Abstract: A chemical synthesis process is provided for the functionalization of monodispersed triblock copolymer (POEw-POPy-POEw) with secondary or tertiary amines at a semi-industrial level in glass reactors having a capacity between 1 L and 100 L. The process includes two stages where the first stage uses an alkylsulfonyl or arylsulfonyl chloride to obtain better leaving groups, and the second stage is the nucleophilic substitution with secondary or tertiary amines, to obtain the bifunctionalized triblock copolymers. The main advantage for this process is to reduce the quantity of unitary process done in each stage, the optimization of reaction times, and the stoichiometric relationships.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the application of solid polymers or copolymers prepared from monomers having in their structure a polycyclic aromatic ring, an aromatic ring of the type of naphthalene, or polyesters, polyethers, polyamides or polyvynil derivatives having naphthalene units in their structure, in the hydrotreatment or hydrocracking of heavy hydrocarbons, such as heavy or extra-heavy crude oils or residues from the distillation of petroleum; these polymers or copolymers may be supported, anchored or in a physical mixture with metallic oxides such as alumina, silica, titania or kaolin, and they have an application as heterogeneous hydrogen donors in reactions of hydrotreatment or hydrocracking of heavy or extra-heavy crude oils, residues from the distillation of petroleum and cuts and streams deived from this distillation. These solid polymers or copolymers operate in the presence of hydrogen or methane-rich gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of biodiesel and alkyl esters by the transesterification of triglyceride esters, with alcohols in heterogeneous phase in the presence of heterogeneous catalysts, with yields higher than 80%, at a temperature from 0 to 300° C., residence time from 20 minutes to 20 h, space velocity of 0.1 to 10 h?1, pressure of 25-100 kg/cm2 (24.5-98.07 bar), methanol/oil molar ratio of 10 to 40 and catalyst concentration of 0.001 to 20 weight % based on tri-, di- or monoglyceride. The method produces biodiesel and alkyl esters by transesterification of tri-, di- or mono-glycerides, from palm, jatropha, castor, soybean and sunflower oils, wherein the alcohoxyls R1O, R2O and R3O of the glycerides are C1 to C24 and a C1-C4 alcohol, such as methanol, in an alcohol:oil ratio from 3:1 to 50:1.

Abstract: Oxidative dehydrogenation of light paraffins, such as ethane at moderate temperatures (<500° C.) to produce ethylene without the formation of side products such as acetic acid and/or other oxygenated hydrocarbons is achieved using tellurium-free, multimetallic catalysts possessing orthorhombic M1 phase and other crystalline structures that have an important role for obtaining high performance catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene. Such catalysts are prepared using thermal and hydrothermal methods.

Abstract: Compositions consisting of block copolymers ?,?-di-aryl or alkyl sulfonates of poly(ethylene oxide)w-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)w of bis-ammonium and block copolymers ?,?-di-amine of poly(ethylene oxide)w-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)w, are provided that are effective in the dewatering and desalting crude oils whose specific gravities are within the range of 14 to 20° API. A method of dewatering and desalting heavy crude oil adds a mixture of the copolymer bifunctionalized with an aliphatic or aromatic secondary amine and a copolymer bifunctionalized with an aliphatic or aromatic tertiary amine.

Abstract: N-alkyl, N-alkenyl, N-cycloalkyl, N-aryl amino or imino propionic acids with an alkyl chain ranging from 6 to 18 carbons, or alkenyl chain from 8 to 30 carbons, are obtained from a reaction process in the absence of solvent at a temperature range from 30 to 180° C. and a time of 1 to 10 hours at atmospheric pressure. Formulations composed of N-alkyl or N-alkenyl or N-cycloalkyl or N-aryl amino or imino propionic acids, polyethers derived from propylene oxide or ethylene oxide or copolymer thereof and a solvent consisting of aromatic compounds such as toluene or xylene, diesel or gasoline or alcohols such as isopropanol and ethanol, or mixtures thereof, are obtained inhibit ferrous metal corrosion of pipelines and storage tanks and transport crude oil and liquid fuels. A method inhibiting corrosion of ferrous metals adds an effective amount of the corrosion inhibitor to a petroleum based material such as crude oil and liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel fuel, and aviation fuel.

Abstract: A hydrocracking catalyst having a support of a composite of mesoporous materials, molecular sieves and alumina, is used in the last bed of a multi-bed system for treating heavy crude oils and residues and is designed to increase the production of intermediate distillates having boiling points in a temperature range of 204° C. to 538° C., decrease the production of the heavy fraction (>538° C.), and increase the production of gasoline fraction (<204° C.). The feedstock to be processed in the last bed contains low amounts of metals and is lighter than the feedstock that is fed to the first catalytic bed.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a two-systems compact specimen holder (SH) easy to use which enables to analyze the same sample by employing either an atomic force microscope (AFM) or a scanning electron microscope (SEM), by preserving the setting reference of the details for both microscopies, so that it satisfies the requirements of size, conductivity, magnetization, tidiness, reference and adaptability. The capacity of preserving the location reference of the details for both microscopies, in the scope of correlational microscopy, results essential to obtain information and images in both fields of microscopy, which can be correlated in order to acquire valuable combined information.

