Abstract: A system for monitoring an industrial production process includes one or more sensors configured to facilitate generating process data and a processor configured to calculate a value of a monitoring variable using the process data. The monitoring variable is optimized with respect to an abnormal space of a process space. The process space includes process parameters and principle components of a multivariate model of the process. The abnormal space includes a subspace of the process space.

Abstract: A near real-time system and method for continuous online monitoring of a plurality of operations in a continuous chemical process facility is described. The method of monitoring the operations is based on a multivariate statistical model developed using off-line, selected process-specific historical process data. Such a model is used by an online monitoring system to monitor the continual operation of a chemical manufacturing facility or refinery in real-time from a remote location. Such real-time monitoring allows for determination of whether one or more of the plurality of operations are operating within their normal operational parameters. This real-time, continuous monitoring system can further be used to predict impending failures or trouble-spots within the continuous production process, or to minimize catastrophic process failures which may occur in a continuous chemical manufacturing process.

Abstract: A catalyst which is based upon an iron oxide and a compound of a lanthanide, of which iron oxide at least a portion is made by a process which involves heat decomposition of an iron halide, the lanthanide being in a quantity in the range of from 0.07 to 0.15 mole per mole iron oxide present in the catalyst, calculated as Fe2O3; a process for the preparation of the catalyst; a process for the dehydrogenation of an alkylaromatic compound which process involves contacting a feed containing the alkylaromatic compound with the catalyst; and a method of using an alkenylaromatic compound for making polymers or copolymers, in which method the alkenylaromatic compound has been prepared by the dehydrogenation process.

Abstract: A catalyst which is based upon an iron oxide and a compound of a lanthanide, of which iron oxide at least a portion is made by a process which involves heat decomposition of an iron halide, the lanthanide being in a quantity in the range of from 0.07 to 0.15 mole per mole iron oxide present in the catalyst, calculated as Fe2O3; a process for the preparation of the catalyst; a process for the dehydrogenation of an alkylaromatic compound which process involves contacting a feed containing the alkylaromatic compound with the catalyst; and a method of using an alkenylaromatic compound for making polymers or copolymers, in which method the alkenylaromatic compound has been prepared by the dehydrogenation process.