Abstract: Sulfur species are removed from hydrocarbon fluids by a process that includes contacting the fluid with a solid adsorbent having a porous substrate impregnated with silver oxide. The solid adsorbent preferably comprises activated alumina. The solid adsorbent may be regenerated with a two step process including: 1) heating the adsorbent in an inert atmosphere, preferably an atmosphere containing nitrogen, so that sulfur species are stripped from the adsorbent without oxidizing them, and 2) heating the adsorbent in an oxidizing atmosphere, preferably an atmosphere containing approximately 20% oxygen, so that the silver contained on the adsorbent is re-oxidized, forming silver oxide.

Abstract: A two-step method and apparatus for controlling cracking severity in the effluent from a cracking furnace such as an ethylene cracker. The method includes two steps. The first step consists of determining the near infrared spectrum of effluent in-line. The second step consists of changing the temperature and/or residence time of the furnace according to the determination of the first step. The apparatus includes a light source mounted on a conduit for the effluent, a light detector mounted on the opposite side of the conduit from the light source to receive light emitted from the light source, means for sheltering the light source from the effluent, means for sheltering the lights detector from the effluent, means for flowing a fluid past the light source at a higher pressure than the pressure of the effluent; and means for flowing a fluid past the light detector at a higher pressure than the pressure of the effluent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a homogeneous bed of catalyst particles comprising at least one amorphous matrix, at least one noble metal, at least one additional metal M and at least one halogen, and in which, for a catalyst particle: CPt is the local concentration of noble metal; CM is the local concentration of additional metal M; Cx is the local concentration of halogen; in which catalyst particle bed the local dispersion of the value of CPt/CM or CPt/Cx is termed homogeneous along the diameter of the particle, which corresponds to at least 70% of the values CPt/CM or CPt/Cx deviating by a maximum of 30% from the local average ratio. The invention also relates to a process for transforming hydrocarbons into aromatic compounds with the catalyst, such as a gasoline reforming process and a process for producing aromatic compounds.

Abstract: The operation of fluid catalytic converter (FCC) units can be stabilized through use of tests wherein a first catalyst and a second catalyst are introduced into the FCC unit in at least two different ratios, at two different times, in order to establish the effect of these catalyst ratios on a given operating parameter. This information is used to establish a unit response curve (or unit response envelope) for the catalyst ratios versus the operating parameter. This unit response curve (or envelope) is thereafter used to control the operation of the FCC unit.

Abstract: There is described a process the hydroalkylation of an aromatic hydrocarbon, particularly benzene, to produce a cycloalkyl-substituted aromatic compound, particularly cyclohexylbenzene, comprising the step of contacting the aromatic hydrocarbon with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising MCM-68 and at least one metal having hydrogenation activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocracking catalyst comprising at least one amorphous or poorly crystallized matrix of the oxide type, at least one element of group VB, preferably niobium, and at least one zeolite Y not globally dealuminized, at least one promoter element chosen from the group consisting of boron, phosphorus and silicon, optionally at least one element chosen from the elements of group VIB and group VIII, optionally at least one element of group VIIA. The invention also relates to the use of this catalyst for hydrocracking hydrocarbon feeds.

Abstract: Process for prolonging the effectiveness of a pyrolytic cracking tube which has been treated with an antifoulant for inhibiting the formation of coke during the cracking of hydrocarbons. The benefits of such treatment are enhanced by the desulfurization of a sulfur-containing feedstock prior to charging it to the treated pyrolytic cracking tube.

Abstract: The invention provides a polynuclear compound comprising two or more metal-hapto-3-capped nidocarborane groups. Also provided is the use of such a compound as a catalyst in a chemical reaction such as a hydrogenation or oxidation reaction.

Abstract: The demercaptanizaiton of petroleum distillates can be carried out by sorption of the mercaptan with activated carbon and oxidation of the sorbed mercaptan to disulfide at between approximately 20° C. to 55° C. The activated carbon used in the process is commercially readily available. Its surface area typically ranges from between approximately 500 to 1500 m2/g and has substantial percentage of the pores in the 10 to 100 Angstrom range.

Abstract: A substrate metal such as aluminum, usually in the form of a web, is anodized to form a porous oxide coating. A catalytic metal is then electrolytically deposited into the base of the pores preferably using an AC current. A portion of the oxide coating is then stripped away to expose the deposited catalytic metal at the surface of the remaining oxide layer. Alternately, a generally non-catalytic base metal may first be deposited followed by the deposition of the catalyst metal within the pores over the base metal. Further alternatives include stripping the oxide down to the base metal and then depositing the catalyst metal on the surface, further anodizing to form additional oxide between the deposited metal and the substrate, and enlarging the cross section of the base of the pores prior to the deposition of the metal.

