Abstract: Disclosed are ethylene polymer compositions containing a homogeneously-branched first ethylene polymer component and 15-35 wt. % of a homogeneously-branched second ethylene polymer component of higher density than the first ethylene polymer component. The ethylene polymer composition can be characterized by a density from 0.912 to 0.925 g/cm3, a ratio of Mw/Mn from 2 to 5, a melt index less than 2 g/10 min, and a CY-a parameter at 190° C. from 0.35 to 0.7. These polymer compositions have the excellent dart impact strength and optical properties of a metallocene-catalyzed LLDPE, but with improved machine direction tear resistance, and can be used in blown film and other end-use applications. Further, methods for improving film Elmendorf tear strength also are described.

Abstract: A naphtha reforming reactor system comprising a first reactor comprising a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first reactor is configured to operate as an adiabatic reactor, and wherein the first reactor comprises a first naphtha reforming catalyst; and a second reactor comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet is in fluid communication with the first outlet of the first reactor, wherein the second reactor is configured to operate as an isothermal reactor, and wherein the second reactor comprises a plurality of tubes disposed within a reactor furnace, a heat source configured to heat the interior of the reactor furnace; and a second naphtha reforming catalyst disposed within the plurality of tubes, wherein the first naphtha reforming catalyst and the second naphtha reforming catalyst are the same or different.

Abstract: A bi-modal radial flow reactor comprising a cylindrical outer housing surrounding at least five cylindrical, concentric zones, including at least three annulus vapor zones and at least two catalyst zones. The at least two catalyst zones comprise an outer catalyst zone and an inner catalyst zone. The at least three annulus vapor zones comprise an outer annulus vapor zone, a middle annulus vapor zone, and a central annulus vapor zone, wherein the central annulus vapor zone extends along a centerline of the bi-modal radial flow reactor. The outer catalyst zone is intercalated with the outer annulus vapor zone and the middle annulus vapor zone, and the inner catalyst zone is intercalated with the middle annulus vapor zone and the central annulus vapor zone. A removable head cover can be fixably coupled to a top of the cylindrical outer housing to seal a top of the bi-modal radial flow reactor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes and reaction systems for controlling a temperature of an oligomerization reaction zone using a heat exchange system.

Abstract: A process includes periodically or continuously introducing an olefin monomer and periodically or continuously introducing a catalyst system or catalyst system components into a reaction mixture within a reaction system, oligomerizing the olefin monomer within the reaction mixture to form an oligomer product, and periodically or continuously discharging a reaction system effluent comprising the oligomer product from the reaction system. The reaction system includes a total reaction mixture volume and a heat exchanged portion of the reaction system comprising a heat exchanged reaction mixture volume and a total heat exchanged surface area providing indirect contact between the reaction mixture and a heat exchange medium. A ratio of the total heat exchanged surface area to the total reaction mixture volume within the reaction system is in a range from 0.75 in?1 to 5 in?1, and an oligomer product discharge rate from the reaction system is between 1.0 (lb)(hr?1)(gal?1) to 6.0 (lb)(hr?1)(gal?1).

Abstract: A closed-loop nitrogen transport system including a first transfer line configured for nitrogen pressure conveyance of a polymer fluff from at least one upstream vessel to at least one downstream vessel, a second transfer line configured to return a nitrogen gas stream comprising primarily nitrogen from the at least one downstream vessel to the at least one upstream vessel, a conveyor blower operable to provide flow throughout the closed loop, and a treatment unit operable to remove hydrocarbons from at least a portion of the nitrogen gas stream comprising primarily nitrogen, to provide a purified nitrogen stream.

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: This disclosure provides new methods for the design and development of ethylene polymerization catalysts, including Group 4 metallocene catalysts such as zirconocenes, which are based on an improved ability to adjust co-monomer incorporation into the polymer. Computational analyses with and without dispersion corrections revealed that designing catalyst scaffolds which induce stabilizing non-covalent dispersion type interactions with incoming ?-olefin co-monomers can be used to modulate co-monomer selectivity into the polyethylene chain. Demonstrated herein is a lack of correlation of computed ??G‡ values against experimental ??G‡ values when the dispersion correction (D3BJ) was disabled, and B3LYP was used in the absence of Grimme's D3 dispersion and Becke-Johnson (BJ) dampening, but a correlation of computed against experimental ??G‡ with B3LYP+D3BJ, which are used to design new catalyst scaffolds.

Abstract: Pyrrole compounds are produced by contacting a furan compound, a solid acid catalyst, and water to form a reaction mixture containing a ?-dicarbonyl compound, and then contacting the ?-dicarbonyl compound with ammonia or an ammonium salt to form a reaction product mixture containing the pyrrole compound. A representative pyrrole compound that can be synthesized using these processes is 2,5-dimethylpyrrole.

Abstract: Processes for cracking an alkane reactant to form a lower aliphatic hydrocarbon product and for converting an alkane reactant into a higher aliphatic hydrocarbon product are disclosed, and these processes include a step of contacting the alkane reactant with a supported chromium (II) catalyst. In addition to the formation of various aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as linear alkanes, branched alkanes, 1-alkenes, and internal alkenes, aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrogen also can be produced.

