Abstract: The invention relates to a process carried out continuously in one or more reactors connected in series for the preparation of sodium titanate nanotubes and their derivatives obtained by ion exchange and/or thermal treatment, by reacting titanium oxides with sodium hydroxide under suitable hydrothermal conditions to obtain or control the morphology of nanostructural titanates. The reaction mixture is introduced continuously into the reactor at a feed rate that is the same as the rate of discharge of the product. When more than one reactor is used, the material leaving the first reactor is used to feed the next reactor, and a differential of temperature is applied between the reactors in such a way as to obtain in the average, a temperature of between 60° C. and 180° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and equipment for fluid catalytic cracking for the production of middle distillates of low aromaticity that comprises cracking a mixed feed consisting of heavy fractions of hydrocarbons, in the absence of added hydrogen and employing a catalyst of low activity and low acidity, in a dense-bed FCC reactor to produce an effluent constituted of fractions of middle distillates and naphtha of low aromaticity.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of quasi-crystalline boehmite comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an aqueous precursor mixture comprising a water-insoluble aluminum source; (b) decreasing the pH of the precursor mixture of step (a) by at least 2 units; (c) increasing the pH of the mixture of step (b) by at least 2 units, and (d) aging the mixture of step (c) under hydrothermal conditions to form a quasi-crystalline boehmite. This process provides for the hydrothermal preparation of quasi-crystalline boehmites with high peptizability. The invention therefore further relates to quasi-crystalline boehmites with a high peptizability, measured as the Z-average submicron particle size. This Z-average submicron particle size preferably is less than 500 nm, more preferably less than 300 nm, even more preferably less than 200 nm, and most preferably less than 100 nm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of alkyl esters of carboxylic acids for use as biodiesel starting from the reaction of transesterification of triglycerides originating from oils and fats of vegetable or animal origin, which can be used individually or in mixtures with one another in any proportions, employing heterogeneous catalysis by means of protonated lamellar titanate catalysts in nanostructured form, and said forms can comprise, among in other forms, nanotubes, nanofibres or nanosheets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of sodium titanate nanotubes and their derivatives obtained by ion exchange and/or thermal treatment, by reacting titanium oxides with sodium hydroxide under suitable hydrothermal conditions to obtain or control the morphology of nanostructural titanates. The method is carried out continuously in one or more reactors connected in series, where the reaction mixture is introduced continuously into the reactor at a feed rate that is the same as the rate of discharge of the product. When more than one reactor is used, the material leaving the first reactor is used to feed the next reactor, and preferably a temperature differential is applied between the reactors in such a way as to obtain a mean temperature of between 60 and 180° C., and the overall reaction time is short, being about 90 minutes or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and equipment for fluid catalytic cracking for the production of middle distillates of low aromaticity that comprises cracking a mixed feed consisting of heavy fractions of hydrocarbons, in the absence of added hydrogen and employing a catalyst of low activity and low acidity, in a dense-bed FCC reactor to produce an effluent constituted of fractions of middle distillates and naphtha of low aromaticity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of alkyl esters of carboxylic acids for use as biodiesel starting from the reaction of transesterification of triglycerides originating from oils and fats of vegetable or animal origin, which can be used individually or in mixtures with one another in any proportions, employing heterogeneous catalysis by means of protonated lamellar titanate catalysts in nanostructured form, and said forms can comprise, among in other forms, nanotubes, nanofibres or nanosheets.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of quasi-crystalline boehmite comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an aqueous precursor mixture comprising a water-insoluble aluminium source; (b) decreasing the pH of the precursor mixture of step (a) by at least 2 units; (c) increasing the pH of the mixture of step (b) by at least 2 units, and (d) aging the mixture of step (c) under hydrothermal conditions to form a quasi-crystalline boehmite. This process provides for the hydrothermal preparation of quasi-crystalline boehmites with high peptizability. The invention therefore further relates to quasi-crystalline boehmites with a high peptizability, measured as the Z-average submicron particle size. This Z-average submicron particle size preferably is less than 500 nm, more preferably less than 300 nm, even more preferably less than 200 nm, and most preferably less than 100 nm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the fluid catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons using a downflow reactor and a catalyst with an Akzo Accessibility Index (AAI) of at least 3.5. This process combines the advantages of the use of downflow and riser reactors: minimal overcracking and high conversion of the higher boiling fraction. The use of a downflow reactor minimizes overcracking, while the cracking catalyst facilitates high conversions, even for high-boiling fractions in the feed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cracking catalyst composition comprising a physical mixture of 10-90 weight % of a cracking catalyst A and 90-10 weight % of a cracking catalyst B, whereby catalyst A is a zeolite-containing cracking catalyst, and catalyst B is a catalyst having a higher average pore volume in the pore diameter range of 20-200 Å than catalyst A in the same pore diameter range and not containing M41S material. These compositions can suitably used for the fluid catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon feeds with high metal concentrations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cracking catalyst composition comprising a physical mixture of 10-90 weight % of a cracking catalyst A and 90-10 weight % of a cracking catalyst B, whereby catalyst A is a zeolite-containing cracking catalyst, and catalyst B is a catalyst having a higher average pore volume in the pore diameter range of 20-200 Å than catalyst A in the same pore diameter range and not containing M41S material. These compositions can suitably used for the fluid catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon feeds with high metal concentrations.