Abstract: Current industrial processes for the production of lactic acid are fermentative, using lactic bacteria which require large volumes and create large quantities of liquid residue which need to be treated. Chemical literature also describes the use of reaction systems with homogeneous catalysis, which also pose problems which in turn impact our costs, owing to the increased requirements in terms of the control of the process and the type of reactor necessary. Therefore, the process used thus far, carried out in hydrogenolysis, isomerisation and oxidation are defective, owing to the significant formation of sub-products, mainly pyruvic acid and acetic acid and the low yield of lactic acid. Lactic acid can also be obtained by the chemical transformation of other sources other than starch, but which are also renewable. The present invention provides a oxidative process for the production of lactic acid, in which the reaction with pure oxygen or oxygen mixed with air takes place below 100° C.

Abstract: Method for transesterification of fatty acid esters. The method includes contacting (i) a catalyst comprising at least one of barium oxide and apatite with (ii) a reaction medium comprising at least one of vegetable oil and fats.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a supported catalyst for the polymerization of olefins. More specifically, the present invention provides a catalyst comprising a spherical alumina support modified by the addition of a magnesium compound containing a magnesium alkoxide and the product of the reaction of it with a titanium halide. The present invention also relates to the method for preparing said supported catalyst.

Abstract: A process is described for maximizing the FCC middle distillates comprising the use of two different converters, operating in a coordinated manner that seeks to maximize the production of LCO for diesel, generating a specified gasoline and reducing fuel oil production. Converter “A” operates with a low contact time in the riser, of 0.2 to 1.5 sec. (preferably from 0.5 to 1.0 sec.) making a higher reaction temperature possible even at low severity, from 510° C. to 560° C. (preferably from 530° C. to 550° C.) and with a catalyst suitable to the maximization of LCO. Converter “B” possesses a high activity catalytic system, suited to cracking naphtha and DO generated in the first converter. Preferably, converter “B” has two separate risers, allowing the reaction temperatures of each to be adjusted independently according to the range most recommended for maximizing the cracking of each of the streams: 530° C. to 560° C. for the DO riser and 540° C. to 600° C. for the naphtha riser.

Abstract: System for measuring the hydro carbonate content in minerals, particularly pyrobituminous shale minerals, while they pass through the transport or production system, in such a way as to permit the prior adjustment of the processing conditions of said minerals. The system consists of a set of equipment for the measurement of water content, material density and hydrogen content in the mineral, said equipment being combined in such a way as to create a specific time delay between the measurements, in order for the collected data to be micro processed and the processing conditions to be adjusted in real time, based on the calculated hydro carbonate content.

Abstract: Pitch is obtained, in a reactor configured for the atmospheric process, from a feedstock of oil hydrocarbons consisting of a feedstock_of decanted oil. In the process, the feedstock is subjected to heating stages in reflux and distillation conditions with removal of volatile products generated, wherein the gaseous products are eliminated at each stage and the successively generated residual products comprise a final residue recovered as a predominantly isotropic pitch.

Abstract: This invention relates to equipment and a subsea pumping system using a subsea module installed on the sea bed, preferably away from a production well and intended to pump hydrocarbons having a high associated gas fraction produced by one or more subsea production wells to the surface. One object of this invention is achieved by means of the design of a pumping module (PM) which is linked to pumping equipment already present in a production well and which basically comprises: an inlet pipe (2), separator equipment (3), a first pump (4) and a second pump (8). In the subsea pumping system for the production of hydrocarbons with a high gas fraction, the other object of this invention, when oil is pumped from the production well (P) the well pump (13) increases the energy of the fluid in the form of pressure and transmits this increase in energy in the form of an increase in suction pressure in the second pump (8) of the subsea module (PM).

Abstract: A method is described for controlling instability of operation in a de-ethanizer tower (13) in the gas recovery unit in fluid catalytic cracking units and delayed coking units. The method comprises the step of intervening in the de-ethanizer tower (13) when instability occurs in it, and adjusting the material balance of water in such a way that the excess of water in the feed load stream (9) is removed only as an azeotrope. The intervention is performed by introducing into the feed load stream (9) of the de-ethanizer tower (13) a volume fraction (18) of a flow of hydrocarbon, which may be either dry hydrocarbons or hydrocarbons with a low level of water content.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process carried out continuously in one or more reactors connected in series for the preparation of sodium titanate nanotubes and their derivatives obtained by ion exchange and/or thermal treatment, by reacting titanium oxides with sodium hydroxide under suitable hydrothermal conditions to obtain or control the morphology of nanostructural titanates. The reaction mixture is introduced continuously into the reactor at a feed rate that is the same as the rate of discharge of the product. When more than one reactor is used, the material leaving the first reactor is used to feed the next reactor, and a differential of temperature is applied between the reactors in such a way as to obtain in the average, a temperature of between 60° C. and 180° C.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for conversion of cellulose in an Ionic Liquid medium. The process is characterized in that a cellulose-containing feedstock and an Ionic Liquid are mixed at a temperature below 80 ° C. The mixture is heated to a conversion temperature in the range of 80 ° C. to 220 ° C. under a hydrogen atmosphere. The presence of hydrogen during the heating step significantly reduces the formation of degradation products.

