Abstract: A simulated moving bed separator and methods for isolating a desired component are provided. A method includes removing a raffinate from a raffinate bed of a simulated moving bed separator. The raffinate includes an undesired component, and the simulated moving bed separator includes a plurality of adsorbent beds circularly coupled together, a distributor, and a plurality of conduits coupling the distributor to the plurality of adsorbent beds. The adsorbent beds include the raffinate bed, a desorbent bed, and a zone 4 flush bed positioned between the raffinate bed and the desorbent bed. Desorbent is added to the desorbent bed through a desorbent conduit. The zone 4 flush conduit is flushed to the desorbent conduit, where the zone 4 flush conduit is coupled to the zone 4 flush bed.

Abstract: A simulated moving bed separator and methods for isolating a desired component are provided. A method includes removing a raffinate from a raffinate bed of a simulated moving bed separator. The raffinate includes an undesired component, and the simulated moving bed separator includes a plurality of adsorbent beds circularly coupled together, a distributor, and a plurality of conduits coupling the distributor to the plurality of adsorbent beds. The adsorbent beds include the raffinate bed, a desorbent bed, and a zone 4 flush bed positioned between the raffinate bed and the desorbent bed. Desorbent is added to the desorbent bed through a desorbent conduit. The zone 4 flush conduit is flushed to the desorbent conduit, where the zone 4 flush conduit is coupled to the zone 4 flush bed.

Abstract: A process for removing at least one product from coal tar is described. The process involves extraction with an extraction agent or adsorption with an adsorbent. The extraction agent includes at least one of amphiphilic block copolymers, cyclodextrins, functionalized cyclodextrins, and cyclodextrin-functionalized polymers, and the adsorbent includes exfoliated graphite oxide, thermally exfoliated graphite oxide or intercalated graphite compounds.

Abstract: A separation membrane is described. The separation membrane comprises a porous inorganic membrane, the pores of the inorganic membrane being coated with a polybenzoxazole polymer coating. Methods of making the separation membrane and methods of separating xylenes using the separation membrane are also described.

Abstract: A process for purifying at least one product from coal tar is described. The process involves separating a coal tar fraction having a boiling point in the range of about 180° C. to about 230° C. into an acidic portion and a non-acidic portion by contacting the fraction with a caustic compound. The acidic portion is separated into a cresol portion and a xylenol portion, and the non-acidic portion is separated into a naphthalene portion and a naphthalene co-boiler portion. The acidic portion and the non-acidic portions are separated by contacting with an adsorbent comprising small, discrete crystallites, the adsorbent having less than 10 wt % amorphous binder component. The various portions can be separated in a similar manner.

Abstract: A process for purifying at least one product from coal tar is described. The process involves separating a coal tar fraction having a boiling point in the range of about 180° C. to about 230° C. into an acidic portion and a non-acidic portion by contacting the fraction with a caustic compound. The acidic portion is separated into a cresol portion and a xylenol portion, and the non-acidic portion is separated into a naphthalene portion and a naphthalene co-boiler portion. The acidic portion and the non-acidic portions are separated by contacting with an adsorbent comprising small, discrete crystallites, the adsorbent having less than 10 wt % amorphous binder component. The various portions can be separated in a similar manner.

Abstract: A process for removing at least one product from coal tar is described. The process involves extraction with an extraction agent or adsorption with an adsorbent. The extraction agent includes at least one of amphiphilic block copolymers, cyclodextrins, functionalized cyclodextrins, and cyclodextrin-functionalized polymers, and the adsorbent includes exfoliated graphite oxide, thermally exfoliated graphite oxide or intercalated graphite compounds.

Abstract: A process for removing at least one contaminant from coal tar is described. The process involves extraction with an extraction agent or adsorption with an adsorbent. The extraction agent includes at least one of amphiphilic block copolymers, inclusion complexes of poly(methyl methacrylate) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, cyclodextrins, functionalized cyclodextrins, and cyclodextrin-functionalized polymers, and the adsorbent includes exfoliated graphite oxide, thermally exfoliated graphite oxide or intercalated graphite compounds.

Abstract: Methods of treating coal tar using reactive distillation are described. The methods include introducing a coal tar stream into a reactive distillation zone which has a reaction zone and a separation zone. The reaction zone contains a hydrotreating catalyst and an absorbent. The coal tar stream is contacted with a hydrogen stream in the reaction zone to remove contaminants from the coal tar stream, and the treated coal tar stream is separated into at least two fractions.

