Abstract: The service life and deactivation rate of a benzene saturation catalyst is improved through use of a new sulfur guard bed containing a chloride additive. This sulfur guard bed, which contains supported CuO material having an increased resistance to reduction, shows such improvement. Thus, the danger of run-away reduction followed by a massive release of water and deactivation of an isomerization catalyst is practically eliminated. The fact that the guard bed material preserves the active metal phase-copper in an active (oxide) form is an important advantage leading to very low sulfur content in the product stream. The sulfur capacity per unit weight of sorbent is also significantly increased, making this sorbent a superior cost effective sulfur guard product. The guard bed is effective in treating mixed phase feed streams.

Abstract: A method of hydroprocessing hydrocarbons is provided using a substantially liquid-phase reactor having first and second catalyst beds with a heat transfer section positioned therebetween. The first and second catalyst beds and the heat transfer section are combined within the same reactor vessel. Each catalyst bed having an inlet temperature and an exit temperature and having a hydroprocessing catalyst therein with a maximum operating temperature range.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a system for reacting a first feed can include a petroleum fraction having at least about 90%, by volume, with a boiling point of at least about 300° C. The system can include a bubble column reactor. The bubble column reactor, in turn, can include a first inlet for the first feed and a second inlet for a second feed including a gas rich in hydrogen. In addition, the petroleum fraction may be in counter-current flow with respect to the gas rich in hydrogen inside the bubble column reactor.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an apparatus for isomerizing a hydrocarbon stream rich in a C4 hydrocarbon and/or at least one of a C5 and C6 hydrocarbon. The apparatus can include: a vessel containing a fluid including at least one reactant; a fluid transfer device receiving the fluid including at least one reactant from the vessel; at least one drier receiving the fluid including at least one reactant from the fluid transfer device; and a reactor communicating with the at least one drier to receive the fluid including at least one reactant. In addition, the at least one drier may communicate with the vessel at least by sending the fluid including at least one reactant or the regenerant through a fluid tapering device for at least one of regulating the flow and reducing the pressure of the regenerant to the vessel.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an apparatus for isomerizing a hydrocarbon stream rich in a C4 hydrocarbon and/or at least one of a C5 and C6 hydrocarbon. The apparatus can include: a first drier and a second drier adapted to receive a fluid including at least one reactant; and a reaction zone communicating with the first drier to receive the fluid including at least one reactant and with the second drier to receive the regenerant. Generally, the first drier operates at a first condition to dry the fluid including at least one reactant and the second drier operates at a second condition during regeneration with a regenerant. The regenerant can pass through a fluid tapering device for regulating the flow of the regenerant to the reaction zone.

Abstract: The service life and deactivation rate of a paraffin isomerization catalyst is improved through use of a new sulfur guard bed containing a chloride additive. This sulfur guard bed, which contains supported CuO material having an increased resistance to reduction, shows such improvement. Thus, the danger of run-away reduction followed by a massive release of water and deactivation of an isomerization catalyst is practically eliminated. The fact that the guard bed material preserves the active metal phase-copper in an active (oxide) form is an important advantage leading to very low sulfur content in the product stream. The sulfur capacity per unit weight of sorbent is also significantly increased, making this sorbent a superior cost effective sulfur guard product.

Abstract: Catalytic processes for the conversion of 2,5-dimethyl furan (DMF) to para-xylene are described. Para-xylene is a key product that is currently obtained commercially from petroleum sources. However, it has now been determined that the cycloaddition of ethylene to DMF provides an alternative route to para-xylene. Advantageously, the DMF starting material for the processes may be synthesized from carbohydrates (e.g., glucose or fructose), thereby providing a pathway that relies at least partly, if not completely, on renewable feedstocks.

Abstract: The service life and deactivation rate of a reforming catalyst is improved through use of a new sulfur guard bed containing a chloride additive. This sulfur guard bed, which contains supported CuO material having an increased resistance to reduction, shows such improvement. Thus, the danger of run-away reduction followed by a massive release of water causing process upsets in a catalytic reforming process is practically eliminated. The fact that the guard bed material preserves the active metal phase—copper in an active (oxide) form is an important advantage leading to very low sulfur content in the product stream. The sulfur capacity per unit weight of sorbent is also significantly increased, making this sorbent a superior cost effective sulfur guard product.

Abstract: A process for improving cold flow properties of diesel range hydrocarbons produced from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils and animal oils. A renewable feedstock is treated by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide an effluent comprising paraffins followed by isomerizing and selectively hydrocracking at least a portion of the paraffins to generate a diesel range hydrocarbon product. A portion of the diesel range hydrocarbon product is selectively separated and recycled to the isomerization and selective hydrocracking zone.

