Abstract: A method of treating tall oil pitch. In the present method, part of the fatty acids and the resin acids are released from their sterol esters and wood alcohol esters and converted into methanol esters or ethanol esters. The transesterified products are removed from the pitch by evaporation and then condensed, and by hydrogenating the generated condensate the acids are decarboxylated and the double bonds are satisfied. It is possible to use the present method to produce automotive fuel from tall oil pitch.

Abstract: The present invention discloses processes for alkylating an aromatic compound, such as benzene or toluene, using a chemically-treated solid oxide. Suitable chemically-treated solid oxides include fluorided silica-coated alumina and fluorided-chlorided silica-coated alumina.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for obtaining food grade hexane, comprising: fractionating a hydrocarbon feed having a boiling point in the range of 50° C. to 140° C. to obtain a hydrocarbon fraction having boiling point in the range of 63° C. to 69° C. and having 3%-15% (wt/wt) of aromatic compounds content; extracting the hydrocarbon fraction by counter current solvent extraction using sulfolane as a solvent to obtain a first raffinate phase; extracting the first raffinate phase by co-current solvent extraction using sulfolane as a solvent to obtain a second raffinate phase; and washing the second raffinate phase with water to obtain a food grade hexane containing less than 100 ppm of aromatic compounds.

Abstract: A pyrolysis apparatus reduces feedstock to gaseous energy sources and recyclable solids by moving feedstock through a processing unit via a feedstock transport mechanism that has sections that move the feedstock at respectively different rates through a retort within the processing unit. The feedstock transport mechanism may be an auger with a variable flighting pitch along its shaft. The pyrolysis apparatus may be modular in that processing units may be added and subtracted as necessary for any given installation. A restriction device squeezes ambient air out of the feedstock prior to entry into the pyrolysis apparatus retort.

Abstract: In a process for producing para-xylene, a feed comprising a mixture of xylene isomers, olefinic unsaturated contaminants and oxygenate contaminants is supplied to a para-xylene recovery unit to recover para-xylene and produce a para-xylene depleted residual stream. The para-xylene depleted residual stream is then contacted with a xylene isomerization catalyst in a xylene isomerization zone under liquid phase conditions effective to isomerize xylenes and produce an isomerized product having a higher para-xylene content than the para-xylene depleted residual stream. The isomerized product is then recycled to the para-xylene recovery unit. At least one of the feed, the para-xylene depleted residual stream and the isomerized product is contacted with a solid acid catalyst in a treatment zone under conditions effective to reduce the level of olefinic unsaturated contaminants and oxygenate contaminants therein and produce a treated stream.

Abstract: Processes for the production of high purity alpha olefins from a mixture of olefins are disclosed. The processes may include: contacting propylene and a hydrocarbon mixture comprising a mixture of olefins having a carbon number n with a first metathesis catalyst to form a metathesis product comprising a beta-olefin having a carbon number n+1, an alpha-olefin having a carbon number n?1, as well as any unreacted propylene and olefins having a carbon number n. The metathesis product may be fractionated to recover a fraction comprising the beta-olefin having a carbon number n+1. Ethylene and the fraction comprising the beta-olefin having a carbon number n+1 may then be contacted with a second metathesis catalyst to form a second metathesis product comprising an alpha-olefin having a carbon number n and propylene, which may be fractionated to form a propylene fraction and a fraction comprising the alpha olefin having a carbon number n.

Abstract: An ethylene oligomerization system is useful for creating 1-butene from ethylene in the presence of an ethylene oligomerization catalyst. The ethylene oligomerization system includes an internal baffle single pass reactor, a separation system and an exterior motion driver. The exterior motion driver is operable to induce unsteadiness in the flow of the process fluid contained in the internal baffle single pass reactor by transferring motion into the process fluid. An ethylene oligomerization process is useful for creating a refined 1-butene product from ethylene using the ethylene oligomerization system.

Abstract: Feedstocks containing biocomponent materials are coprocessed with mineral feeds using a Group VI metal catalyst prior to hydrodesulfurization of the feedstocks. The Group VI metal catalyst is optionally a physically promoted Group VI metal catalyst.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a hydrocarbon process for reducing condensation in a vapor-liquid amine or caustic acid gas scrubber. A first mixture is provided, the first mixture being superheated and comprising C2+ mono-olefin, acid gases, and diolefin molecules. The first mixture is divided into a first stream and a second stream, the first and second streams having substantially the same composition. The first stream is cooled to produce a gas phase and a liquid phase, the gas phase comprising less C6+, the liquid phase containing more C6+. The gas phase is separated to create a third stream. The third stream and the second stream are combined to form a second substantially superheated mixture. The second mixture is conducted to an acid gas scrubbing tower. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out this process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing linear alpha-olefins (LAO) by oligomerization of ethylene in the presence of solvent and homogenous catalyst, comprising the steps of: (i) feeding ethylene, solvent and catalyst into an oligomerization reactor, (ii) oligomerizing the ethylene in the reactor, (iii) removing a reactor outlet stream comprising solvent, linear alpha-olefins, ethylene, and catalyst from the reactor via a reactor outlet piping system, (iv) transferring the reactor outlet stream to a catalyst deactivation and removal step, and (v) deactivating and removing the catalyst from the reactor outlet stream, characterized in that at least one organic amine is added into the oligomerization reactor and/or into the reactor outlet piping system.

