Abstract: A system includes a processor, a memory and a user interface. The processor has an input port to receive node data, path data, and spatial data. The node data corresponds to nodes in a system. A node is associated with a facility in a food supply chain. The path data corresponds to connectivity between nodes along paths. The paths are associated with nodes in the food supply chain. The spatial data corresponds to nodes or paths. The memory stores executable instructions for accessing risk data associated with at a node, a path, or a food item. The instructions generate output data based on the node data, the path data, the spatial data, and the risk data. The output corresponds to criticality of the food supply chain. The user interface receives user-selected input data as to the food supply chain and provides the output data.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media for facilitating measurement of organizational culture in real time. In embodiments, an organization culture measurement system may facilitate culture measurement through receipt and comparison of various actions performed by persons associated with the organization. The organization culture measurement system may provide a networking and interaction interface for users within an organization to interact with each other. User actions in the networking and interaction interface may be received by the organization culture measurement system and used to associate one or more cultural classifications and/or signifiers with users. Cultural classifications and/or signifiers associated with users may be used to measure organizational culture on a wider level and incentivize desired cultural traits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Compositions of fuels for transportation are disclosed, particularly organic compositions which are liquid at ambient conditions. More specifically, it relates to transportation fuels comprising suitable organic distillates, as a predominant component, and limited, but essential, amounts of a component comprising oxygen-containing organic materials, which materials are typically derived from natural petroleum. Beneficially, the oxygen content of these transportation fuels is at least 0.02 percent by weight. Preferably the oxygen content these transportation fuels is in a range from about 0.2 percent to about 10 percent by weight.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of making xylene isomers. The methods generally include contacting an aromatics-comprising feed with a non-sulfided catalyst under conditions suitable for converting the feed to a product comprising xylene isomers. The catalyst includes a support impregnated with a hydrogenation component. The support includes a macroporous binder and a sieve selected from the group consisting of a medium pore sieve, a large pore sieve, and mixtures thereof. The selection of the sieve will depend upon the size of the molecules in the feed, intermediate, and product that can be expected from the catalytic reactions. When the molecules are expected to be large, a large pore sieve should be used. In contrast, when the molecules are expected to be smaller, either a large pore sieve, a medium pore sieve, or a mixture thereof may be used.

Abstract: Compositions and processes are disclosed for economical separation of fluid mixtures. Broadly, the present invention discloses ionic polymer compositions that are useful for perm-selective membrane separations. More particularly, ionic polymers of the invention comprise a plurality of repeating structural units having as a constituent part thereof organic ionic moieties consisting of nitrogen containing anions and/or cations. In the form of non-porous membranes, ionic polymers of the invention facilitate recovery of purified organic and inorganic products from fluid mixtures by means of perm-selective membrane separations. The present invention also provides methods for forming the ionic polymers, for example by treating selected nitrogen-containing organic polymers with acids, or treating a polymeric material comprising a plurality of carboxylate groups with an amine.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of making xylene isomers. More specifically, the method includes contacting a C9 aromatics-comprising feed with a catalyst under conditions suitable for converting the feed to an intermediate product stream comprising xylene isomers, separating at least a portion of the xylene isomers from the intermediate product stream, and recycling to the feed the xylene isomers-lean intermediate product stream. Alternatively, the method of making xylene isomers includes contacting a feed comprising C9 aromatics and less than about 30 wt. % benzene, based on the total weight of the feed, with a non-sulfided, large-pore zeolite impregnated with a Group VIB metal oxide, under conditions suitable for converting the feed to a product stream comprising xylene isomers. The disclosed method is characterized by unexpectedly high ratios of xylene isomers to ethylbenzene, xylene isomers to C9 aromatics (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Compositions of fuels for transportation are disclosed, particularly organic compositions which are liquid at ambient conditions. More specifically, it relates to transportation fuels comprising suitable organic distillates, as a predominant component, and limited, but essential, amounts of a component comprising oxygen-containing organic materials, which materials are typically derived from natural petroleum. Beneficially, the oxygen content of these transportation fuels is at least 0.02 percent by weight. Preferably the oxygen content these transportation fuels is in a range from about 0.2 percent to about 10 percent by weight.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for production of purified products from a fluid mixtures of C8 aromatics by means of integration of perm-selective separations with purified product recovery operations. The perm-selective separations of the invention comprise of one or more devices using polymeric perm-selective membrane devices to separate a meta-xylene enriched stream from fluid mixtures of C8 aromatics thereby producing a fluid comprising the remaining aromatic compounds which advantageously includes para-xylene. Processes of the invention are particularly useful for recovery of very pure meta-xylene and para-xylene co-products from liquid mixtures even containing ethylbenzene as well as the three xylene isomers.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus are disclosed for recovery of purified products from a fluid mixture by means of integrated perm-selective separations with purified product recovery operations. More particularly, integrated processes of the invention comprise separations by means of one or more devices using polymeric membranes coupled with recovery of purified products by means of fractional crystallization and/or selective sorption. Processes of the invention are particularly useful for recovery of a very pure aromatic isomer when processing aromatic starting materials, for example, a pure para-xylene product from liquid mixtures even containing ethylbenzene as well as the three xylene isomers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process to make environment friendly components for refinery blending of transportation fuels. The process involves contacting a petroleum distillate with an oxygen-containing gas at oxidation conditions in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a Group VIII metal on a basic support to oxidize any sulfur and/or nitrogen-containing compounds in the distillate. A portion of these sulfur and/or nitrogen-containing compounds is then removed from the oxidation zone effluent.

Abstract: A process for separating solids from liquids in a filtration zone defined by a higher concentration zone and a lower concentration zone separated by a filter. The process includes the steps of directing a slurry feed comprising a liquid and solids into the higher concentration zone, directing a displacement fluid to the higher concentration zone and passing at least a portion of the liquid through a filter to the filtrate zone, producing a filtrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes are disclosed for economical separation of fluid mixtures utilizing perm-selective membranes. Broadly, apparatus of the invention comprises a plurality of membrane modules comprising a solid perm-selective membrane and means for controlling enthalpy of selected fluids within the apparatus. Advantageously, the membrane modules are disposed in a first product group, a second product group, and at least one intermediate group. Apparatus of the invention is particularly useful for simultaneous recovery of a very pure permeate product, and/or a desired non-permeate stream, from fluid mixtures of two or more compounds which when subjected to appropriately altered conditions of temperature and/or pressure exhibit a bubble point.