Abstract: In a process for converting synthesis gas to methanol, gas is introduced through an inlet of a tubular reactor. Reactants pass downwardly through at least one reactor tube to an upper surface of a catalyst carrier and into a passage defined by an inner perforated wall of a carrier container before passing radially through the catalyst bed towards a perforated outer container wall. Reaction occurs as synthesis gas contacts the catalyst. Unreacted reactant and product pass out of the container through the outer container wall and then upwardly between the inner surface of a container skirt and an outer annular container wall, and then over the end of the skirt and downwardly between the outer surface of the skirt and the inner surface of the reactor tube where heat transfer takes place. The steps are repeated at any subsequent catalyst carrier and then product is removed from the reactor outlet.

Abstract: A process for improving the hydrogen content of a synthesis gas stream to a synthesis loop, comprising the steps of: (a)removing a purge stream comprising hydrogen and hydrocarbons from a synthesis loop; (b)separating hydrogen from the purge stream; (c)passing the purge stream to a reformer and reacting with steam and oxygen to produce a stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (d)subjecting the reformed reaction product stream to a shift reaction to produce a stream comprising carbon dioxide and hydrogen; (e)subjecting the product stream from the shift reaction to separation to separate hydrogen from carbon dioxide; (f)supplying the separated hydrogen to the synthesis loop; and (g)removing the carbon dioxide.

Abstract: In a process for producing anhydrides in a tubular reactor, gaseous reactants are passed downwardly through at least one reactor tube to a catalyst carrier where they pass into a passage defined by an inner perforated wall of a catalyst container before passing radially through the catalyst bed towards a perforated outer container wall. The reaction occurs as gas contacts the catalyst. Unreacted reactant and product exits the container though the perforated outer wall and then upwardly between an inner surface of a container skirt and the outer wall of the container and then over the end of the skirt and caused to flow downwardly between the outer surface of the skirt and the inner surface of the reactor tube where heat transfer takes place. These steps are repeated at any subsequent catalyst carrier product is then removed from the reactor outlet.

Abstract: A liquid/gas reactor includes a bulk catalyst bed and means for supplying fresh feed and recycled at least partially converted liquid product stream to the bulk catalyst bed. The reactor also includes means for collecting an at least partially converted liquid product stream from the bulk catalyst bed and recycling at least a portion thereto. A minor catalyst bed extends substantially vertically through the bulk catalyst bed. Means for supplying recycled at least partially converted product stream only to the minor catalyst bed is also provided. A separating wall is disposed between the bulk catalyst bed and the minor catalyst bed.

Abstract: A monolith catalyst carrier for insertion in a tube of a tubular reactor has a container for holding a monolith catalyst in use. The container has a bottom surface closing the container and a skirt extending upwardly from the bottom surface of the container to a position below the location of a seal and spaced therefrom. The skirt is positioned such that there is a space between an outer surface of the monolith catalyst and the skirt. A seal is located at or near a top surface of the monolith catalyst and extends from the monolith catalyst by a distance which extends beyond an outer surface of the skirt.

Abstract: In a process for removing aromatic carboxylic acid from a slurry thereof in solvent, the slurry is split into sub streams and each of said sub streams is supplied to a respective rotary pressure filter such that the sub stream pass through the filters in parallel. Gas is passed through the rotary pressure filters in series in an open-loop arrangement.

Abstract: A process for the co-production of a stream of a fatty alcohol having first carbon chain lengths and a stream of a fatty alcohol having a second carbon chain lengths, said second carbon chain lengths being longer than said first carbon chain lengths, said process comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a stream comprising lower alkyl esters of fatty acids having chain lengths comprising the first and second chain lengths to a first vaporization zone and contacting said stream with an amount of hydrogen recycled from step (i) which is sufficient to vaporize the lower alkyl esters of the fatty acids having the first carbon chain lengths into the hydrogen; (b) supplying the hydrogen and the vaporized lower alkyl esters of fatty acids having the first carbon chain lengths to a first reaction zone comprising catalyst and operating under reaction conditions to allow hydrogenation to the desired alcohol having first carbon chain lengths; (c) recovering from the first reaction zone an alcohol product stream having fir

