Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of alkylated aromatics by contacting a feed stream comprising an alkylatable aromatic, an alkylating agent and trace amounts of water and impurities in the presence of first and second alkylation catalysts wherein the water and impurities are removed in order to improve the cycle length of such alkylation catalysts. Water and a portion of impurities are removed in a dehydration zone. A first alkylation zone having a first alkylation catalyst which, in some embodiments is a large pore molecular sieve, acts to remove a larger portion of impurities, such as nitrogenous and other species, and to alkylate a smaller portion of the alkylatable aromatic compound. A second alkylation zone, which in some embodiments is a medium pore molecular sieve, acts to remove a smaller portion of impurities, and to alkylate a larger portion of the alkylatable aromatic compound.

Abstract: A process for producing a monoalkylated aromatic product in a reactor by reacting a mixed phase mixture of an alkylatable aromatic compound feedstock with another feedstock comprising alkene component in a reaction zone containing an alkylation catalyst. An effluent comprising the monoalkylated aromatic product and polyalkylated aromatic compounds exits from the reaction zone in liquid phase. The polyalkylated aromatic compounds can be separated as feed stream for transalkylation reaction in a transalkylation reaction zone.

Abstract: The present disclosure enables phenol recovery, purification and recycle in a simple, economic manner from waste streams from, for example, a phenol/acetone production process, e.g., a phenol/acetone plant or an upstream cumene hydroperoxide cleavage process step, and BPA production step, for use in the reaction with acetone to produce BPA. The disclosure therefore reduces the overall consumption of phenol in the production of BPA.

Abstract: The present disclosure enables phenol recovery, purification and recycle in a simple, economic manner from waste streams from, for example, a phenol/acetone production process, e.g., a phenol/acetone plant or an upstream cumene hydroperoxide cleavage process step, and BPA production step, for use in the reaction with acetone to produce BPA. The disclosure therefore reduces the overall consumption of phenol in the production of BPA.

Abstract: Disclosed are ethylbenzene processes in which a series-arranged or combined vapor phase alkylation/transalkylation reaction zone is retrofitted to have a vapor phase alkylation reactor and a liquid phase transalkylation reactor, and in which a parallel-arranged vapor phase alkylation reactor and vapor phase transalkylation reactor is retrofitted to have a vapor phase alkylation reactor and liquid phase transalkylation reactor, wherein the xylenes content of the ethylbenzene product is less than 700 wppm.

Abstract: A process for producing a monoalkylation aromatic product, such as ethylbenzene and cumene, utilizing an alkylation reactor zone and a transalkylation zone in series or a combined alkylation and transalkylation reactor zone. This process requires significantly less total aromatics distillation and recycle as compared to the prior art.

Abstract: Improved methods and related apparatus are disclosed for efficiently recovering the heat of condensation from overhead vapor produced during separation of various components of dehydrogenation reaction effluent, particularly in ethylbenzene-to-styrene operations, by the use of at least a compressor to facilitate azeotropic vaporization of an ethylbenzene and water mixture within a preferred range of pressure/temperature conditions so as to minimize undesired polymerization reactions.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkylated aromatic product in a reactor by reacting an alkylatable aromatic compound feedstock with another feedstock comprising alkene component and alkane component in a reaction zone containing an alkylation catalyst. The reaction zone is operated in predominantly liquid phase without inter-zone alkane removal. The polyalkylated aromatic compounds can be separated as feed stream for transalkylation reaction in a transalkylation reaction zone.

Abstract: The present disclosure enables phenol recovery, purification and recycle in a simple, economic manner from waste streams from, for example, a phenol/acetone production process, e.g., a phenol/acetone plant or an upstream cumene hydroperoxide cleavage process step, and BPA production step, for use in the reaction with acetone to produce BPA. The disclosure therefore reduces the overall consumption of phenol in the production of BPA.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkylated aromatic compound from polyalkylated aromatic compound(s) having bi-alkylated aromatic compound(s) and tri-alkylated aromatic compound(s), comprising the step of contacting alkylatable aromatic compound(s) with the polyalkylated aromatic compound(s) at a transalkylation condition in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst. The transalkylation catalyst has high activity sufficient to achieve a ratio of bi-alkylated aromatic compound(s) conversion over tri-alkylated aromatic compound(s) conversion in a range of from about 0.5 to about 2.5.

