Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improve the rheological properties of heavy crudes, waxy crudes, dilatant crudes and other crudes possessing challenging transporting properties utilizing hydrodynamic cavitation to crack hydrocarbons in the crude oil and thereby improve the transport properties of such crudes.

Abstract: High melt index polyolefins have been obtained with chromium silica catalysts under conventional polymerization conditions without the use of titanium or other additives. The useful chromium silica catalysts have a pore volume in the range of 1.9-2.9 cc/g and a narrow pore size distribution. The silica is a silica gel preferably obtained from a low solids, rapid gelation process.

Abstract: High melt index polyolefins have been obtained with chromium silica catalysts under conventional polymerization conditions without the use of titanium or other additives. The useful chromium silica catalysts have a pore volume in the range of 1.9-2.9 cc/g and a narrow pore size distribution. The silica is a silica gel preferably obtained from a low solids, rapid gelation process.

Abstract: A method of making frangible, spray dried agglomerate catalyst supports is provided, e.g. of silica gel, which possess a controlled morphology of microspheroidal shape, preferably a rough, scabrous appearance, and interstitial void spaces which penetrate the agglomerate. The agglomerates also possess a 4-250 micron particle size, 1-1000 m2/gm. surface area, and an Attrition Quality Index (AQI) of at least 10. The method comprises dry milling inorganic oxide particles, e.g. silica gel, wet milling the dry milled inorganic oxide particles (to preferably impart a colloidal segment of <1 micron particles), and spray drying the particles. The high AQI assures that the agglomerates are frangible and that polymerization performance is improved. The controlled morphology is believed to permit the constituent particles of the agglomerates to be more uniformly impregnated or coated with conventional olefin polymerization catalysts.

Abstract: Glycol ether compounds such as glycol ethers and glycol ether esters are used as azeotropic distillation solvents for conversion of inorganic oxide hydrogels to xerogels by removal of water. These compounds are especially useful to make chromium-containing catalysts for production of high melt index polyolefins at reduced cost compared to known azeotropic solvents.

Abstract: A method of making chromium containing oxide gel-based catalyst wherein an oxide hydrogel is convened to a xerogel by azeotropic distillation of a mixture of said hydrogel and an organic solvent, the improvement comprising impregnating the gel with a chromium compound during azeotropic distillation by incorporating said chromium compound into said mixture before azeotropic distillation and wherein the organic solvent used is selected from the group consisting of ethoxy ethyl acetate, tert-butyoxy propanol, methoxy propyl acetate, n-butoxy propanol, ethoxy ethyl propionate and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Adsorbents are provided which are suitable for use in the removal of contaminants selected from the group consisting of free fatty acids, soaps, phosphorus, metal ions and color bodies. The adsorbents comprise inorganic porous supports selected from the group consisting of substantially amorphous alumina, diatomaceous earth, clays, magnesium silicates, aluminum silicates and amorphous silica, treated with a base in such a manner that at least a portion of said base is retained in at least some of the pores of the support to yield base-treated inorganic porous adsorbents. Processes for removing free fatty acids, etc., from glyceride oils using these adsorbents are also provided.

Abstract: A catalyst for control of hydrocarbon emission with improved resistance to phosphorus, sulfur, halogen and silicon poisoning comprising a refractory oxide support impregnated with 0.5 to 20% by weight chromium oxide or manganese oxide or a mixture thereof, and a catalytically effective amount of one or more platinum group metals. The preferred refractory oxide support is alumina. The preferred platinum group metals include Pt, Pd, Ir and Rh.

Abstract: Catalysts and catalyst supports are prepared by forming and drying, preferably spray-drying, an aqueous slurry of inorganic solids such as zeolites, clay, silica, alumina, and silica-alumina gel, and aluminum chlorhydrol to obtain particulate composites. The particulate composites are then reacted with ammonia in the absence of free liquid water to convert the aluminum chlorhydrol into a cohesive binder. The ammonia-reacted composites may then be washed, ion exchanged and thermally activated to obtain active attrition resistant catalysts and catalyst components.

Abstract: A catalyst that is especially useful in the production of aromatic nitriles by a fluidized bed process comprises highly attrition-resistant microspherical particles of vanadia and an inert support and is prepared by spray drying an aqueous slurry of finely divided particles of vanadia and the support.

Abstract: Silica gel pellets are prepared by mixing finely divided silica gel with an aqueous ammoniacal medium, compressing the mixture into pellets, and drying the pellets.

Abstract: A gas conversion process in which both hydrocarbons and hydrogen are produced from a synthesis gas feed which comprises a mixture of H2 and CO, uses hydrogen from a portion of the feed for one or more of (i) hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst rejuvenation and (ii) hydroconversion upgrading of at least a portion of the synthesized hydrocarbons. Hydrogen is produced from a slipstream of the synthesis gas fed into the hydrocarbon synthesis reactor by one or more of (i) physical separation means such as pressure swing adsorption and (ii) chemical means such as a water gas shift reactor. If a shift reactor is used due to insufficient capacity of the synthesis gas generator, physical separation means such as pressure swing adsorption will still be used to separate a pure stream of hydrogen from the shift reactor gas effluent.