has improved air barrier properties and is suitable for use as a tire innerliner or innertube.

Abstract: The present invention includes blends of a halogenated elastomer such as a butyl rubber or an interpolymer of, on one embodiment, a C4 to C7 isomonoolefin, a para-methylstyrene and a para-(halomethylstyrene), the interpolymer having been pre-mixed with an exfoliating compound and clay, the entire blend forming a nanocomposite in one embodiment. The clay may or may not have undergone an additional exfoliating treatment prior to blending with the halogenated elastomer. The interpolymer/clay mixture forms a distinct phase in the nanocomposite blend of the invention. The blend of the invention has improved air barrier properties and is suitable as an air barrier.

Abstract: A process for alkylation of an alkylatable aromatic compound to produce a monoalkylated aromatic compound, comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least one reaction zone having a water content with at least one catalyst; (b) supplying the reaction zone with at least one alkylatable aromatic compound and at least one alkylating agent; (c) operating the reaction zone under suitable alkylation or transalkylation conditions, to produce at least one effluent which comprises a monoalkylated aromatic compound and a polyalkylated aromatic compound(s); (d) monitoring the amount of the monoalkylated aromatic compound or the amount of the polyalkylated aromatic compound(s) in the effluent; (e) adjusting the water content in the reaction zone to secure a desired amount of the monalkylated aromatic compound or the polyalkylated aromatic compound(s) in the effluent, the water content in the reaction zone being in a range from about 1 wppm to about 900 wppm; and wherein the polyalkylated aromatic compound(s) produced is

Abstract: In a process for reducing the Bromine Index of a feed containing a linear alkylbenzene and bromine-reactive olefinic hydrocarbon contaminants, the feed is contacted under conditions effective to remove bromine-reactive olefinic hydrocarbon contaminants with a catalyst comprising zeolite Y catalyst having an alpha value of about 2 to about 30. The feed will normally also contain benzene and linear paraffin remaining from the alkylation process used to produce the linear alkylbenzene.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a catalyst composition comprising (a) a crystalline MCM-49 molecular sieve; and (b) a binder comprising at least 1 wt. % of a titanium compound. In one aspect of this disclosure, the titanium compound comprises at least one of titanium oxide, titanium hydroxide, titanium sulfate, titanium phosphate, or any combination thereof. In another aspect of this disclosure, the catalyst composition further comprises a crystalline MCM-22 family molecular sieve comprising at least one of MCM-22, MCM-36, MCM-49, MCM-56, ITQ-1, ITQ-2, ITQ-30, PSH-3, ERB-1, SSZ-25, or any combination thereof. In other embodiments, this disclosure relates to a process for preparing the catalyst composition of this disclosure, the process comprises (a) providing the crystalline MCM-49 molecular sieve and the binder comprising at least 1 wt. % of a titanium compound to form a mixture; and (b) forming the mixture into the catalyst composition. In a preferred embodiment, the forming step comprises extruding.

Abstract: Halogenated isobutylene-co-alkylstyrene polymer, preferably halogenated isobutylene-co-methylstyrene polymer, even more preferably brominated isobutylene-co-paramethylstyrene polymer (BIMS), blends thereof, and blends with a second rubber, show improved heat resistance compared to butyl inner tube compositions, and retain the superior barrier properties of butyl inner tube compositions versus inner tube compositions with butyl/EP blends.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions suitable for tire treads or sidewalls and other articles where abrasion resistance and flexibility are desirable. The invention includes a tire tread or sidewall made by combining a filler; a sulfur cure system; optionally at least one secondary rubber; and at least one halogenated terpolymer of C4 to C8 isoolefin derived units, C4 to C14 multiolefin derived units, and p-alkylstyrene derived units. Examples of suitable fillers include carbon black, silica, and combinations thereof. The present invention also includes a method of producing an elastomeric terpolymer composition comprising combining in a diluent C4 to C8 isoolefin monomers, C4 to C14 multiolefin monomers, and p-alkylstyrene monomers in the presence of a Lewis acid and at least one initiator to produce the terpolymer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for modifying a catalytic molecular sieve for shape-selective hydrocarbon conversions comprises: a) selectivating said catalytic molecular sieve by contacting with a silicon-containing selectivating agent; and b) calcining the selectivated catalytic molecular sieve at high temperature calcination conditions comprising temperatures greater than 700° C., which conditions are sufficient to reduce acid activity as measured by alpha value and increase diffusion barrier of said catalytic molecular sieve as measured by the rate of 2,3-dimethylbutane uptake, as compared to the selectivated catalyst. Catalytic molecular sieves thus prepared, such as silica-bound ZSM-5, and their use in hydrocarbon conversion processes such as aromatics isomerization, e.g., xylene isomerization, ethylbenzene conversion and aromatics disproportionation, e.g., toluene disproportionation are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for increasing the viscosity of halogenated (brominated) elastomeric copolymers of a C4 to C7 isomonoolefin (isobutylene) and a para-alkylstryrene (p-methylstyrene) by mixing the copolymer with a silica or clay particulate filler which has been contacted with an aminosilane containing at least one C1 to C4 alkoxy group and at least one primary, secondary or tertiary amine group. The resulting elastomer compositions are used to prepare thermoplastic elastomer blend compositions, containing more finely dispersed elastomers which results in compositions having improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of xylenes from reformate by reactive distillation. The process is carried out by methylating the benzene/toluene present in the reformate in a reactive distillation zone and under reactive distillation conditions to produce a resulting product having a higher xylenes content than the reformate. Greater than equilibrium amounts of para-xylene can be produced by the process.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of xylenes from reformate. The process is carried out by methylating under conditions effective for the methylation, the benzene/toluene present in the reformate outside the reforming loop, to produce a resulting product having a higher xylenes content than the reformate. Greater than equilibrium amounts of para-xylene can be produced by the process.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of xylenes from reformate. The process is carried out by methylating under conditions effective for the methylation, the benzene/toluene present in the reformate outside the reforming loop, to produce a resulting product having a higher xylenes content than the reformate. Greater than equilibrium amounts of para-xylene can be produced by the process.

Abstract: An ethylbenzene conversion catalyst is described which comprises a molecular sieve and a hydrogenation metal, wherein the catalyst exhibits a benzene hydrogenation activity at 100° C. of less than about 100 and a metal dispersion, as measured by hydrogen chemisorption, greater than 0.4 and wherein the molecular sieve is steamed to an alpha value of less than 400 prior to incorporation of the palladium with the molecular sieve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons, preferably with an oxygen or sulfur containing alkylating agent, in the presence of a multi-component molecular sieve catalyst composition that includes a molecular sieve and an active metal oxide. The invention is also directed to methods of making and formulating the multi-component molecular sieve catalyst composition useful in producing alkylated aromatics.