Abstract: In a process for the separation and drying of crude carboxylic acid crystals from a slurry in a solvent, the slurry is supplied to a filter operating at pressure and at a temperature above the atmospheric boiling point of the solvent. A cake of separated crystals is removed from the filter and passed to a thermal dryer. In a system for the separation and drying of crude carboxylic acid from a slurry in a solvent, a pressure filter device has a slurry inlet and an outlet for a cake of carboxylic acid crystals. The system also has a thermal dryer and means for transporting the cake of carboxylic acid crystals from the pressure filter device to the dryer. The pressure filter device is configured to operate at a pressure and temperature above the atmospheric boiling point of the solvent.

Abstract: In a process for the separation of solid carboxylic acid fines from mother liquor that includes such fines, the mother liquor is fed to a settlement drum at above atmospheric pressure. The mother liquor having a lower concentration of carboxylic fines than that fed to the settlement drum is then removed, wherein the mother liquor removal occurs at a point above the point at which the mother liquor containing fines is fed to the settlement drum. In a system for performing the separation process, a settlement drum has an inlet for mother liquor with carboxylic acid fines and an outlet for mother liquor having a lower concentration of carboxylic acid fines content than that of the mother liquor introduced via the inlet. The settlement drum is configured to operate at above atmospheric pressure and the outlet is located at a point in the settlement drum above the inlet.

Abstract: In a process for the production of substitute natural gas, a feed gas is provided to a first and/or second and/or subsequent bulk methanator. The feed gas is subjected to methanation in the presence of a suitable catalyst. An at least partially reacted stream from the first bulk methanator is removed and supplied to the second and/or subsequent bulk methanator where it is subjected to further methanation. A product stream from the final bulk methanator is passed to a trim methanator train where it is subjected to further methanation. A recycle stream is removed downstream of the first, second or subsequent bulk methanator, and, in any order, passed through a compressor, subjected to cooling and then supplied to a trim and/or recycle methanator for further methanation before being recycled to the first and/or second and/or subsequent methanator.

Abstract: In a process for the separation of carboxylic acid from a slurry in a solvent, a slurry with crystals of carboxylic acid is supplied to a filter operating at pressure and at a temperature above the atmospheric boiling point of the solvent. Inert gas is mixed with the solvent and the mixture is supplied to the filter. A cake of separated crystals is removed from the filter. Inert gas removed from the filter is not recycled. In a system for performing such separation, a pressure filter device has a slurry inlet, and an outlet. Means for mixing inert gas and solvent, and means for supplying the mixture to the pressure filter are provided. The pressure filter device is configured to operate at pressure and at a temperature above the atmospheric boiling point of the solvent. The system does not include means for recycling inert gas removed from the filter.

Abstract: A process for the removal of hydroxypropane from a crude product stream from the hydrogenation of glycerol, the crude product stream comprising 1,2-propanediol and hydroxypropanone as impurity, the process comprising: (a) where required condensing the crude product stream; and (b) contacting the crude product phase in the liquid phase with a stream of a hydrogen-containing gas in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst at suitable temperatures and pressures such that hydroxypropanone present in the crude product stream is converted to the desired propanediol.

Abstract: Process for converting synthesis gas to hydrocarbons in a slurry reactor in the presence of a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising cobalt and zinc oxide. The process is carried out by a) activating the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst with a reducing gas consisting of hydrogen and an inert gas at a temperature between 330 and 400° C., and b) contacting the activated Fischer-Tropsch catalyst from step a) with synthesis gas in the slurry reactor in order to convert the synthesis gas into hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A catalyst carrier for insertion in a radial tube reactor, said catalyst carrier comprising: an annular container for holding catalyst in use, said container having a perforated inner wall defining a tube, a perforated outer wall, a top surface closing the annular container and a bottom surface closing the annular container; a surface closing the bottom of said tube formed by the inner wall of the annular container; a skirt extending upwardly from the perforated outer wall of the annular container from a position at or near the bottom surface of said container to a position below the location of a seal; and a seal located at or near the top surface and extending from the container by a distance which extends beyond an outer surface of the skirt.

