Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for integration of a reactor for polyolefin pyrolysis with the effluent processing train for a steam cracker. The polyolefins can correspond to, for example, polyolefins in plastic waste. Integrating a process for polyolefin pyrolysis with a steam cracker processing train can allow a mixture of polymers to be converted to monomer units while reducing or minimizing costs and/or equipment footprint. This can allow for direct conversion of polyolefins to the light olefin monomers in high yield while significantly lowering capital and energy usage due to integration with a steam cracking process train. The integration can be enabled in part by selecting feeds with appropriate mixtures of various polymer types and/or by limiting the volume of the plastic waste pyrolysis product relative to the volume from the steam cracker(s) in the steam cracking process train.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for integration of a reactor for polyolefin pyrolysis with the effluent processing train for a steam cracker. The polyolefins can correspond to, for example, polyolefins in plastic waste. Integrating a process for polyolefin pyrolysis with a steam cracker processing train can allow a mixture of polymers to be converted to monomer units while reducing or minimizing costs and/or equipment footprint. This can allow for direct conversion of polyolefins to the light olefin monomers in high yield while significantly lowering capital and energy usage due to integration with a steam cracking process train. The integration can be enabled in part by selecting feeds with appropriate mixtures of various polymer types and/or by limiting the volume of the plastic waste pyrolysis product relative to the volume from the steam cracker(s) in the steam cracking process train.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for separation of particles and/or asphaltenes from heavy hydrocarbon fractions. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction can correspond to a feed including particles or a processing effluent that includes particles. If the heavy hydrocarbon fraction is mixed with lower boiling fractions, a separation can be performed to reduce or minimize the amount of hydrocarbons that are present in the heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction can then be mixed with a sufficient amount of a separation solvent to cause a phase separation. One phase can correspond to the separation solvent plus a portion of the hydrocarbons. The other phase can correspond to hydrocarbons rejected by the separation solvent plus the particles from the heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The phases can then be separated from each other using a solids-liquid centrifugal separator.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing or minimizing the chloride content of products generated during co-processing of a plastic feedstock (such as plastic waste) in a refinery process. The reduction in chloride is achieved by mixing the plastic feedstock with one or more additional feedstocks for co-processing in a mixing and/or holding vessel that is maintained at a dechlorination temperature that allows for decomposition of chlorine from the plastic feedstock to form HCl, while reducing or minimizing other conversion of the plastic feedstock and/or the additional feedstock. A purge gas can be passed through the mixing/holding vessel to remove the evolved HCl from the vessel. Because the dechlorination temperature is selected to reduce or minimize conversion of the feedstocks in the mixture, the amount of carbon-containing products that are removed with the purge gas can be reduced or minimized.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for integration of polymeric waste co-processing in cokers to produce circular chemical products from coker gas oil, including a method of producing circular chemical products comprising: providing a coker gas oil that is at least partially derived from polymeric waste, wherein the coker gas oil has a paraffin content of about 5 wt % to about 50 wt %, a sulfur content of about 0.1 wt % to about 7 wt %, and a halide content of about 0.1 wppm to about 5 wppm; and converting the coker gas oil into at least a polymer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for integration of polymeric waste co-processing in cokers to produce circular chemical products from coker naphtha, including a method of producing circular chemical products comprising: providing a coker naphtha that is at least partially derived from polymeric waste, wherein the coker naphtha has a total halide content of about 1 wppm to about 0.5 wt %, a 2-3 ring aromatic content of about 0 wt % to about 5 wt %, and a sulfur content of about 750 ppm to about 2 wt %; and converting the coker naphtha into at least a polymer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for integration of polymeric waste co-processing in cokers to produce circular chemical products from coker gas, including a method of producing circular chemical products comprising: providing a coker gas that is at least partially derived from polymeric waste, wherein the coker gas has an olefin content of about 10 wt % to about 30 wt %, a sulfur content of about 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt %, and a total halide content of about 1 wppm to about 150 wppm; and oxygen-containing compounds in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 15 wt %; and converting the coker gas into at least a polymer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for partial upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feeds to meet transport specifications, such as pipeline transport specifications. The systems and methods can allow for one or more types of improvement in heavy hydrocarbon processing prior to transport. In some aspects, the systems and methods can produce a partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product that satisfies one or more transport specifications while incorporating an increased amount of vacuum gas oil and a reduced amount of pitch into the partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product. In other aspects, the systems and methods can allow for increased incorporation of hydrocarbons into the fraction upgraded for transport, thereby reducing or minimizing the amount of hydrocarbons requiring an alternative method of disposal or transport.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for conversion of polymers (such as plastic waste) to olefins. The systems and methods can include a recycle loop so that a portion of the pyrolysis effluent can be combined with solid plastic feedstock. The input flow to the pyrolysis reactor can correspond to a slurry of plastic particles in recycled effluent or a solution of plastic in recycled effluent.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for separation of particles and/or asphaltenes from heavy hydrocarbon fractions. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction can correspond to a feed including particles or a processing effluent that includes particles. If the heavy hydrocarbon fraction is mixed with lower boiling fractions, a separation can be performed to reduce or minimize the amount of hydrocarbons that are present in the heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction can then be mixed with a sufficient amount of a separation solvent to cause a phase separation. One phase can correspond to the separation solvent plus a portion of the hydrocarbons. The other phase can correspond to hydrocarbons rejected by the separation solvent plus the particles from the heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The phases can then be separated from each other using a solids-liquid centrifugal separator.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for co-processing of plastic waste in a coking environment or other thermal conversion environment. The co-processing of plastic waste in a coking environment can be performed by performing four types of processes on the plastic waste. The plastic waste can be conditioned by classifying and sizing of the plastic waste to improve the suitability of the plastic waste for co-processing. The conditioned plastic waste particles can be entrained and/or dissolved into a solvent and/or the base feed. The solution and/or slurry of plastic waste can be passed into a coking environment, such as a fluidized coking environment or a delayed coking environment. The plastic waste can then be co-processed in the coking environment to generate liquid product.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for partial upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feeds to meet transport specifications, such as pipeline transport specifications. The systems and methods can allow for one or more types of improvement in heavy hydrocarbon processing prior to transport. In some aspects, the systems and methods can produce a partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product that satisfies one or more transport specifications while incorporating an increased amount of vacuum gas oil and a reduced amount of pitch into the partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product. In other aspects, the systems and methods can allow for increased incorporation of hydrocarbons into the fraction upgraded for transport, thereby reducing or minimizing the amount of hydrocarbons requiring an alternative method of disposal or transport.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for partial upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feeds to meet transport specifications, such as pipeline transport specifications. The systems and methods can allow for one or more types of improvement in heavy hydrocarbon processing prior to transport. In some aspects, the systems and methods can produce a partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product that satisfies one or more transport specifications while incorporating an increased amount of vacuum gas oil and a reduced amount of pitch into the partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product. In other aspects, the systems and methods can allow for increased incorporation of hydrocarbons into the fraction upgraded for transport, thereby reducing or minimizing the amount of hydrocarbons requiring an alternative method of disposal or transport.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for partial upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feeds to meet transport specifications, such as pipeline transport specifications. The systems and methods can allow for one or more types of improvement in heavy hydrocarbon processing prior to transport. In some aspects, the systems and methods can produce a partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product that satisfies one or more transport specifications while incorporating an increased amount of vacuum gas oil and a reduced amount of pitch into the partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product. In other aspects, the systems and methods can allow for increased incorporation of hydrocarbons into the fraction upgraded for transport, thereby reducing or minimizing the amount of hydrocarbons requiring an alternative method of disposal or transport.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for integration of a reactor for polyolefin pyrolysis with the effluent processing train for a steam cracker. The polyolefins can correspond to, for example, polyolefins in plastic waste. Integrating a process for polyolefin pyrolysis with a steam cracker processing train can allow a mixture of polymers to be converted to monomer units while reducing or minimizing costs and/or equipment footprint. This can allow for direct conversion of polyolefins to the light olefin monomers in high yield while significantly lowering capital and energy usage due to integration with a steam cracking process train. The integration can be enabled in part by selecting feeds with appropriate mixtures of various polymer types and/or by limiting the volume of the plastic waste pyrolysis product relative to the volume from the steam cracker(s) in the steam cracking process train.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds comprises contacting a mixture comprising isomers of at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound with a source of oxygen, wherein the mixture comprises at least 20 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 2-position or a 3-position on at least one benzene ring and at least 50 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 4-position on at least one benzene ring, wherein said percentages are based on the total weight of the at least one methylbiphenyl compound in the mixture.