Abstract: A process for treating a pitch fraction from coal tar is described. The pitch fraction is contacted with a solvent, an extraction agent, or an adsorbent to remove at least one contaminant, such as oxygenate compounds, nitrogen containing compounds, and sulfur containing compounds. The solvent can be an ionic liquid, the extraction agent can be at least one of amphiphilic block copolymers, cyclodextrins, functionalized cyclodextrins, and cyclodextrin-functionalized polymers, and the adsorbent can be exfoliated graphite oxide, thermally exfoliated graphite oxide or intercalated graphite compounds.

Abstract: A process for treating water used in a coal tar process is described. The process involves treating the water with extraction with an extraction agent or adsorption with an adsorbent. The extraction agent includes at least one of amphiphilic block copolymers, cyclodextrins, functionalized cyclodextrins, and soluble cyclodextrin-functionalized polymers, and the adsorbent includes insoluble cyclodextrin-functionalized polymers, exfoliated graphite oxide, thermally exfoliated graphite oxide or intercalated graphite compounds.

Abstract: A process for removing mercury from a coal tar product is described. A coal tar stream is contacted with a solvent to remove a product, and the product stream is contacted with an adsorbent material to remove elemental mercury, organic mercury compounds, and/or inorganic mercury compounds. Alternatively, the coal tar stream can be treated in a catalytic distillation zone of a fractionation zone.

Abstract: Embodiments of adsorbents for separating para-xylene from a mixture of C8 alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons, methods for making such adsorbents, and methods for separating para-xylene using such adsorbents are provided. In one example, an adsorbent comprises a binderless adsorbent. The binderless adsorbent comprises zeolite X and has a K2O/(K2O+BaO+Na2O) molar ratio of from about 0.15 to about 0.4.

Abstract: A separation membrane is described. The separation membrane comprises a porous inorganic membrane, the pores of the inorganic membrane being coated with a polybenzoxazole polymer coating. Methods of making the separation membrane and methods of separating xylenes using the separation membrane are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing natural gas are provided. In a method for processing a natural gas stream, the natural gas stream is fractionated to form an overhead stream and a bottoms stream. The overhead stream is separated with a membrane to form a methane rich residual stream and a permeate stream.

Abstract: A process for isomerizing ethylbenzene into xylenes such as para-xylene using a zeolitic catalyst system based on low Si/Al2 MTW-type zeolite that preferably is substantially free of mordenite. The catalyst may be bimetallic where the two metals are platinum and tin.

Abstract: A reforming and isomerization process has been developed. A reforming feedstream is charged to a reforming zone containing a reforming catalyst and operating at reforming conditions to generate a reforming zone effluent. Hydrogen and an isomerization feedstream is charged into an isomerization zone to contact an isomerization catalyst at isomerization conditions to increase the branching of the hydrocarbons. The isomerization catalyst is a solid acid catalyst comprising a support comprising a sulfated oxide or hydroxide of at least an element of Group IVB, a first component being at least one lanthanide series element, mixtures thereof, or yttrium, and a second component being a platinum group metal or mixtures thereof. The reforming zone effluent and the isomerization zone effluent are each separated to form a light ends stream and a product stream. The light ends streams are combined for processing in a net gas re-contacting zone.

Abstract: A process for isomerizing ethylbenzene into xylenes such as para-xylene using a zeolitic catalyst system based on low Si/Al2 MTW-type zeolite that preferably is substantially free of mordenite. The catalyst may be bimetallic where the two metals are platinum and tin.

Abstract: A process for preparing a transalkylation catalyst, the catalyst itself, and a transalkylation process for using the catalyst are herein disclosed. The catalyst comprises rhenium metal on a solid-acid support such as mordenite, which has been treated with a sulfur-based agent. Such treatment reduces the amount of methane produced by metal hydrogenolysis in a transalkylation process wherein heavy aromatics like A9+ are reacted with toluene to produce xylenes. Reduced methane production relative to total light ends gas production results in lower hydrogen consumption and lower reactor exotherms.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a regeneration process for a C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst. The process can include: contacting the C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst with a first gas stream comprising an oxidizing gas at a first stage for a first time period and a first temperature effective to remove at least a portion of a carbonaceous material from the C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst; and contacting the C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst with a second gas stream comprising the oxidizing gas at a second stage for a second time period and a second temperature effective to remove another portion of the carbonaceous material from the C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst.