Abstract: The present invention provides a process for upgrading a Fischer-Tropsch product by hydrocracking in the presence of a hydrocracking catalyst in a reactor, wherein the process is initiated by a series of steps (i) to (iv). The hydrocracking catalyst is (i) contacted with a hydrogen-containing stream having a feed temperature of from 360° C. to 420° C.; (ii) the feed temperature of the hydrogen-containing stream is reduced to a temperature of from 220° C. to 280° C.; (iii) the catalyst is contacted with a Fischer-Tropsch product stream having a feed temperature of from 220° C. to 280° C., which is co-fed with the hydrogen-containing stream; and (iv) the catalyst is co-fed with a Fischer-Tropsch product stream and hydrogen-containing stream having feed temperatures of from 380° C. and 400° C. for at least four days and wherein the hydrocracking catalyst is not activated by sulfiding.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a Fischer-Tropsch process, in particular a Fischer-Tropsch process for converting a feed comprising a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide gases, preferably in the form of a synthesis gas mixture, to hydrocarbons by contacting a cobalt-containing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst with a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a reactor at a pressure of 4.0 MPa absolute or greater, wherein the process is initiated by a start-up procedure comprising the steps of: i) providing a feed comprising a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide gases, preferably in the form of a synthesis gas mixture, to a reactor containing a cobalt-containing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst, wherein the pressure inside the reactor is 3.5 MPa absolute or below; and ii) maintaining the feed to the reactor, removing a product stream comprising hydrocarbons and maintaining the pressure inside the reactor at 3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for treating a catalyst to improve performance, and more specifically to a process for treating a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst using a high hydrogen syngas to improve catalyst performance.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of a feed comprising a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to hydrocarbons, the hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the feed being present in a ratio of from 1:9 to 9:1 by volume, the process comprising the step of contacting the feed at elevated temperatures and atmospheric or elevated pressure with a catalyst comprising titanium dioxide and cobalt wherein the catalyst initially comprises from 30% to 95% metallic cobalt by weight of cobalt.

Abstract: Porous, extruded titania-based materials further comprising mesopores and macropores and/or prepared using one or more porogens, Fischer-tropsch catalysts comprising them, uses of the foregoing, processes for making and using the same and products obtained from such processes.

Abstract: A process the dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether in the presence of a solid Br?nsted acid catalyst selected from aluminosilicate zeolites which have a maximum free sphere diameter of greater than 3.67 Angstroms and heteropolyacids and a promoter selected from methyl formate, dimethyl oxalate and dimethyl malonate and the molar ratio of promoter to methanol is maintained at less than 1.

Abstract: Porous, extruded titania-based materials further comprising zirconium oxide and/or prepared using ammonium zirconium carbonate, Fischer-tropsch catalysts comprising them, uses of the foregoing, processes for making and using the same and products obtained from such processes.

Abstract: Porous, extruded titania-based materials further comprising one or more acids and/or prepared using one or more acids, Fischer-tropsch catalysts comprising them, uses of the foregoing, processes for making and using the same and products obtained from such processes.

Abstract: Process for the production of ethanol from acetic acid and hydrogen, said process comprising: reacting in an esterification reaction vessel methanol with acetic acid in the presence of an esterification catalyst and an entrainer to form a product comprising entrainer, methyl acetate and water, and in a distillation column, recovering from the product an overhead product fraction comprising methyl acetate, methanol and water, feeding the overhead product fraction, together with hydrogen, into a hydrogenation unit containing a copper based hydrogenation catalyst, to produce a hydrogenation product stream comprising ethanol, methanol, unreacted methyl acetate, unreacted hydrogen, ethyl acetate and water, cooling the hydrogenation product stream; separating the cooled hydrogenation product stream into a liquid phase which comprises the majority of the methanol, ethanol, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate and water, and a gaseous phase which comprises the majority of the unreacted hydrogen; recycling at least part of t

Abstract: Process for reducing the water and carboxylic acid content of an alcohol composition containing at least one C1-4 alcohol, water and at least one C1-4 carboxylic acid by (a) forming a vapor phase alcohol composition A and a liquid phase alcohol composition B, (b) separating a second vapor phase alcohol composition C and an aqueous phase D from the liquid phase alcohol composition B, the aqueous phase D containing the majority of the carboxylic acid that was present in the liquid phase alcohol composition B; (c) passing the vapor phase alcohol composition A to a drying unit, (d) passing the vapor phase alcohol composition C to a drying unit; and (e) recovering an alcohol composition from the drying units of steps (c) and (d). The recovered alcohol composition of step (e) has a reduced water and carboxylic acid content.

