Abstract: An iridium-based catalyst and method of making the catalyst are described. The catalyst comprises a catalytic material comprising iridium oxide or a mixture of iridium and iridium oxide nanoplates. It may have a BET surface area of at least 50 m2/g and a pore volume of at least 0.10 cc/g. The nanoplates are less than 50 nm thick. The catalyst is made using organic and inorganic structure directing agents.

Abstract: A fluidized reforming process comprising a two stage fluidized reforming reactor is described. A naphtha stream flows upward through the two fluidized stages and contacts the catalyst forming a product stream and spent catalyst. The spent catalyst is separated from the product stream and the naphtha feed stream. Some of the spent catalyst is regenerated by contact with an oxygen-containing regeneration fluid to heat and reactivate the catalyst. The heated, regenerated catalyst forms at least a port of the catalyst stream for the process. A process for cyclizing paraffins or isomerizing cyclopentanes is also described. The process uses a chloride-free Pt/Ga-containing catalyst to form a cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon or isomerizing a cyclopentane in the presence of the chloride-free Pt/Ga-containing catalyst to form a cyclohexane.

Abstract: A process utilizing a micro-emulsion is described. The micro-emulsion formed by contacting an ionic liquid, a co-solvent, a hydrocarbon, an optional surfactant, and an optional catalyst promoter to form the micro-emulsion. The micro-emulsion comprises a hydrocarbon component comprising the hydrocarbon and an ionic liquid component comprising the ionic liquid. The ionic liquid comprises a halometallate anion and a cation. The co-solvent has a polarity greater than a polarity of the hydrocarbon. The ionic liquid is present in an amount of 0.05 wt % to 40 wt % of the micro-emulsion. A product mixture comprising a product is produced in a process zone containing the micro-emulsion.

Abstract: A method of reducing catalyst agglomeration in a slurry hydrocracking zone containing at least two reactors is described. A hydrocarbon feed and a slurry hydrocracking catalyst are contacted in a first reactor to form a first effluent containing slurry hydrocracking reaction products, unreacted hydrocarbon feed, and the slurry hydrocracking catalyst, wherein the slurry hydrocracking catalyst agglomerates. The first effluent and an unsupported hydrogenation catalyst are contacted in a second reactor to form a second effluent containing the slurry hydrocracking reaction products, unreacted hydrocarbon feed, the slurry hydrocracking catalyst, and asphaltene reaction products.

Abstract: A micro-emulsion and a method of making the micro-emulsion are described. The micro-emulsion includes a hydrocarbon component, an ionic liquid component, and a co-solvent. The ionic liquid comprises a halometallate anion and a cation. The micro-emulsion can optionally include a surfactant, and a catalyst promoter. The co-solvent has a polarity greater than the polarity of the hydrocarbon. The ionic liquid is present in an amount of about 0.05 wt % to about 40 wt % of the micro-emulsion.

Abstract: A crude distillation and refining process and apparatus enables modular supply of the crude distillation column. Crude oil may be heated and then separated into only two liquid products in the crude distillation column. The separation between the light and heavy products may be controlled by the overhead product flow rate. Heat is recovered from an overhead stream and a bottoms stream by pre-heating the incoming crude oil stream by heat exchange with overhead stream and the bottoms stream. In an embodiment, a diesel-range distillate fraction may be condensed from an overhead stream in a first heat exchanger and a naphtha-range fraction may be condensed from the gas stream uncondensed by the first heat exchanger in a second heat exchanger.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

Abstract: A process utilizing a micro-emulsion is described. The micro-emulsion formed by contacting an ionic liquid, a co-solvent, a hydrocarbon, an optional surfactant, and an optional catalyst promoter to form the micro-emulsion. The micro-emulsion comprises a hydrocarbon component comprising the hydrocarbon and an ionic liquid component comprising the ionic liquid. The ionic liquid comprises a halometallate anion and a cation. The co-solvent has a polarity greater than a polarity of the hydrocarbon. The ionic liquid is present in an amount of 0.05 wt % to 40 wt % of the micro-emulsion. A product mixture comprising a product is produced in a process zone containing the micro-emulsion.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

Abstract: A method of reducing catalyst agglomeration in a slurry hydrocracking zone containing at least two reactors is described. A hydrocarbon feed and a slurry hydrocracking catalyst are contacted in a first reactor to form a first effluent containing slurry hydrocracking reaction products, unreacted hydrocarbon feed, and the slurry hydrocracking catalyst, wherein the slurry hydrocracking catalyst agglomerates. The first effluent and an unsupported hydrogenation catalyst are contacted in a second reactor to form a second effluent containing the slurry hydrocracking reaction products, unreacted hydrocarbon feed, the slurry hydrocracking catalyst, and asphaltene reaction products.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for producing a chemical feedstock. The process can include passing a feed to a hydrotreatment zone, passing an effluent from the hydrotreatment zone to a fractionation zone, passing a stream including one or more C5-C25 hydrocarbons from the fractionation zone to a fluid catalytic cracking zone to obtain an another stream including one or more C6-C10 hydrocarbons, and passing the another stream to an adsorption zone for removing at least one heteroatom compound having a sulfur or a nitrogen atom.

Abstract: A micro-emulsion and a method of making the micro-emulsion are described. The micro-emulsion composition includes more than about 50 vol % of an oil phase and polar structures. The oil phase comprises a hydrocarbon component and a co-solvent, and the polar structures comprise an ionic liquid. The ionic liquid comprises a halometallate anion and a cation which is at least slightly soluble in the hydrocarbon component or in the co-solvent. The micro-emulsion can optionally include a surfactant, and a catalyst promoter. The co-solvent has a polarity greater than the polarity of the hydrocarbon, and the co-solvent is miscible in the hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A crude distillation and refining process and apparatus enables modular supply of the crude distillation column. Crude oil may be heated and then separated into only two liquid products in the crude distillation column. The separation between the light and heavy products may be controlled by the overhead product flow rate. Heat is recovered from an overhead stream and a bottoms stream by pre-heating the incoming crude oil stream by heat exchange with overhead stream and the bottoms stream. In an embodiment, a diesel-range distillate fraction may be condensed from an overhead stream in a first heat exchanger and a naphtha-range fraction may be condensed from the gas stream uncondensed by the first heat exchanger in a second heat exchanger.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.