Abstract: A process for the co-production of a stream of a fatty alcohol having first carbon chain lengths and a stream of a fatty alcohol having second carbon chain lengths, said second carbon chain lengths being longer than said first carbon chain lengths.

Abstract: A process for the production of propylene glycol by reaction of a feed material comprises glycerol in the presence of hydrogen which comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a stream comprising the feed material to a first vaporisation zone and contacting said feed with cycle gas comprising hydrogen such that at least a portion of the feed is vaporised by and into the cycle gas; (b) supplying at least a portion of the cycle gas and the vaporised feed material to a first reaction zone comprising catalyst and operating under reaction conditions to allow hydrogenation and dehydration to occur such that a major part of the glycerol is converted; (c) recovering from the first reaction zone an intermediate product stream comprising cycle gas, minor amounts of unconverted glycerol, and desired product(s); (d) supplying the intermediate product stream from the preceding reaction zone to a final vaporisation zone and contacting it with additional feed material such that an amount of glycerol, approximately equivalent to

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovery of homogeneous metal hydride catalyst from a reactor stream as catalyst suitable for recycle to a reactor comprising the steps of: removing a stream from a reactor, said stream comprising the homogeneous metal hydride catalyst; contacting the stream with a solid acidic absorbent under process conditions which allow at least some of the metal to become bound to the absorbent; subjecting the metal bound to the absorbent, under process conditions which allow desorption of the metal, to a fluid stripping medium comprising hydrogen and solvent; and recovering the active metal hydride catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the purification of a crude liquid feed stream comprising 1,4-butanediol and a minor amount of 2-(4-hydroxybutoxy)-tetrahydrofuran and/or precursors thereof wherein the process comprises passing the crude feed in the presence of hydrogen in a reaction zone over a heterogeneous liquid tolerant copper catalyst in the liquid phase at hydrogenation conditions and recovering a purified stream of 1,4-butanediol having a lower amount of 2-(4-hydroxybutoxy)-tetrahydrofuran than the crude liquid feed stream.

Abstract: A reactor system, plant and a process for the production of methanol from synthesis gas is described in which the reactor system comprises: (a) a first reactor adapted to be maintained under methanol synthesis conditions having inlet means for supply of synthesis gas and outlet means for recovery of a first methanol-containing stream, said first reactor being charged with a first volume of a methanol synthesis catalyst through which the synthesis gas flows and on which in use, partial conversion of the synthesis gas to a product gas mixture comprising methanol and un-reacted synthesis gas will occur adiabatically; and (b) a second reactor adapted to be maintained under methanol synthesis conditions having inlet means for supply of the gaseous first methanol-containing stream, outlet means for recovery of a second methanol-containing stream and cooling means, said second reactor being charged with a second volume of a methanol synthesis catalyst through which the gaseous first methanol-containing stream flows

Abstract: A process for the co-production of a stream of a fatty alcohol having first carbon chain lengths and a stream of a fatty alcohol having a second carbon chain lengths, said second carbon chain lengths being longer than said first carbon chain lengths, said process comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a stream comprising lower alkyl esters of fatty acids having chain lengths comprising the first and second chain lengths to a first vaporisation zone and contacting said stream with an amount of hydrogen recycled from step (i) which is sufficient to vaporise the lower alkyl esters of the fatty acids having the first carbon chain lengths into the hydrogen; (b) supplying the hydrogen and the vaporised lower alkyl esters of fatty acids having the first carbon chain lengths to a first reaction zone comprising catalyst and operating under reaction conditions to allow hydrogenation to the desired alcohol having first carbon chain lengths; (c) recovering from the first reaction zone an alcohol product stream having fir