Abstract: A propylene oxide separation system that comprises a distillation column, a decanter, and water wash system. The distillation column is configured to receive a crude propylene oxide stream, discharge an impurity stream that comprises methanol and water, and discharge a bottoms stream that comprises a majority of the propylene oxide entering in the crude propylene oxide stream. The decanter is configured to receive at least a portion of the impurity stream and a hydrocarbon solvent to provide for formation in the decanter of an organic phase and an aqueous phase. The organic phase comprises propylene oxide and hydrocarbon solvent, and is sent to the distillation column. The aqueous phase comprises a majority weight percent of the methanol and the water entering in the impurity stream. The water wash system is configured to receive and purge the aqueous phase from the propylene oxide separation system.

Abstract: The wastewater evaporator provides for effluent evaporation in a septic system to eliminate need for a drain field. The evaporator tank contains a plurality of evaporator trays in a vertical array. Solids settle in the septic tank, and liquid effluent flows from the septic tank to the evaporator tank and cascades sequentially from the uppermost to the lowermost tray. The multiple trays increase the surface area of liquid contained therein, thereby greatly enhancing evaporation. An above-surface air pump and vent may be provided for air flow through the evaporator tank. An ultrasonic generator may be installed in each tray to increase the surface area of the effluent to enhance evaporation. An additional intermediate pump tank may be provided between the septic tank and the evaporator tank to control effluent flow and delivery to the evaporator tank. A sump pump in the pump tank periodically delivers effluent to the evaporator tank.

Abstract: Processes for oligomerizing olefins utilizing a catalyst system including a) a transition metal complex that is transition metal compound complexed to a pyridine bisimine ligand and b) a metal alkyl and controlling the olefin oligomer product distribution K value by adjusting i) a transition metal of the transition metal complex concentration in the reactor, ii) a metal of the metal alkyl concentration in the reactor, iii) a metal of the metal alkyl to transition metal of the transition metal complex molar ratio in the reactor, and iv) any combination thereof.

Abstract: Provided are processes for making hydrocarbons from renewable feed sources. In an embodiment, there is provided a method for co-producing lube basestock and transportation fuel from a feedstock of biological origin, the method including: a) converting a feedstock of biological origin to a ketone or a dimer acid in the presence of a first catalyst; and b) hydrogenating the ketone or the dimer acid to produce a hydrocarbon in the presence of a second catalyst comprising a hydrogenation catalyst and a hydrothermally stable binder.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for selective simultaneous production of para-xylene, para-ethyltoluene and para-diethylbenzene from a reactant stream containing ethylbenzene and methanol, as an alkylating agent. The process comprises alkylation of the feedstock in a fluidized-bed rector under alkylating conditions, over a modified ZSM-5-based catalyst to produce streams containing above 95% para-isomers of dialkylbenzenes. The method also includes the steps of multilayer silylation to achieve simultaneous selectivity of the para-isomers of dialkylbenzenes.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting acetic acid to isobutene in the presence of a catalyst. In certain embodiments, a ZnxZryOz mixed oxide catalyst is used for carrying out a gas phase process for converting acetic acid to isobutene. In some embodiments, a ZnxZryOz mixed oxide catalyst made by an incipient wetness impregnation method is used and is indicated to be very stable for carrying out the conversion.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to coal charging systems used with coke ovens. In some embodiments, a coal charging system includes a charging head having opposing wings that extend outwardly from the charging head, leaving an open pathway through which coal may be directed toward side edges of the coal bed. In other embodiments, an extrusion plate is positioned on a rearward face of the charging head and oriented to engage and compress coal as the coal is charged along a length of the coking oven. In other embodiments, charging plates extend outwardly from inward faces of opposing wings.

Abstract: The application describes a process where methane or any short chained hydrocarbon could be catalytically coupled with an oxygenate (preferably derived from thermal processing of biomass) to dehydrate and produce a deoxygenated hydrocarbon. The presence of oxygen in biomass derivatives adversely affects its ability to be further processed into hydrocarbon fuels because the resulting water poisons many catalysts (including alumina containing catalysts, zeolites, etc.) found in petrochemical refineries. While commonly used hydrodeoxygenation methods require expensive hydrogen to instigate deoxygenation, the present process uses short chained hydrocarbons (such as methane or natural gas) to instigate hydrodeoxygenation.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting acetic acid to propylene and isobutene as the principal hydrocarbon products made, in the presence of a catalyst and in the further presence of hydrogen. In certain embodiments, a ZnxZryOz mixed oxide catalyst is used for carrying out a gas phase process, and propylene is produced preferentially to isobutene by using at least a certain amount of hydrogen in the process. In some embodiments, a ZnxZryOz mixed oxide catalyst made by an incipient wetness impregnation method is used and is indicated to be very stable for carrying out the conversion.

Abstract: A process for increasing the yield of C3 olefin in fluidized bed catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon feedstocks is disclosed. C4 fraction produced from the cracking of hydrocarbon feedstock in the primary reaction zone (riser), optionally with external source of C4 stream is fed into the stripper which acts as a secondary reaction zone at an elevated temperature and at an optimum WHSV. The elevated temperature is achieved by injecting a part of the regenerated catalyst from regenerator, which is at a higher temperature, directly into the stripper through a dedicated additional lift line. This raises the activity of catalyst inside the stripper. The direct injection of regenerated catalyst into the stripper, besides producing higher yields of propylene, improves the stripping efficiency leading to enhanced recovery of strippable hydrocarbons.