Abstract: A process for stabilizing pyrolysis oil has been developed. The process involves heating the pyrolysis oil at a temperature of about 40° C. to about 85° C. under a reducing atmosphere for a time to stabilize the oil. The reducing atmosphere or gas is preferably hydrogen.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for alkylating benzene. The process can include obtaining at least a portion of a stream from a transalkylation zone, combining the at least the portion of the stream from the transalkylation zone with a fuel gas stream, and providing at least a portion of the combined stream to a benzene methylation zone. Typically, the fuel gas stream includes an effective amount of one or more alkanes for alkylating at least partially from a hydrogen purification process tail gas.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for producing ethylbenzene are provided. The method comprises the steps of introducing a first feed mixture comprising benzene and ethylene to UZM-8 zeolite-based catalyst at a first predetermined inlet temperature to form a first intermediate outlet stream comprising ethylbenzene and benzene. Ethylene is added to the first intermediate outlet stream to form a second intermediate feed mixture. The second intermediate feed mixture is introduced to beta zeolite-based catalyst at a second predetermined inlet temperature to form ethylbenzene.

Abstract: Rotary valves are disclosed, comprising a seal sheet affixed to a rotor. At least some area, namely a “rotor plate surface mating area” is provided, over which a seal sheet anchoring assembly can directly abut, along a planar portion, the rotor plate surface that is in contact with the seal sheet. This advantageously provides an area of direct contacting between the seal sheet anchoring assembly, or one of its components, and the rotor plate, with the abutting surfaces being defined by consistently rigid materials (e.g., metals such as stainless steel) that undergo substantially no deformation, compression, or softening over conditions of normal operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of crystalline coordination copolymers wherein multiple organic molecules are assembled to produce porous framework materials with layered or core-shell structures. These materials are synthesized by sequential growth techniques such as the seed growth technique. In addition, the invention provides a simple procedure for controlling functionality.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an alkylation unit. The alkylation unit can include at least one alkylation reaction zone having an alkylation catalyst, at least one cooler communicating with the at least one alkylation reaction zone, a settler communicating with the at least one alkylation reaction zone and the at least one cooler, a fractionation zone receiving an effluent from the settler passing through a line, and a boot coupled to a substantially horizontal portion of the line. Generally, the boot receives an effluent portion rich in the alkylation catalyst.

Abstract: Silica supports having a surface area from about 250 m2/g to about 600 m2/g and an average pore diameter from about 45 ? to about 170 ?, used for supported tungsten catalysts, improves the activity of the resulting catalyst (i.e., its conversion level at a given temperature) for the metathesis of olefins, without compromising its selectivity to the desired conversion product(s). Exemplary catalysts and processes include those for the production of valuable light olefins such as propylene from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising ethylene and butylene.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a hydrocarbon-conversion process using an improved MgAPSO-31 molecular sieve which demonstrates a favorable combination of conversion and selectivity in aromatics conversion. The sieve has a specific combination of crystal configuration, being limited in diameter and length, specified crystallinity as measured by an X-Ray Diffraction Index (XRDI), and a narrow range of magnesium content.

Abstract: A process has been developed for producing fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant and animal oils and greases. The process involves treating a first portion of a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating in a first reaction zone and a second portion of a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating in a second reaction zone to provide a diesel boiling point range fuel hydrocarbon product. If desired, the hydrocarbon product can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrocarbon product is recycled to the first reaction zone to increase the hydrogen solubility of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a new type of high performance polymer membranes prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating and crosslinking and methods for making and using these membranes. The polymer membranes were prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating under inert atmosphere followed by crosslinking preferably by using a UV radiation source. The aromatic polyimide membranes were made from aromatic polyimide polymers comprising both pendent hydroxy functional groups ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen and cross-linkable functional groups in the polymer backbone. The membranes showed significantly improved selectivity and permeability for gas separations compared to the aromatic polyimide membranes without any treatment. The membranes can be fabricated into any convenient geometry and are not only suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations, but also can be used for other applications such as for catalysis and fuel cell applications.

Abstract: A process for reforming a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The process involves splitting a naphtha feedstream to at least two feedstreams and passing each feedstream to separation reformers. The reformers are operated under different conditions to utilize the differences in the reaction properties of the different hydrocarbon components. The process utilizes a common catalyst, and common downstream processes for recovering the desired aromatic compounds generated.