Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst comprising in its unreduced form a) Fe as catalytically active metal, b) an alkali metal and/or alkaline-earth metal in an alkali metal- and/or alkaline-earth metal-containing promoter, the alkali metal, c) and a further promoter comprising, or consisting of, one or more element(s) selected from the group of boron, germanium, nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, sulphur, selenium and tellurium, to a process for the synthesis of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst, to a hydrocarbon synthesis process which is operated in the present of such a catalyst and to the use of such a catalyst in a hydrocarbon synthesis process.

Abstract: A method of cleaning fouled process equipment which includes a process vessel (10) fouled by an organic foulant, includes spraying a hydrocarbon stream at a pressure of at least 69 bar(g) at fouled surfaces inside the process vessel (10) thereby to dislodge the organic foulant from the fouled surfaces. The hydrocarbon stream is sprayed from at least one nozzle (24) located inside the process vessel (10). The hydrocarbon stream is at a temperature below the melting point of the organic foulant or below the melting point of a major component of the organic foulant when the organic foulant is a multi-component organic foulant. The dislodged foulant is removed from the process vessel (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, more particularly to a cobalt-containing catalyst composition. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing a cobalt-containing catalyst precursor, a process for preparing a cobalt-containing catalyst, and a hydrocarbon synthesis process wherein such a catalyst is used. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cobalt-containing catalyst composition comprising cobalt and/or a cobalt compound supported on and/or in a catalyst support; the catalyst composition also including a titanium compound on and/or in the catalyst support, and a manganese compound on and/or in the catalyst support.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the preparation of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst material, in the form of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst precursor and/or catalyst, preferably, a Fischer Tropsch synthesis catalyst precursor and/or catalyst. The invention also extends to the use of a catalyst precursor and/or catalyst prepared by the method according to the invention in a hydrocarbon synthesis process, preferably, a Fischer Tropsch synthesis process. According to this invention, a method for the preparation of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst material includes the steps of treating Fe(II) carboxylate in solution with an oxidizing agent to convert it to Fe(III) carboxylate in solution under conditions which ensure that such oxidation does not take place simultaneously with any dissolution of Fe(0); and hydrolyzing the Fe(III) carboxylate solution resulting from step (iii) and precipitating one or more Fe(III) hydrolysis products.

Abstract: This invention relates to the oligomerization of olefinic compounds in the presence of an activated oligomerization catalyst. The invention also extends to a particular manner for providing an activated oligomerization catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing an oligomeric product by oligomerization of at least one olefinic compound, the process including a) providing an activated oligomerization catalyst, by combining, in any order, i) a source of chromium, ii) a ligating compound, iii) a catalyst activator or combination of catalyst activators, b) providing a zinc compound, and c) contacting the at least one olefinic compound with a composition containing the activated oligomerization catalyst and the zinc compound, the zinc compound being present in a sufficient quantity such that the ratio of the molar amount of zinc in the zinc compound to the molar amount of chromium in the source of chromium is between 1 and 10,000. The invention also provides a process of activating an oligomerization catalyst to be used to produce an oligomeric product from at least one olefinic compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of Fischer-Tropsch catalysis, in particular to activation of a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst. More particularly the invention relates to a method of activating an iron based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst which includes iron in a positive oxidation state by contacting in a reactor said iron based catalyst with a reducing gas selected from the group consisting of CO and a combination of H2 and CO; at a temperature of at least 245° C. and below 280° C.; at a reducing gas pressure of above 0.5 MPa and not more than 2.2 MPa; and at a GHSV of total gas fed to the reactor of at least 6000 ml(N)/g cat/h, thereby reducing the iron that is in a positive oxidation step in the catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydrocarbon synthesis process. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to a Fischer Tropsch Process employing an activated catalyst and to the use of such an activated catalyst, wherein the Fischer Tropsch Process conditions favor the attainment of a low acid selectivity. More particularly the invention relates to a three-phase low temperature Fischer Tropsch (LTFT) process wherein a feed of H2 and CO are converted to hydrocarbons and possible oxygenates thereof by contacting the H2 and CO in the presence of an iron-based Fischer Tropsch catalyst in a reaction zone, wherein the molar ratio of H2:CO in the feed is from 0.5 and less than 1.

Abstract: This invention relates to a Fischer Tropsch process using a catalyst activated in accordance with the invention. More particularly the invention relates to a three phase Low Temperature Fischer Tropsch process wherein CO and H2 are converted to hydrocarbons and possibly oxygenates thereof by contacting syngas including CO and H2 in the presence of an iron based Fischer Tropsch catalyst, wherein the ratio of H2:CO in the feed is between 2.5 and 1, and wherein the iron based Fischer Tropsch catalyst is activated according to the steps of: (a) providing an iron catalyst including iron in a positive oxidation state; and (b) contacting the iron catalyst in a reactor with a reducing gas selected from CO and a combination of H2 and CO; at a temperature of at least 245° C. and below 280° C.; at a reducing gas pressure of above 0.5 MPa and not more than 2.2 MPa; and at a GHSV of total gas fed to the reactor of at least 6000 ml(N)/g cat/h, thereby reducing the iron that is in a positive oxidation step in the catalyst.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a process for producing an oligomeric product by the oligomerisation of at least one olefinic compound including: A) providing an activated oligomerisation catalyst comprising the combination of: i) a source of a transition metal; ii) a ligating compound of the formula (R1)mX1(Y)X2(R2)n iii) a metal containing activator; and (iv) at least one olefinic compound; B) diluting the activated oligomerisation catalyst of A with an introduced liquid medium; and C) contacting the at least one olefinic compound to be oligomerised with the diluted activated catalyst of B to produce an oligomeric product.

