Abstract: A system for processing plastic waste may include a feed line, a feed fractionator, a hydrotreater, a catalytic reforming unit, a heavy oil cracker, and a steam cracker. A pyrolyzed plastics feed is separated into light, medium, and heavy hydrocarbon streams. The hydrotreater removes sulfur, and the catalytic reforming unit produces a circular aromatic-rich stream. The heavy oil cracker generates cracked streams. The steam cracker produces a circular olefin stream from a cracked stream. A system for processing plastic waste may include the feed line, the feed fractionator, the hydrotreater, a medium hydrocarbon fractionator, the catalytic reforming unit, a full-range reforming unit, the heavy oil cracker, and the steam cracker. The medium hydrocarbon fractionator produces two hydrocarbon streams. The full-range naphtha reforming unit produces a second circular aromatic-rich stream.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to for estimating the end-of-life of a furnace catalyst bed. A method may include extracting first measurements of a furnace catalyst bed; determining time-period averages of the extracted first measurements of the furnace catalyst bed over multiple time periods; determining a catalyst activity indicative of an efficiency of a selective reduction catalyst in reducing NOx concentrations for the furnace catalyst bed at a first time; generating a first linear regression of the catalyst activity based on averages of the multiple time periods; and generating a health score of the furnace catalyst bed at a second time based on the first linear regression, the health score indicative of an estimated end-of-life of the furnace catalyst bed.

Abstract: Processes for producing ethylene-based polymers and oligomers from ethanol include the steps of contacting the ethanol and a catalyst to produce a reaction mixture containing ethylene, wherein a first portion of the ethanol is derived from a biomass and a second portion of the ethanol is derived from a plastic, a mixed solid waste stream, or a combination thereof, separating at least a portion of the ethylene from the reaction mixture, and contacting ethylene with a suitable polymerization or oligomerization catalyst composition to produce the ethylene polymer or ethylene oligomers. A related process for producing ethylene-based polymers and oligomers uses a first ethylene feed derived from ethanol and a second ethylene feed derived from a plastic, a mixed solid waste stream, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the production of chemicals and plastics using pyrolysis oil from the pyrolysis of plastic waste as a co-feedstock along with a petroleum-based, fossil fuel-based, or bio-based feedstock. In an aspect, the polymers and chemicals produced according to this disclosure can be certified under International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) provisions as circular polymers and chemicals at any point along complex chemical reaction pathways. The use of a mass balance approach which attributes the pounds of pyrolyzed plastic products derived from pyrolysis oil to any output stream of a given unit has been developed, which permits ISCC certification agency approval.

Abstract: Methods for making titanated silica supports, titanated chromium/silica pre-catalysts, and activated titanated chromium/silica catalysts are disclosed in which hydrogen peroxide and an alkali metal precursor are used during catalyst preparation. Resulting titanated chromium/silica pre-catalysts often contain silica, 0.1 to 5 wt. % chromium, 0.1 to 10 wt. % titanium, and less than or equal to 4 wt. % carbon, and further contain a bound alkali metal or zinc at a molar ratio of alkali metal:titanium or zinc:titanium from 0.02:1 to 3:1 and/or at an amount in a range from 0.01 to 2 mmol of alkali metal or zinc per gram of the silica. High melt index potential activated titanated chromium/silica catalysts can be used to polymerize olefins to produce, for example, ethylene based homopolymers and copolymers having HLMI values of greater than 30 g/10 min.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and processes for distributing reactor coolant flow to the cooling jackets of a loop slurry reactor, where the reactor coolant is used to control the temperature of the loop slurry reactor in olefin polymerization. Also disclosed are systems and processes for controlling the temperature of the reactor coolant that is used for cooling olefin polymerization reactors, which can be used in combination with traditional coolant distribution regimes and in combination with the coolant distribution systems and processes that are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed are metallocene compounds, catalyst compositions comprising at least one metallocene compound, processes for polymerizing olefins, methods for making catalyst compositions, olefin polymers and articles made from olefin polymers. In an aspect, a metallocene compound and catalyst composition are disclosed in which the metallocene contains at least one indenyl ligand, the indenyl ligand containing at least one halogenated substituent, such as a fluorinated substituent. These metallocene compounds and catalyst compositions can produce polyethylene having unexpectedly low levels of short chain branching.

Abstract: Supported chromium catalysts with an average valence less than +6 and having a hydrocarbon-containing or halogenated hydrocarbon-containing ligand attached to at least one bonding site on the chromium are disclosed, as well as ethylene-based polymers with terminal alkane, aromatic, or halogenated hydrocarbon chain ends. Another ethylene polymer characterized by at least 2 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000 g/mol and at least 1.5 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol is provided, as well as an ethylene homopolymer with at least 3.5 methyl short chain branches and less than 0.6 butyl short chain branches per 1000 total carbon atoms.

Abstract: Processes for producing a linear internal olefin product include the steps of contacting an olefin feed containing C10-C20 vinylidenes and a C10-C20 normal alpha olefin and/or C10-C20 linear internal olefins, a first acid catalyst, and a C1 to C18 carboxylic acid to form a first reaction product containing linear internal olefins, trisubstituted olefins, and secondary esters, then removing all or a portion of the secondary esters from the first reaction product, followed by contacting the secondary esters and a second acid catalyst to form a second reaction product comprising linear internal olefins, and then removing all or a portion of the linear internal olefins from the second reaction product to form the linear internal olefin product. Linear alkanes subsequently can be produced by hydrogenating the linear internal olefin product to form a linear alkane product.

