Abstract: A method for purifying a spent acid catalyst from an acid catalyzed chemical reaction that generates a mixture of a product, spent add and tar, includes the steps of separating the mixture of product, spent acid, and tar into a product fraction and a spent acid fraction, said spent acid fraction comprising a mixture of spent acid and tar, and separating the spent acid fraction, by flotation separation, centrifugation, or liquid-liquid coalescence, into a tar fraction and a de-tarred spent acid fraction. The fluidized tar and the de-tarred spent acid can each be further processed to produce concentrated acid.

Abstract: There is a process for removing by-product tar during the manufacture of isopropyl alcohol. The process comprises the following: a) reacting propylene with concentrated sulfuric acid and water to form isopropyl alcohol and a spent acid having a by-product tar; b) capturing at least a portion of the isopropyl alcohol; c) contacting the spent acid with a gas in bubble form; d) allowing a least a portion of the tar to separate from the remainder of the spent acid to form a layer of tar and a layer of cleaned acid solution; e) capturing the tar; and h) recycling the cleaned acid solution to step a) as a source of sulfuric acid. There is also a process for removing by-product tar during the manufacture of methyl ethyl ketone. The process is substantially the same except that 1-butene is substituted for propylene. There is also a process for removing tar from a spent acid.

Abstract: There is a process for removing by-product tar during the manufacture of isopropyl alcohol. The process comprises the following: a) reacting propylene with concentrated sulfuric acid and water to form isopropyl alcohol and a spent acid having a by-product tar; b) capturing at leas a portion of the isopropyl alcohol; c) contacting the spent acid with a gas in bubble form; d) allowing a least a portion of the tar to separate from the remainder of the spent acid to form a layer of tar and a layer of cleaned acid solution; e) capturing the tar; and h) recycling the cleaned acid solution to step a) as a source of sulfuric acid. There is also a process for removing by-product tar during the manufacture of methyl ethyl ketone. The process is substantially the same except that 1-butene is substituted for propylene. There is also a process for removing tar from a spent acid.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of an aqueous tar suspoemulsion by mixing a mixture including (a) a viscous tar composition formed from a tar, from inorganic solids and, optionally, from water, (b) water (W), (c) a surface-active agent (SA) exhibiting an HLB of at least 10 and, optionally, (d) a thickening water-soluble polymer (TWP) with a molecular mass of greater than 10,000, the relative amounts of constituents (W), (SA) and, optionally, (TWP) being such that the viscosity of the (W)+(SA)+optional (TWP) mixture is preferably equal to or greater than the viscosity of the said tar, and then optional dilution of the mixture obtained with water or with an aqueous acidic solution. The process is particularly advantageous when applied to to the residues, containing sulphuric acid, resulting from the synthesis of white oils from petroleum fractions. The present invention further relates to a method for fluidizing acidic tars/sludges including contacting the tar/sludge with sulfuric acid and a surfactant.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an aqueous tar suspoemulsion includes the steps of mixing a mixture including (a) a viscous tar composition formed from a tar, from inorganic solids and, optionally, from water; (b) water (W); (c) a surface-active agent (SA) exhibiting a hydrophilicity/lipophilicity balance (HLB) of at least 10; and, optionally, (d) a thickening water-soluble polymer (TWP) with a molecular mass of greater than 10,000. The relative amounts of constituents (W), (SA) and, optionally, (TWP) are such that the viscosity of the (W)+(SA)+optional (TWP) mixture is preferably equal to or greater than the viscosity of the tar. An optional embodiment of the process provides for dilution of the mixture obtained with water or with an aqueous acidic solution.