Abstract: Methods for producing supported catalysts containing a transition metal and a bound zeolite base are disclosed. These methods employ a step of impregnating the bound zeolite base with a transition metal precursor in a solvent composition containing water and from about 5 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of a C1 to C3 alcohol compound, a chlorine precursor, and a fluorine precursor. The resultant supported catalysts have improved catalyst activity and selectivity, as well as lower fouling rates in aromatization reactions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a flare control method and a flare apparatus for automatically controlling, in real-time, the flow of one or more of fuel, steam, and air to a flare. The disclosed embodiments advantageously allow for automated control over a wide spectrum of operating conditions, including emergency operations, and planned operations such as startup and shutdown.

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 or fossil fuel co-feed, or as a feedstock in the absence of a petroleum-based or fossil fuel co-feed. A mass balance accounting approach is employed to attribute the pounds of pyrolyzed plastic products derived from pyrolysis oil to any output stream of a given unit, which permits assigning circular product credit to product streams. 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.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a catalyst system comprising i) (a) a bicyclic 2-[(phosphinyl)aminyl] cyclic imine chromium salt or (b) a chromium salt and a bicyclic 2-[(phosphinyl)aminyl] cyclic imine and ii) an organoaluminum compound. The present disclosure also relate to a process comprising: a) contacting i) ethylene; ii) a catalyst system comprising (a) a 2-[(phosphinyl)aminyl] cyclic imine chromium salt complex or (b) a chromium salt and a bicyclic 2-[(phosphinyl)aminyl] cyclic imine; ii) an organoaluminum compound, and iii) optionally an organic reaction medium; and b) forming an oligomer product in a reaction zone.

Abstract: A method comprising a) contacting a solvent, a carboxylic acid, and a peroxide-containing compound to form an acidic mixture wherein a weight ratio of solvent to carboxylic acid in the acidic mixture is from about 1:1 to about 100:1; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound and the acidic mixture to form a solubilized titanium mixture wherein an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to carboxylic acid in the solubilized titanium mixture is from about 1:1 to about 1:4 and an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to peroxide-containing compound in the solubilized titanium mixture is from about 1:1 to about 1:20; and c) contacting a chromium-silica support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water and the solubilized titanium mixture to form an addition product and drying the addition product by heating to a temperature in a range of from about 50° C. to about 150° C. and maintaining the temperature in the range of from about 50° C. to about 150° C.

Abstract: Processes for producing an activated chromium catalyst are disclosed, and these processes comprise contacting a supported chromium catalyst with a gas stream containing from 25-60 vol % oxygen at a peak activation temperature of 550-900° C. to produce the activated chromium catalyst. The linear velocity of the gas stream is 0.18-0.4 ft/sec, and the oxygen linear velocity of the gas stream is 0.05-0.15 ft/sec. The resultant activated chromium catalyst and an optional co-catalyst can be contacted with an olefin monomer and an optional olefin comonomer in a polymerization reactor system under polymerization conditions to produce an olefin polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are ethylene-based polymers generally characterized by a density of at least 0.94 g/cm3, a high load melt index from 4 to 20 g/10 min, a zero-shear viscosity at 190° C. from 20,000 to 400,000 kPa-sec, and a relaxation time at 190° C. from 225 to 3000 sec. These ethylene polymers can be produced by peroxide-treating a broad molecular weight distribution Ziegler-catalyzed resin, and can be used in large diameter, thick wall pipes and other end-use applications.

Abstract: A method comprising a) contacting a solvent, a carboxylic acid, and a peroxide-containing compound to form an acidic mixture wherein a weight ratio of solvent to carboxylic acid in the acidic mixture is from about 1:1 to about 100:1; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound and the acidic mixture to form a solubilized titanium mixture wherein an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to carboxylic acid in the solubilized titanium mixture is from about 1:1 to about 1:4 and an equivalent molar ratio of titanium-containing compound to peroxide-containing compound in the solubilized titanium mixture is from about 1:1 to about 1:20; and c) contacting a chromium-silica support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water and the solubilized titanium mixture to form an addition product and drying the addition product by heating to a temperature in a range of from about 50° C. to about 150° C. and maintaining the temperature in the range of from about 50° C. to about 150° C.

Abstract: Reactor systems, reactor coolant systems, and associated processes for polymerizing polyolefins are described. The reactor systems generally include a reactor pipe and a coolant system, in which the coolant system includes a jacket pipe surrounding at least a portion of the reactor pipe to form an annulus therebetween, at least one spacer coupling the jacket to the reactor pipe, and a coolant which flows through the annulus to remove heat from the reactor pipe. At least one of the external surface of the reactor pipe, the internal surface of the jacket, and at least one spacer, are independently modified, for example by polishing, coating, or reshaping, to reduce the fluid resistance of the coolant flow through the annulus.

Abstract: Provided herein are catalyst supports, catalyst systems, and methods for making catalyst supports, catalyst systems, and performing chemical reactions with the catalyst systems. The catalyst supports include a zeolite and a binder including non-sodium counterions, such as ammonium counterions and/or potassium counterions. The catalyst systems include the catalyst supports and a catalytic material. The catalyst systems may be used to perform chemical reactions, including reactions of one or more hydrocarbons.