Abstract: This invention relates to the oligomerisation of olefinic compounds in the presence of an oligomerisation catalyst activated in two stages by two catalyst activators According to the invention there is provided a process for activating an oligomerisation catalyst by contacting the catalyst with i) a first activator component selected from the group consisting of the aluminoxanes and a mixture of at least one aluminoxane and at least one organylaluminium compound, and ii) a second activator component which is an organylaluminium compound, the process being characterised therein that the oligomerisation catalyst is first contacted with one of the first activator component or second activator component, and the resulting mixture is thereafter contacted with the other of the first activator component or second activator component.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing purified methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) comprising subjecting a feed stream containing MIBK and impurities to a first distillation procedure from which acetone is recovered and a bottom product containing MIBK and impurities is withdrawn. This bottom product is fed to a second distillation column, where a vapor overhead product is withdrawn, condensed and fed to an overhead liquid-liquid separator. Part of an organic phase from the overhead liquid-liquid separator is fed to the second distillation column and part is fed to a third distillation column. A vapor overhead product is withdrawn from the third column which is condensed in the same said condenser. The condensed product is fed to the same said overhead liquid-liquid separator, and purified MIBK is withdrawn from the third distillation column. This invention also relates to an apparatus used in such a method.

Abstract: A process for the production of a synthetic low sulphur diesel fuel and a low soot emission aviation fuel is disclosed. The process includes fractionation of a Low Temperature Fischer-Tropsch feedstock into a light kerosene fraction and a heavier diesel fraction in a volumetric ratio of at least 1:2 to form the light kerosene fraction having a smoke point greater than 50 mm, a freezing point of below ?47° C., a BOCLE lubricity wear scar less than 0.85 mm, and an anti-oxidant additiveless thermal stability tube deposit rating at 260° C. of less than 1 useable as a low soot emission aviation fuel and/or an aviation fuel blend stock, and the heavier diesel fraction having CFPP according to IP309 of below ?5° C., a density@20° C. of at least 0.78 kg/l, and a viscosity@40° C. of above 2 cSt useable as a synthetic low sulphur diesel fuel and/or a diesel fuel blend stock.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a process for producing an oligomeric product by the oligomerisation of at least one olefi?ic compound, by contacting the at least one olefinic compound with the combination of an oligomerisation catalyst and a catalyst activator. The catalyst activator is a compound which includes at least one halogenated organic group which is bound to one or more binding atoms selected from the group consisting of a group 5A atom and a group 6A atom, which one or more binding atoms are in turn bound to a central atom selected from the group consisting of a group 3A atom, and a group 3B to 7B transition metal atom. The oligomerisation catalyst includes the combination of i) a source of a transition metal; and ii) a ligating compound of the formula (R1)mX1(Y)X2(R2)n The invention also relates to a combination of an aligomerisation catalyst and a catalyst activator as set out above and to the use of such a combination in an oligomerisation process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst comprising in its unreduced form a) Fe as catalytically active metal, b) an alkali metal and/or alkaline-earth metal in an alkali metal- and/or alkaline-earth metal-containing promoter, the alkali metal, c) and a further promoter comprising, or consisting of, one or more element(s) selected from the group of boron, germanium, nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, sulphur, selenium and tellurium, to a process for the synthesis of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst, to a hydrocarbon synthesis process which is operated in the present of such a catalyst and to the use of such a catalyst in a hydrocarbon synthesis process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the oligomerization of at least one olefinic compound in the form of an olefin or a compound including art olefinic moiety by contacting the at least one olefinic compound with at least two different catalysis, namely a tetramerization catalyst and a further oligomerization catalyst. The tetramerization catalyst comprises a combination of a source of a transition metal and a ligating compound of the formula (R1)mX1(Y)X2(R2)n. The invention also relates to an oligomerization catalyst comprising the combination of (i) source of transition metal for both a tetramerization catalyst and a trimerization catalyst; (ii) a ligating compound for a tetramerization catalyst: (iii) a different ligating compound for a trimerization catalyst: and (iv) optionally an activator.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydrocarbon synthesis process. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to a Fischer Tropsch Process employing an activated catalyst and to the use of such an activated catalyst, wherein the Fischer Tropsch Process conditions favour the attainment of a low acid selectivity. More particularly the invention relates to a three-phase low temperature Fischer Tropsch (LTFT) process wherein a feed of H2 and CO are converted to hydrocarbons and possible oxygenates thereof by contacting the H2 and CO in the presence of an iron-based Fischer Tropsch catalyst in a reaction zone, wherein the molar ratio of H2:CO in the feed is from 0.5 and less than 1.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing an oligomeric product by the oligomerization of at least one olefinic compound by contacting the at least one olefinic compound with an oligomerization catalyst in an aliphatic liquid medium at a reaction temperature of at least 50° C. The catalyst comprises the combination of a source of a transition metal; and a ligating compound of the formula (R1)m X1 (Y) X2 (R2)m.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing purified methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) comprising subjecting a feed stream containing MIBK and impurities to a first distillation procedure from which acetone is recovered. The bottom product of the first distillation procedure is fed to a liquid-liquid separator and an organic phase from the said liquid-liquid separator is fed to the top region of a second distillation column to produce an overhead product. The said overhead product is condensed and fed to the said liquid-liquid separator. A bottom product containing MIBK is withdrawn from the second distillation column. This bottom product is fed to a third distillation column, high boiling impurities are withdrawn as a bottom product, and purified MIBK is also withdrawn. The invention also relates to an apparatus used in such a method.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing an oligomeric product by the oligomerisation of at least one olefinic compound in the form of an olefin or a compound including a carbon to carbon double bond, by contacting the at least one olefinic compound with an oligomerisation catalyst which includes the combination of a source of a transition metal, and a ligating compound of the formula (R1)mX1(Y)X2(R2)n.