Abstract: Hydrogenation of methyl acetate to methanol and ethanol by feeding a hydrogenation feed of methyl acetate, water, hydrogen and a carbon oxide into a hydrogenation unit containing a copper-zinc oxide hydrogenation catalyst to produce a hydrogenation product stream of ethanol, methanol, unreacted methyl acetate, water, unreacted hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and ethyl acetate. The hydrogenation unit is operated in the vapor phase at elevated temperature and pressure. The total molar ratio of hydrogen to methyl acetate fed to the hydrogenation unit is 5:1 to 20:1. The total molar ratio of methyl acetate to carbon oxide(s) fed to the hydrogenation unit is 1:2 to 100:1. The hydrogenation product stream is separated into a liquid stream containing ethanol, methanol, unreacted methyl acetate, water and ethyl acetate, and a gaseous stream containing unreacted hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and a portion of the gaseous stream is recycled to the hydrogenation unit.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of a feed comprising a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to hydrocarbons, the hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the feed being present in a ratio of from 1:9 to 9:1 by volume, the process comprising the step of contacting the feed at elevated temperatures and atmospheric or elevated pressure with a catalyst comprising titanium dioxide and cobalt wherein the catalyst initially comprises from 30% to 95% metallic cobalt by weight of cobalt.

Abstract: Process for reducing the water and carboxylic acid content of an alcohol composition containing at least one alcohol having one to four carbon atoms, water and at least one carboxylic acid having from one to four carbon atoms by contacting the alcohol composition with a desiccant bed containing at least one porous inorganic oxide material at elevated temperature. At least one of the porous inorganic oxide material(s) contains Brønsted acid sites and/or neutralized Brønsted acid sites.

Abstract: There is provided a process for reducing the water and carboxylic acid content of an alcohol composition comprising at least one alcohol having from one to four carbon atoms, water and at least one carboxylic acid having from one to four carbon atoms, wherein said process comprises: (a) forming a vapour phase alcohol composition A and a liquid phase alcohol composition B from the alcohol composition; (b) separating a second vapour phase alcohol composition C and an aqueous phase D from the liquid phase alcohol composition B in a distillation column, wherein the aqueous phase D contains the majority of the carboxylic acid that was present in the liquid phase alcohol composition B; (c) passing the vapour phase alcohol composition A to a drying unit comprising a desiccant, (d) passing the vapour phase alcohol composition C to a drying unit comprising a desiccant; and (e) recovering an alcohol composition from the drying unit of step (c) and the drying unit of step (d); wherein the recovered alcohol composition o

Abstract: A process for the treatment of an alcohol composition comprising nitrogen-containing contaminants, the process comprising contacting the alcohol composition with an adsorbent in an adsorption zone, wherein the adsorbent is a transition metal-loaded solid porous material selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, silica-aluminas, silicates and aluminas.

Abstract: A process is described for producing a hydrocarbon product. In examples, the process comprising contacting a feedstock with a catalyst composition in the presence of hydrogen, the feedstock including a lipid, and the catalyst composition being active for conversion of the lipid to the hydrocarbon product in a single step. The catalyst composition comprises an M1-8 Sup] catalyst, where M1 is an active metal and [Sup] comprises an acidic support. In examples described, the process is used in the production of diesel-range fuel and/or jet fuel from lipid having a high yield of C11-C24 branched alkanes with high cetane value and low freeing point. In examples, the hydrocarbon product includes greater than 70% measured by weight of C11-C24 alkanes based on the weight of the lipid, and the content of branched alkanes of the C11-C24 alkanes is greater than 60% measured by weight of branched C11-C24 alkanes based on the weight of the C11-C24 alkanes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the production of ethanol from a carbonaceous feedstock; wherein the carbonaceous feedstock is first converted to synthesis gas which is then converted to ethanoic acid, which is then esterified and which is then hydrogenated to produce ethanol.

Abstract: A modified catalyst is described which can be used as a dehydration/hydrogenation catalyst in a multistage catalyst system for the catalysed production of saturated hydrocarbons from carbon oxides and hydrogen. The modified catalyst comprises: an acidic substrate comprising an M1-zeolite or M1-silicoalumino phosphate (SAPO) catalyst, where M1 is a metal; and a modifier including a metal M2. M2 comprises an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal. In examples described the modifier includes a Group II metal, for example Ca.

Abstract: Process for the production of ethene by the vapor phased chemical dehydration of a feed containing ethanol, water and ethoxyethane in a reactor at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a bed of catalyst comprising a supported heteropolytungstic acid, by maintaining or configuring the reactor so that it operates in a regime which satisfies the following parameters: 0.05<(Pwater/Pethanol+Pethoxyethane))/(8×10?5×GHSV+0.75)??(1) and ?20<Treaction?Tdew point?40×Ptotal feed+40×Pinerts<+80??(2) wherein Pwater, Pethanol and Pethoxyethane, GHSV, Treaction, Tdew point, Ptotal feed and Pinerts are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: Mixed matrix pervaporation membranes are described which include i) a matrix phase comprising a polymeric material, and ii) a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) dispersed in the matrix phase. In membranes described, the thickness of the membrane is greater than 0.5 ?m. The membranes may in examples be used in a process for separating an organic compound from an aqueous liquid mixture. An example process includes contacting the liquid mixture on one side of a mixed matrix pervaporation membrane to cause the organic compound to permeate the mixed matrix membrane, and removing from the other side of the membrane a permeate composition comprising a portion of the organic compound which permeated the membrane. Example membranes described have relatively good selectivity for separation of the organic compound from the liquid mixture.