Abstract: A multi-stage process for upgrading tars is provided. A predominantly hydrotreating stage can be applied before a cracking stage, which can be a hydrocracking or a thermal cracking stage. Alternatively, a predominantly cracking stage, which can be a hydrocracking or a thermal cracking stage, can be applied before a hydrotreating stage. Apparatus suitable for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds comprises contacting a mixture comprising isomers of at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound with a source of oxygen, wherein the mixture comprises at least 20 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 2-position or a 3-position on at least one benzene ring and at least 50 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 4-position on at least one benzene ring, wherein said percentages are based on the total weight of the at least one methylbiphenyl compound in the mixture.

Abstract: Provided herein is a cyclic imide slurry composition and processes for forming and/or using such a composition. The slurry composition comprises solid cyclic imide and organic liquid, such as liquid alkylbenzene, liquid cyclohexane, and/or liquid organic alcohol (such as cyclohexanol). The slurry composition may find particular use in processes in which the cyclic imide serves as an oxidation catalyst (e.g., as a radical initiator). For instance, the slurry composition may be useful in the oxidation of a liquid alkylbenzene such as cyclohexylbenzene to corresponding 1-cyclohexyl-1-phenyl hydroperoxide. Such an oxidation reaction may further be part of an integrated process for the production of phenol and/or cyclohexanone from benzene via hydroalkylation to form cyclohexylbenzene.

Abstract: Provided herein is a cyclic imide slurry composition and processes for forming and/or using such a composition. The slurry composition comprises solid cyclic imide and organic liquid, such as liquid alkylbenzene, liquid cyclohexane, and/or liquid organic alcohol (such as cyclohexanol). The slurry composition may find particular use in processes in which the cyclic imide serves as an oxidation catalyst (e.g., as a radical initiator). For instance, the slurry composition may be useful in the oxidation of a liquid alkylbenzene such as cyclohexylbenzene to corresponding 1-cyclohexyl-1-phenyl hydroperoxide. Such an oxidation reaction may further be part of an integrated process for the production of phenol and/or cyclohexanone from benzene via hydroalkylation to form cyclohexylbenzene.