Abstract: A semiconductor material basically consists of titanium oxide, with the special feature of being like nanostructures, which gives special physicochemical properties, with ability to disperse and stabilize metal particles with high activity and selectivity in catalytic processes mainly. The process of producing the semiconductor material includes adding a titanium alkoxide to an alcoholic solution, adding an acid to the alcoholic solution, controlling the pH from 1 to 5; subjecting the acidic solution to agitation and reflux conditions at 70 to 80° C.; stabilizing the medium and adding bidistilled water in a water/alkoxide molar ratio of 1-2/0.100-0.150, continuing with reflux until gelation; aging the gel for 1 to 24 hours for complete formation of the titania; drying the titania nanostructured at of 50 to 80° C. for about 1 to 24 hours, and subjecting the dried titania to a calcination step at 200 to 600° C. for 1 to 12 hours.

Abstract: Bacterial cultures of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans are isolated, maintained and identified and used in the treatment of materials containing sulfur-compounds, such as contaminated and/or spent catalysts with elemental sulfur (S). Bacterial cultures of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans exhibit sulfur-oxidizing activity particularly useful in the transformation of elemental sulfur (S) to sulfates (SO4), a compound soluble in water (H2O) and usable in industry. The bacterial cultures of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans are mainly used as a biological or biotechnological procedure for the treatment of contaminated and/or spent catalysts with elemental sulfur (S) hazardous contaminated wastes that are mainly, but not exclusively, from the Claus process that operates at environmental conditions; does not impact the environment or ecosystem; and recovers 91-100% of the elemental sulfur (S) in sulfate form (SO4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the process of obtaining adsorbent materials based upon supported metal species on porous silicates, and their use for reducing the amount of sulfur and nitrogen contaminants in petroleum fractions and products derived of, i.e., light and heavy gas oils, FCC gasoline and fuels, where FCC stands for Fluid Catalytic Cracking process. Therefore, the invention comprises the selection, preparation, modification and adsorptive properties of the abovementioned porous materials, which are based on porous silicates with metal species intercalated and/or impregnated, such as Ti(O,OH), Mg(O,OH)—, Zr(O,OH)—, Fe(O,OH), Al(O,OH). Also, additional options were considered, for example those comprising metals from the 1st and 2nd transition series, such as Cu+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Ag+, Co2+, Ti4+, V2+,5+, Cr3+ and Mn2+.

Abstract: Compounds and compositions are used as corrosion inhibitors for pipelines for crude oil containing water with high salt concentrations. The inhibitors are ionic liquids, imidazoles, benzotriazoles, and mixtures thereof. The composition includes two or more members of the inhibitors with a solvent. The inhibitors reduce corrosion of metallic surfaces of the pipelines containing crude oil having 0.2 and 40 wt % water, 10,000 to 70,000 ppm salt, and 9 to 600 ppm hydrogen sulfide. A synergic effect is provided by two or more different inhibitors. This synergy is derived from interactions with the metallic surface, among themselves or with the corrosive medium depending on the chain length, to inhibit the corrosion with decrease of the formulation dose. The composition can be a ternary formulation of the three families or two components of one family and a third component of a different family.

Abstract: The present invention relates to heterogeneous acid catalysts comprising or consisting of mixed metal salts, of lithium and aluminum phosphates and sulfates, and combinations with metallic cations, such as magnesium, titanium, zinc, zirconium and gallium, to provide adequate Lewis acidity; organic or inorganic porosity promoters, such as polysaccharides; and agglomerates, such as clays, kaolin and metal oxides of the type MxOy, where; M=Al, Mg, Sr, Zr or Ti, and other metals of groups IA, IIA and IVB, x=1 or 2 and y=2 or 3, for the formation of particles. A process is disclosed for obtaining from the catalyst by the hydrolysis of aluminum lithium hydride with water and oxygenated solvent, such as an ether. The catalysts are used in batch reactor and continuous flow systems in reactions that require moderate Lewis acidity, such as refining, petrochemical and general chemistry, including the transesterification of glycerides to produce alkyl esters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of synthesis of certain ionic liquids di-polymerized based Radziszewsky type reaction, whereby primary amines containing at least one terminal functional group, for example —OH, aldehydes and a mineral or organic acid, react exothermically in a single step, thus resulting in an ionic liquid by condensation, then oxirane derivative molar quantities are added, by controlling the temperature and pressure a di-polymerized ionic liquid is obtained. The process of the present invention is advantageous because it provides a synthesis scheme for di-polymerized ionic liquids, primarily using short reaction times and high performance; this process can be further scaled for industrial production and it can accept alternative chemical precursors of lower cost.

