Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving separation of gas phase streams using an adsorbent, such as 8-member ring zeolite adsorbents or DDR type zeolite adsorbents. Suitable gas phase streams can include at least one hydrocarbon, such as methane or a hydrocarbon containing at least one saturated carbon-carbon bond, and at least one additional component, such as CO2 or N2. The selectivity of the adsorbent is improved by selectivating the adsorbent with one or more barrier compounds. The presence of the barrier compounds is believed to alter the relative ability of potential adsorbates to enter into and/or move within the pores of the adsorbent.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for monitoring and restoring electrical properties of polymerization reactor wall films. The method may comprise using a reactor wall monitor to monitor and determine an electrical property, such as the bed voltage or breakdown voltage, of the wall film. The method may further comprise adding continuity additive to the reactor and/or adjusting the feed rate of continuity additive being added to the reactor in response to the measured electrical property.

Abstract: Novel adsorbent contactors and methods are disclosed herein for use in temperature swing adsorption for gas separation applications, as well as for heat exchange applications.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process for removal of C02 from natural gas streams through a combination of a selective adsorbent material containing an effective amount of a non-adsorbent filler, adsorbent contactor design, and adsorption cycle design. The removal of contaminants from gas streams, preferably natural gas streams, using rapid-cycle swing adsorption processes, such as rapid-cycle pressure swing adsorption (RC-PSA). Separations at high pressure with high product recovery and/or high product purity are provided through a combination of judicious choices of adsorbent material, gas-solid contactor, system configuration, and cycle designs. For example, cycle designs that include steps of purge and staged blow-down as well as the inclusion of a mesopore filler in the adsorbent material significantly improves product (e.g., methane) recovery. An RC-PSA product with less than 10 ppm H2S can be produced from a natural gas feed stream that contains less than 1 mole percent H2S.

Abstract: A swing adsorption process for removing contaminants from a gaseous feed stream through a combination of a selective adsorbent material containing an effective amount of a non-adsorbent filler, adsorbent contactor design, and adsorption cycle design.

Abstract: Systems and methods for hydrotreating a liquid fraction of a shale oil stream using hydrogen gas that is concentrated from a gaseous fraction of the shale oil stream. The systems and methods include providing a portion of the gaseous fraction to a sorptive separation assembly and separating a concentrated hydrogen stream from the portion of the gaseous fraction within the sorptive separation assembly. The system and methods further include providing the concentrated hydrogen stream and the liquid fraction to a hydrotreater and reacting the concentrated hydrogen stream with the liquid fraction within the hydrotreater to produce the hydrotreated liquid stream. The systems and methods may include generating the shale oil stream within a subterranean formation using an in situ process, such as an in situ shale oil conversion process and/or providing a supplemental hydrogen stream to the hydrotreater.

Abstract: The removal of one or more of the gases CO2, N2 and H2S from gas mixtures containing at least one of said gases with use of an 8-ring zeolite having a Si:Al ratio from about 1:1 to about 1000:1. The preferred gas mixture is a natural gas feedstream and the preferred 8-ring zeolite is DDR.

Abstract: A process for the separation of one or more heavy hydrocarbon gases from a gas mixture containing heavy hydrocarbon gas components and methane. The process is conducted in swing adsorption apparatus containing adsorbent contactor having a plurality of flow channels and wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactors, is in the mesopore and macropore range.

Abstract: The present invention relates the separation of a target gas from a mixture of gases through the use of engineered structured adsorbent contactors in pressure swing adsorption and thermal swing adsorption processes. Preferably, the contactors contain engineered and substantially parallel flow channels wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactor, excluding the flow channels, is in the mesopore and macropore range.

Abstract: The separation of a target gas selected from a high pressure gas mixture containing said target gas as well as a product gas using a swing adsorption process unit. A turboexpander is used upstream of the swing adsorber to reduce the pressure of the high pressure gas mixture. A compressor is optionally used downstream of the swing adsorber to increase the pressure of the target gas-containing stream for injecting into a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for removing contaminant in a fluid (e.g., chemical and petrochemical gas streams) using nanostructures of a sorbent material coated on plates such as a silicon wafer. A plurality of such coated plates can be assembled to form a sorption structure having channels between the plates. When a fluid containing the contaminant is directed through the channels, the contaminant is adsorbed by the nanostructures of the sorbent material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of acetylene and other higher hydrocarbons from methane feed using a reverse-flow reactor system, wherein the reactor system includes (i) a first reactor and (ii) a second reactor, the first and second reactors oriented in a series relationship with respect to each other, the process comprising supplying each of first and second reactant through separate channels in the first reactor bed of a reverse-flow reactor such that both of the first and second reactants serve to quench the first reactor bed, without the first and second reactants substantially reacting with each other until reaching the core of the reactor system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of acetylene and other higher hydrocarbons from methane feed using a reverse-flow reactor system, wherein the reactor system includes (i) a first reactor and (ii) a second reactor, the first and second reactors oriented in a series relationship with respect to each other, the process comprising supplying each of first and second reactant through separate channels in the first reactor bed of a reverse-flow reactor such that both of the first and second reactants serve to quench the first reactor bed, without the first and second reactants substantially reacting with each other until reaching the core of the reactor system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the separation of one or more of CO2, N2, and H2S gas components from a gas mixture containing at least a second gas using a swing adsorption process unit. The adsorbent contactors of the swing adsorption process unit are engineered structured adsorbent contactors having a plurality of flow channels wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactors is in the mesopore and macropore range.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for monitoring and restoring electrical properties of polymerization reactor wall films. The method may comprise using a reactor wall monitor to monitor and determine an electrical property, such as the bed voltage or breakdown voltage, of the wall film The method may further comprise adding continuity additive to the reactor and/or adjusting the feed rate of continuity additive being added to the reactor in response to the measured electrical property.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention relate to compositions, apparatus, and methods comprising sorbent fibers. More particularly, various embodiments of the present invention are directed towards sorbent fiber compositions for temperature swing adsorption processes. Various embodiments of the present invention comprise sorbent fiber compositions, apparatus comprising a plurality of sorbent fibers, and methods of using the same for the capture of at least one component from a medium, for example CO2 from flue gas.

Abstract: A temperature swing adsorption process for the removal of a target species, such as an acid gas, from a gas mixture, such as a natural gas stream. Herein, a novel multi-step temperature swing/pressure swing adsorption is utilized to operate while maintaining very high purity levels of contaminant removal from a product stream. The present process is particularly effective and beneficial in removing contaminants such as CO2 and/or H2S from a natural gas at relatively high adsorption pressures (e.g., at least 500 psig) to create product streams of very high purity (i.e., very low contaminant levels).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure-temperature swing adsorption process wherein gaseous components that have been adsorbed can be recovered from the adsorbent bed at elevated pressures. In particular, the present invention relates to a pressure-temperature swing adsorption process for the separation of C2+ hydrocarbons (hydrocarbons with at least 2 carbon atoms) from natural gas streams to obtain a high purity methane product stream. In more preferred embodiments of the present processes, the processes may be used to obtain multiple, high purity hydrocarbon product streams from natural gas stream feeds resulting in a chromatographic-like fractionation with recovery of high purity individual gaseous component streams.

Abstract: Novel adsorbent contactors and methods are disclosed herein for use in temperature swing adsorption for gas separation applications, as well as for heat exchange applications.

Abstract: A process for reducing the loss of valuable products by improving the overall recovery of a contaminant gas component in swing adsorption processes. The present invention utilizes at least two adsorption beds, in series, with separately controlled cycles to control the adsorption front and optionally to maximize the overall capacity of a swing adsorption process and to improve overall recovery a contaminant gas component from a feed gas mixture.