Abstract: Improved integrated processes for the production of alkyl aromatic compounds are disclosed wherein aromatic compounds which may be treated for removal of deleterious substances are reacted with olefin compounds, which may also be treated for contaminant removal, in the presence of acidic zeolite catalyst(s) to produce the desired alkyl aromatic compound(s). The aromatic and preferably also the olefin feeds are treated substantially to remove contaminants, particularly the nitrogen compounds contained therein, before they are brought together for reaction in the presence of the zeolite catalyst(s). In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that feed pretreatment for removal of nitrogen compounds significantly improves the run length and life of the acidic zeolite catalyst(s). The feed pretreatment of this invention may include the steps of distillation, extraction, and/or adsorption by solid adsorbent, which may be regenerated in accordance with further embodiments of this invention.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing an alkylaromatic compound in a multistage reaction system comprising at least first and second series-connected alkylation reaction zones, each containing an alkylation catalyst. A first feed comprising an alkylatable aromatic compound and a second feed comprising an alkene are introduced into the first alkylation reaction zone. The first and second alkylation reaction zones are operated under conditions of temperature and pressure effective to cause alkylation of the aromatic compound with the alkene in the presence of the alkylation catalyst, the temperature and pressure being such that the aromatic compound is at least partly in the liquid phase. The alkylation catalyst in the first alkylation reaction zone, which may be a reactor guard bed, has more acid sites per unit volume of catalyst than the alkylation catalyst in the second reaction zone.

Abstract: A method of measuring the level of an impurity in a gas comprises providing a gas detection tube having a internal volume containing a reagent which can react with said impurity to produce a compound capable of producing a color change in said tube such that the extent of the color change is proportional to the concentration of the impurity in said gas. A volume of the gas at least 1×103 times the test volume of the gas detection tube is passed through the tube and the extent of the color change of the detector element is measured.

Abstract: A process is described for producing an alkylaromatic compound, in which a first feed comprising an alkylatable aromatic compound and a second feed comprising an alkene are introduced into a first alkylation reaction zone comprising a first alkylation catalyst. The first alkylation reaction zone is operated under conditions effective to cause alkylation of the alkylatable aromatic compound by the alkene to produce said alkylaromatic compound, the conditions being such that the alkylatable aromatic compound is at least predominantly in the vapor phase. A first effluent comprising the alkylaromatic compound and unreacted alkylatable aromatic compound is withdrawn from the first alkylation reaction zone and at least part of the unreacted alkylatable aromatic compound is treated to remove catalyst poisons therefrom and produce a treated unreacted alkylatable aromatic stream.

Abstract: Improved methods and related apparatus are disclosed for efficiently recovering the heat of condensation from overhead vapor produced during separation of various components of dehydrogenation reaction effluent, particularly in ethylbenzene-to-styrene operations, by the use of at least a compressor to facilitate azeotropic vaporization of an ethylbenzene and water mixture within a preferred range of pressure/temperature conditions so as to minimize undesired polymerization reactions.

Abstract: Improved processes are provided for the production of alkyl aromatic compounds using zeolite catalyst(s) and for periodic reactivation in situ of zeolite catalyst(s) that have at least in part become deactivated. Processes according to this invention are typically carried out in a reaction section loaded with catalyst(s) wherein a desired alkyl aromatic compound is produced from feed aromatic and olefin compounds followed by a separation section in which the desired product is isolated and recovered. Alkylation, transalkylation, and/or isomerization reactions that occur in the reaction section are carried out in liquid phase or partial liquid phase over the said zeolite catalyst(s).

Abstract: Process and related apparatus are disclosed for economically producing a very high quality bisphenol A product by a multistage crystallization process utilizing a new cross-flow wash design whereby a high purity wash phenol stream is fed to every washing stage, optionally also in combination with a modified stream flow/recycle design which avoids increased by product production and yield losses otherwise expected from processing increased volumes of wash phenol.

Abstract: Baffles (20, 22) arranged alongside a plurality of conduits (12).

Abstract: Apparatus for radial flow reactor and methods of using the reactor for catalytic hydrocarbon processing. The reactor, of annular shaped housing, contains a core region with a heat exchange means. The core region is surrounded by a catalyst bed held by inner and outer walls. The core region and radial catalyst bed are further surrounded by an annular zone containing heat exchange means.

Abstract: This invention includes both novel processes and methods and also novel apparatus and equipment especially adapted for carrying out the processes and achieving the excellent results and outstanding advantages which are obtained thereby and which are essential and basic parts of the invention. This apparatus and process achieved thereby include, but are not limited thereto, a rectifier tower with a reflux drum and a multi-refrigerant core exchanger.