Abstract: Methods for making a supported chromium catalyst are disclosed, and can comprise contacting a silica-coated alumina containing at least 30 wt. % silica with a chromium-containing compound in a liquid, drying, and calcining in an oxidizing atmosphere at a peak temperature of at least 650° C. to form the supported chromium catalyst. The supported chromium catalyst can contain from 0.01 to 20 wt. % chromium, and typically can have a pore volume from 0.5 to 2 mL/g and a BET surface area from 275 to 550 m2/g. The supported chromium catalyst subsequently can be used to polymerize olefins to produce, for example, ethylene-based homopolymers and copolymers having high molecular weights and broad molecular weight distributions.

Abstract: Drilling mud compositions including a first concentration of powdered latex and a second concentration of SAS are described. The second concentration of SAS can be greater than or equal to the first concentration of latex. In some examples, the second concentration of SAS can be greater than the first concentration of latex. The drilling mud compositions may include an oil-based carrier, or a water-based carrier. An example technique includes dispersing a first predetermined amount of powdered latex and a second predetermined amount of SAS in a water-based carrier to form a water-based mud. Another example technique includes dispersing a first predetermined amount of powdered latex and a second predetermined amount of SAS in an oil-based carrier to form an oil-based mud.

Abstract: Oligomer products are produced by reacting an alpha olefin and a vinylidene compound in the presence of a solid catalyst, such as a solid oxide or a chemically-treated solid oxide. Metallocene compounds, organoaluminum compounds, and BF3 are not needed to perform the reaction. Oligomer products formed by processes disclosed herein have a trimer:tetramer weight ratio of at least 2:1.

Abstract: A method comprising contacting a silica support with a titanium-containing solution to form a titanated silica support, wherein the titanium-containing solution comprises a solvent; a ligand comprising a glycol, a carboxylate, a peroxide, or a combination thereof, and a titanium compound having the formula Ti(acac)2(OR)2, wherein “acac” is acetylacetonate and wherein each R independently is ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, isobutyl, or n-butyl.

Abstract: Methods for preparing metallocene-based catalyst compositions include the steps of contacting an alcohol compound and an organoaluminum compound for a first period of time to form a precontacted mixture, and contacting the precontacted mixture with an activator-support and a metallocene compound for a second period of time to form the catalyst composition. Such catalyst compositions can contain an activator-support, a metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a dialkyl aluminum alkoxide, and these catalyst compositions have increased catalytic activity for the polymerization of olefins.

Abstract: A bimodal polymer composition comprising a lower molecular weight homopolymer and a higher molecular weight copolymer wherein the bimodal polymer composition has a density of from about 0.930 gram per cubic centimeter (g/cc) to about 0.970 g/cc, a ratio of high load melt index:melt index of from about 10 to about 150 and an Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR) of from about 25 hours to about 300 hours when measured in accordance with ASTM D1693 or ASTM D2561. A chromium-catalyzed polymer composition comprising (i) a lower molecular weight homopolymer and (ii) a higher molecular weight copolymer, wherein the bimodal polymer composition has an Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR) of from about 25 hours to about 300 hours when measured in accordance with ASTM D1693 or ASTM D2561.

Abstract: Methods for modifying a catalyst system component are disclosed in which a feed mixture containing a fluid and from 1 to 15 wt. % of a catalyst system component is introduced into an inlet of a hydrocyclone, an overflow stream containing from 0.1 to 5 wt. % solids and an underflow stream containing from 10 to 40 wt. % solids are discharged from the hydrocyclone, and the underflow stream is spray dried to form a modified catalyst component. Often, from 4 to 20 wt. % of the catalyst system component in the feed mixture has a particle size of less than or equal to 20 ?m, or less than or equal to 10 ?m.

Abstract: A pre-catalyst composition comprising: a) a silica support comprising silica wherein an amount of silica is in a range of from about 70 wt. % to about 95 wt. % based upon a total weight of the silica support; b) a titanium-containing compound wherein an amount of titanium is in a range of from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % based upon the total weight of the silica support; c) a chromium-containing compound wherein an amount of chromium is in a range of from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % based upon the total weight of the silica support; d) a surfactant wherein the surfactant comprises a non-ionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, or a combination thereof; e) a carboxylate wherein the carboxylate comprises a multi carboxylate, an alpha-hydroxy carboxylate, or a combination thereof; and f) a solvent.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are ethylene-based polymers generally characterized by a melt index of less than 15 g/10 min, a density from 0.91 to 0.945 g/cm3, a CY-a parameter at 190° C. from 0.2 to 0.6, an average number of long chain branches per 1,000,000 total carbon atoms of the polymer in a molecular weight range of 500,000 to 2,000,000 g/mol of less than 5, and a maximum ratio of ?E/3? at an extensional rate of 0.03 sec?1 in a range from 3 to 15. The ethylene polymers have substantially no long chain branching in the high molecular weight fraction of the polymer, but instead have significant long chain branching in the lower molecular weight fraction, such that polymer melt strength and bubble stability are maintained for the fabrication of blown films and other articles of manufacture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for cooling a coolant used in a heat exchange equipment in a plant. The process is performed in a plant having the apparatus disclosed herein. The process and apparatus utilize a geothermal cooling loop for cooling at least a portion of the total amount of coolant circulating in the coolant loop that is used to cool a surface of a heat exchange equipment in the plant.

Abstract: Methods for determining ethylene concentration in an ethylene oligomerization reactor using an ultrasonic flow meter are described, and these methods are integrated into ethylene oligomerization processes and related oligomerization reactor systems.