Abstract: A process to make isoprene may include providing a reaction zone containing an acidic aqueous solution. The process may include introducing, continuously or intermittently, in the reaction zone a mixture containing isobutanol and an aqueous solution of formaldehyde. The process may include operating the reaction zone at conditions effective to dehydrate isobutanol to iso-butene, and produce isoprene by reaction of formaldehyde and iso-butene, while distilling away a mixture containing produced isoprene and water.

Abstract: The present invention (in a first embodiment) relates to a process for the simultaneous dehydration and skeletal isomerization of isobutanol to make substantially corresponding olefins, having the same number of carbons and consisting essentially of a mixture of n-butenes and iso-butene, said process comprising: a) introducing in a reactor a stream (A) comprising isobutanol, optionally water, optionally an inert component, b) contacting said stream with a catalyst in said reactor at conditions effective to dehydrate and skeletal isomerize at least a portion of the isobutanol to make a mixture of n-butenes and iso-butene, c) recovering from said reactor a stream (B), removing water, the inert component if any and unconverted isobutanol if any to get a mixture of n-butenes and iso-butene, Wherein, the WHSV of the isobutanol is at least 1 h?1 or the temperature is from 200° C. to 600° C. and the catalyst is capable to make simultaneously the dehydration and skeletal isomerization of butene.

Abstract: A lubricant composition includes at least one base oil and at least one amine compound. The lubricant composition simultaneously has good anti-wear and fuel economy properties as well as good antioxidant properties.

Abstract: A process for preparing a homogeneous polyethylene product can include producing a first polyethylene resin in the presence of a metallocene catalyst in a reactor. The first polyethylene resin can have a density of from 0.940 to 0.970 g/cm3. The first polyethylene resin can have a Low Molecular Weight (LMW) with an MI2 of between 2 and 250 g/10 min. The process can include separately producing a second polyethylene resin in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst in a reactor. The second polyethylene resin can have a High Molecular Weight (HMW) with an MI2 of between 0.01 and 15 g/10 min. The process can include physically blending together the first polyethylene resin and the second polyethylene resin to produce the homogeneous polyethylene product.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for purifying a liquid stream having an aqueous phase with polyaromatics, and optionally an organic phase. The process can include sending the liquid stream to a mixing tank and introducing an aromatic component to produce a mixture of an organic phase and of an aqueous phase. The mixture can be sent to a decanter to recover a clean aqueous phase and an organic phase. The clean aqueous phase can go through a stripper to remove a substantial part of any remaining organic component. The liquid stream can be the whole or a fraction of an aqueous phase recovered by condensation of an effluent gas leaving an ethylbenzene dehydrogenation reactor.

Abstract: A process for obtaining a catalyst composite comprising the following steps: a). selecting a molecular sieve having pores of 10- or more-membered rings b). contacting the molecular sieve with a metal silicate different from said molecular sieve comprising at least one alkaline earth metal and one or more of the following metals: Ga, Al, Ce, In, Cs, Sc, Sn, Li, Zn, Co, Mo, Mn, Ni, Fe, Cu, Cr, Ti and V, such that the composite comprises at least 0.1 wt % of silicate.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of an alcohol mixture may include introducing into a reactor a stream including the alcohol mixture mixed with a stream including olefins having 4 carbon atoms or more. The process may include contacting the stream with a single catalyst at a temperature above 500° C. in the reactor at conditions effective to dehydrate isobutanol, forming C4+ olefins, and to catalytically crack the C4+ olefins. The single catalyst may be an acid catalyst adapted to cause both the dehydration and catalytic cracking. The process may include recovering an effluent including ethylene, propylene, and water, and fractionating the effluent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of monitoring the behaviour of a subsurface volume. The method comprises transforming a single discrete parameter or an ensemble of discrete parameters describing an attribute of the subsurface volume, each discrete parameter having N possible discrete values with N ?2, into N indicator parameters each having 2 possible discrete values; for each of the two value classes of each indicator parameter, determining the anisotropic distance to a value transition interface; transforming each of the indicator parameters into a corresponding continuous parameter using the determined anisotropic distance to the value transition interface; and using the continuous parameters in a history matching process.

Abstract: A process to monitor unwanted formation of a polymer having internal mechanical strain is disclosed. The acoustic emission generated by polymer formation is detected by one or more acoustic sensors attached to a piece of equipment.