Abstract: A process for the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons by alkylating aromatic hydrocarbons with linear olefinic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The linear olefinic hydrocarbons are produced by dehydrogenating linear paraffinic hydrocarbons which are extracted from a heartcut that is distilled from a kerosene boiling range fraction in either a dividing wall fractionation column or in two fully thermally coupled fractionation columns. The process significantly decreases the cost of utilities in producing alkylaromatic precursors for detergent manufacture.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of a synthetic naphtha fuel suitable for use in compression ignition (CI) engines, the process including at least the steps of hydrotreating at least a fraction of a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis reaction product of CO and H2, or a derivative thereof, hydrocracking at least a fraction of the FT synthesis product or a derivative thereof, and fractionating the process products to obtain a desired synthetic naphtha fuel characteristic. The invention also provides a synthetic naphtha fuel made by the process as well as a fuel composition and a Cloud Point depressant for a diesel containg fuel composition, said fuel composition and said depressant including the synthetic naphtha of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is a process to reduce the fouling of equipment for processing petroleum feedstreams. The fouling is reduced by reducing the presence of peroxides and hydroperoxides in the feedstream. The steps of the process include mixing the feedstream with an aqueous phase containing a base and a phase transfer catalyst. The base reacts with the peroxides and hydroperoxides. The oil phase can then be further processed with minimum fouling of the equipment. The aqueous phase is recycled for reacting with fresh petroleum feedstream.

Abstract: A dewaxed oil having a tendency to form a haze at ambient or sub-ambient temperatures is contacted with a solid adsorbent to remove at least a portion of the haze precursors, thereby reducing the haze-forming tendency of the dewaxed oil.

Abstract: A process is provided for the selective hydrogenation of dienes from a mixed hydrocarbon stream. The catalyst contains nickel in an amount between approximately 5 and 15 weight percent and, alternatively, may contain nickel oxide and molybdenum oxide in an amount between approximately 3 to 6 and 12 to 25 weight percent, respectively. The catalyst metals are on an aluminum oxide support. The process does not require any activation or pre-treatment of the catalyst. No sulfur is added to the reaction zone and the catalyst is not adversely affected by the presence of up to 0.20% by weight of sulfur in the feed stream. According to the process, conjugated dienes are reduced by at least 80 to 90%.

Abstract: A base oil feed having a tendency to form a haze at ambient or sub-ambient temperatures is contacted with a solid adsorbent to remove at least a portion of the haze precursors, thereby reducing the haze-forming tendency of the base oil feed.

Abstract: The incremental yield of hydrocarbons having five or more carbon atoms in a cracked product from a thermal cracking process is increased by contacting or treating the tubes of a thermal cracking furnace with a composition comprising tin and silicon.

Abstract: Aromatic compounds having an alkyl group with at least 3 carbon atoms are produced in a process comprising at least one of the following steps: (1) a step of contacting a starting material that contains an aromatic compound having a branched alkyl group with at least 3 carbon atoms, with a zeolite-containing catalyst in a liquid phase in the presence of hydrogen therein, thereby changing the position of the carbon atoms of the alkyl group bonding to the aromatic ring of the compound; (2) a step of contacting a starting material that contains an aromatic compound having a branched alkyl group with at least 3 carbon atoms, with a catalyst containing zeolite and containing rhenium and/or silver, in a liquid phase, thereby changing the position of the carbon atoms of, the alkyl group bonding to the aromatic ring of the compound; (3) a step of contacting a halogenated aromatic compound having an alkyl group with at least 3 carbon atoms, with an acid-type catalyst, thereby isomerizing the compound; (4) a step o

Abstract: A diesel fuel having at least 50% C10 to C20 paraffins, wherein the iso-paraffin to normal paraffin mole ratio is up to 21:1 and higher. This diesel fuel can be produced from a feed containing at least 90% C10+ normal paraffins. This diesel fuel is produced by contacting a feed in an isomerization reaction zone a feed with a catalyst comprising a SAPO-11 and platinum in the presence of hydrogen (hydrogen:feed ratio of from 1,000 to 10,000 SCFB) at a temperature of from 340° C. to 420° C., a pressure of from 100 psig to 600 psig, and a liquid hourly space velocity of from 0.1 hr−1 to 1.0 hr−1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for converting a feed containing oxygenates to olefins and comprises the following steps: providing a feed including an oxygenate; contacting the feed in a reactor apparatus with a catalyst including a molecular sieve, the contacting taking place under conditions effective to convert the oxygenate to a product including a light olefin, the conditions including a gas superficial velocity of at least two meters per second; and recirculating a first portion of the catalyst to recontact the feed.