Abstract: Nowadays, one of the major problems of the oil industry is the presence of large amounts of water and salts, which cannot be efficiently removed by conventional dehydrating polymers. In addition, the acid stimulation operations of petroleum wells cause the chemical degradation of demulsifiers such as polyethers and phenolic resins, reducing drastically their efficiency as water and salt removers. Based on aforementioned, a series of new copolymers has been developed; these copolymers are combinations of an acrylic and an aminoacrylic monomer and they are synthesized by semi-continuous emulsion polymerization (under starved feed conditions), which ensures both the homogeneity of the different chains as well as the randomness of the monomers distribution. The solutions of one of these random copolymers have shown an efficiency similar or superior to combinations of two or three block copolymers (formulations), when they are applied in light or heavy crude oils.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic hydroconversion process in dispersed phase of extra-heavy and heavy crude oils for upgrading their transport properties, that operates at low severity conditions, in such a way that the obtained product can be transported by conventional pumping to the distribution and refining centers. The main technical contributions of the hydroconversion process in dispersed phase of this invention to upgrade the transport properties of heavy and extra-heavy crudes are: Compact size and can be localized next to the production facilities on ground or offshore Use of operating conditions at low severity Reduction of the viscosity and increase of the API gravity at values that allow the transportation by pipeline of heavy or extra-heavy crude Upgrading of the crude oil properties in a permanent way Hydrocarbon and gases from production centers are used as supplies Operation in dispersed phase avoiding plugging problems Use of low-cost disposable catalysts at low concentrations.

Abstract: Oxazolidines, a process for producing the oxazolidines, and use as additives for fuels to prevent and control deposits in internal combustion engines are disclosed. The oxazolidines are derived from polyalkyl or polyalkenyl N-hydroxyalkyl succinimides and have the structural formula wherein: R is a polyakyl or polyalkenyl group having an average molecular weight ranging from 450 to 5000 daltons; m is an integer between 1 and 5; n is an integer between 0 and 1; and R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independent radicals, represented by the groups: —H, —CH2(CH2)AB, —C6H3DE or —C10H4FG; wherein: A is an integer between 0 and 8, B is a group selected among —H, —NH2, —OH, —COOH, and D, E, F, and G are independent radicals, selected among the groups: —H, —CH3, —CH2CH3, —CH2CH2CH3, —CH2(CH2)2CH3, —(CH3)3, C6H5, —NH2, —OH, —OCH3, OCH2CH2OH, OCH(CH3)CH2OH, OC6H5—COOH, and —SO3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the partial upgrading of properties of heavy and/or extra-heavy crude oil by low severity catalytic hydrotreatment in only one reaction step. The process of the present invention is obtained upgraded oil with properties required for its transportation from offshore platforms either to maritime terminal or to refining centers. The process reduces the viscosity of heavy and/or extra-heavy crude oil, and decreases the concentration of impurities, such as sulfur, nitrogen, and metals, in such a way that heavy and/or extra-heavy crude oils can be transported to maritime terminals or to refining centers. The process increases the lifetime of the catalyst and decreased operating costs by reducing consumption of utilities because the operation of the process is carried out at lower severity. The partially upgraded oils obtained in this process can be transported directly to the maritime terminals or to existing refineries.

Abstract: Oxidative dehydrogenation of light paraffins, such as ethane at moderate temperatures (<500° C.) to produce ethylene without the formation of side products such as acetic acid and/or other oxygenated hydrocarbons is achieved using tellurium-free, multimetallic catalysts possessing orthorhombic M1 phase and other crystalline structures that have an important role for obtaining high performance catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene. Such catalysts are prepared using thermal and hydrothermal methods.

Abstract: The present invention is related with a biotechnological process that increases the recovery and mobilization of oils present in carbonated and/or siliciclastic porous media by the action of tensoactive biomolecules from Serratia marcescens SmSA. The invention also increases the oil recovery in reservoirs. Serratia marcescens SmSA biomolecules display tensoactive and emulsifying properties that produce changes in the surface and interfacial tensions, enhanced the recovery and mobilization of oils. The Serratia marcescens SmSA tensoactive biomolecules of the present invention are stable at temperatures from 4 to 121° C., pH from 2 to 12, pressures from atmospheric to 1,706 psi, and NaCl content from 0 to 200 g/L (from 0 to 200,000 ppm). The Serratia marcescens SmSA tensoactive biomolecules reduce the surface tension up to 26 mN/m, the interfacial tension up to 1.8 mN/m with hexadecane, with emulsifying activity up to 71% with the same solvent and a critical micellar concentration (CMC) of 300 mg/L.