Abstract: A method of tracking the rate of corrosion of a metal conduit traversed by a corrosive fluid, in which is provided a device arranged so as to form, when said device is installed on a wall of the metal conduit, a chamber able to receive gaseous hydrogen issuing by permeation across said wall of said conduit, the method comprising: (i) a step of treatment to eliminate a metallic species from the chamber, (ii) a step of measuring a quantity of hydrogen received in the chamber, with a view to estimating the rate of corrosion of the metal conduit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and process for polymerizing olefins. One embodiment comprises polymerizing at least one monomer in a first loop reactor in the presence of a catalyst to produce a first polyolefin fraction. A portion of the first polyolefin fraction is transferred to a second loop reactor, connected in series with the first loop reactor. The process further comprises polymerizing in the second loop reactor at least one monomer in the presence of a catalyst to produce a second polyolefin fraction in addition to the first polyolefin fraction. The combination of the first and second polyolefin fractions can produce a polymer resin fluff having bimodal molecular weight distribution.

Abstract: A polyethylene can be prepared with a metallocene catalyst system. The polyethylene can have a density of at least 0.945 g/cm3 measured according to ISO 1183, and a Si content of 5 to 40 ppm by weight.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method monitoring changes in saturation of a subsurface volume. The method comprises: obtaining observed data of saturation behaviour from the subsurface volume over time; using one or more models, obtaining simulated data of saturation behaviour from the subsurface volume over time; and transforming each of the observed data and simulated data.

Abstract: A tapping sleeve assembly comprising a sleeve configured to clamp a main conduit, a gasket between the sleeve and main conduit, the gasket having a protruding aperture seal offset a distance from a branch aperture in the sleeve, the aperture seal having a first inwardly protruding portion extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main conduit, an inwardly protruding circumferential seal bead extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis from the first portion of the aperture seal, the seal bead having a main length portion having a thickness less than the thickness of the first portion of the aperture seal, the seal bead having a junction end portion between the main length portion and the first portion of the aperture seal, the junction end portion having a non-uniform thickness, the aperture seal having a non-uniform thickness, and the offset distance being non-uniform.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocarbon hydroprocessing catalyst comprising a support based on at least one refractory oxide, at least one metal from group VIII and at least one metal from group VIB. The inventive catalyst is characterized in that it also comprises at least one organic compound having formula (I) or (II) in which each R1 represents independently an alkyl group at C1-18, an alkenyl group at C2-18, an aryl group at C6-18, a cycloalkyl group at C3-8, an alkylaryl or arylalkyl group at C7-20, or the two R1 groups together form a divalent group at C2-18, and R2 represents an alkylene group at C1-18, an arylene group at C6-18, a cycloalkylene group at C3-7, or a combination of same. The invention also relates to a method of preparing one such catalyst and to the use thereof for hydroprocessing or hydrocracking.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for enhancing the determination, from a seismic image of at least a portion of a seismic horizon in a three-dimensional domain. The method comprises: receiving the seismic image; receiving a plurality of related control points; defining pseudo-rectangles; for each pseudo-rectangle applying a diffeomorphic transformation F: defining a new domain; transforming points of the seismic image; transforming said pseudo-rectangle into a corresponding rectangle; applying a horizon reconstruction algorithm to the transformed points, to determine a part of a transformed horizon, the reconstruction comprising solving a Poisson equation; and computing a part of the horizon, said computing comprising applying an inverse diffeomorphic transformation F?1 to the determined part of a transformed horizon.

Abstract: Expandable vinyl aromatic polymers may contain comminuted needle petroleum coke with a polymodal particle size distribution. Foams obtained from such expandable vinyl aromatic polymers have a reduced thermal conductivity at a reduced foam density.

Abstract: Process for the production of ethylene from an ethanol feedstock that comprises these stages: a) dehydration to produce at least ethylene and water effluents, b) partial condensation of said ethylene effluent, c) separating phases of said partially condensed ethylene effluent to produce gas and liquid effluents, d) compression of said gas effluent to produce compressed gas effluent, e) washing said compressed gas effluent by contact with the recycled washing water of stage h) to produce washed gas and waste water effluents, f) absorption of said washed gas effluent by contact with at least an absorbent solution to produce purified gas effluent, g) distilling said waste water effluent and, jointly, said water effluent from said dehydration stage to produce at least gas distillate, liquid distillate, purified water effluent, and distillation residue, h) recycling, as washing water, at least a portion of said purified water effluent upstream from the washing stage e).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of propylene polymers in the presence of a blend of a first Ziegler-Natta catalyst, which comprises a titanium compound having at least one titanium-halogen bond and a diether compound as internal electron donor, and a second Ziegler-Natta catalyst, which comprises a titanium compound having at least one titanium-halogen bond and a succinate compound as internal electron donor.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an active metallocene catalyst system prepared with a hafnium-based metallocene catalyst system and an activating agent comprising an aluminoxane and a sterically hindered Lewis base.