Abstract: The process combines hydroconversion and catalytic cracking starting from a feed containing triglycerides, at concentrations of fatty acids above 85%, which maximizes the yields of light olefins, chiefly ethylene and propylene, while reducing the yield of gasoline, with conversion greater than 80 wt. %.

Abstract: A co-processing combining a first selective catalytic bed consisting of only one metal element selected from group VIB metals and of at least one conventional hydrotreating bimetallic catalytic bed. The co-processing provides control of the hydroconversion reactions of the triglycerides and/or fatty acids of biomass oil diluted in a refinery stream of petroleum hydrocarbons and minimizes the generation of gaseous products that are undesirable to the process, while maintaining the levels of unsaturated hydrocarbons hydrogenation and of heteroatomic contaminants removal from the refinery stream of petroleum hydrocarbons. The co-processing selectively providing n-paraffins of even number of carbon atoms, generated from the biomass oil, which are incorporated in a hydrotreated liquid product in petroleum refining HDT units.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for the production of propylene glycol from glycerol, the transformation of purified glycerol to propylene glycol being carried out by means of a reaction of hydrogenolysis, in the liquid phase, where the two stages of the reaction take place simultaneously and in one and the same reactor (1) under specified conditions of temperature and pressure, and the effluent from the fixed-bed reactor (1) is led to subsequent process stages that comprise separation and purification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an accessory device which comprises a damping sleeve (100), which is coupled to a bend stiffener (4), capable of acting in the anchoring operation of a riser (3) so as to eliminate the need for fuse cables and safety straps, the need to use a team of divers, and to guarantee the implementation of the operation in all sea conditions.

Abstract: This invention is a process for enzymatic synthesis of estolides through the reaction between stearic acid and methyl ricinoleate, using an immobilized lipase as the catalyst, in a solvent-free medium. This process prevents degradation of the product, reduces the formation of secondary products that generate color and odor in the lubricant, and allows recovery of the lipase and its subsequent reuse.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of obtainment of aviation biokerosene and a composition of aviation kerosene containing the aviation biokerosene thus produced. The process consists of simultaneously combining three basic conditions: raw material selection, processing conditions, and control of specific properties of the product. The composition is classified as a semisynthetic composition of aviation kerosene and may contain up to 20% by weight of aviation biokerosene, satisfying the limits determined in the international specifications for aviation kerosene.

Abstract: A system and method for carrying out simultaneous operations of assembling, dismantling, and maintaining equipment installed by an oil rig, using the tools, systems, and the areas available on the rig itself. The system includes two parallel and separated sustaining beams and two mobile bases supported on the beams to carry out the simultaneous operations. This system allows a method for simultaneously assembling two items of subsea equipment which are to be installed to be performed. Also, this system allows a method for simultaneously replacing and assembling subsea equipment to be performed. Additionally, the equipment can be lowered or recovered using either a derrick and pipe string or a winch and steel cable.

Abstract: A process is described for hydroconversion of a mixture of organic oils of different origins in a conventional hydrotreatment unit, constituted by at least two catalyst beds, under moderately severe process conditions to obtain diesel fuel oil. The process includes injection of a stream of oil of animal or plant origin, with independently adjusted flow rates, from the second catalyst bed of the hydrotreatment unit onwards, in accordance with the variations in temperature observed in each of the catalyst beds after the first bed. The process is applicable to conventional hydrotreatment units, and makes it possible to overcome the effects of the highly exothermic nature of hydroconversion reactions in oils of animal and/or plant origin in hydrotreatment process for obtaining specified diesel fuel oil.

Abstract: A free standing hybrid riser system including: a vertical section including an upper strengthening joint; a buoyant unit; a top riser assembly (TRA) below the buoyant unit and connected at a first connection point on the TRA to the upper strengthening joint; the buoyant unit is connected to the TRA at a second connection point on the TRA; and a flexible jumper is connected to the TRA at a third connection point on the TRA; wherein a first bending moment is applied about the first connection point to the TRA by the buoyant unit, and a second bending moment is applied about the first connection point to the TRA by the flexible jumper, wherein the first and second bending moments oppose each other.

Abstract: A multiphase multifunctional reactor, system and method is described which has the capacity to effect extractive oxidation of sulfur and nitrogen compounds and unstable unsaturated compounds that are present in raw hydrocarbon streams, in such a way that the reaction conditions are adjusted and avoid losses of yield of the treated hydrocarbon in the stages of the extraction and/or absorption. The objective is achieved by means of the conception of a reactor which comprises a column divided into five sections which can be classified as two reaction sections (1, 2) two decantation sections (3, 4) and an inert gas section (5) under pressure.