Abstract: A process and a system for increasing para-xylene production from a C8 aromatic feedstream by coupling at least one xylene isomerization reactor with at least one pressure swing adsorption unit or temperature swing absorption unit to produce a product having a super-equilibrium para-xylene concentration. This product is then subjected to para-xylene separation and purification.

Abstract: Layers comprising a molecular sieve layer on a porous or non-porous support, having uniform properties and allowing high flux are prepared from colloidal solutions of zeolite or other molecular sieve precursors (particle size less than 100 nm), by deposition, e.g., by spin or dip-coating, or by in situ crystallization.

Abstract: A process and a system for increasing para-xylene production from a C8 aromatic feedstream by coupling at least one xylene isomerization reactor with at least one pressure swing adsorption unit or temperature swing absorption unit to produce a product having a super-equilibrium para-xylene concentration. This product is then subjected to para-xylene separation and purification.

Abstract: Methods are described for the characterization of microporous membranes such as crystalline molecular sieve membranes. The methods are based on the exposure of a membrane to a non-condensable inert gas e.g. helium, which may be transported through selective and non-selective pathways within the membrane, while at the same time exposing the membrane to increasing partial pressures of a condensable material in the form of a vapor or a gas. The condensable material may also be transported through the selective and non-selective pathways in the membrane. The condensable material progressively fills the pathways of the membrane and progressively attenuates the permeance of the non-condensable inert gas allowing detection and determination of non-selective pathways in the membrane.

Abstract: A process and a system for increasing para-xylene production from a C8 aromatic feedstream by coupling at least one xylene isomerization reactor with at least one pressure swing adsorption unit or temperature swing absorption unit to produce a product having a super-equilibrium para-xylene concentration. This product is then subjected to para-xylene separation and purification.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement in a separation process. When molecular sieve membranes are used in a separation process transport flux decays over time. It has been discovered that the presence of hydrogen in the feed stream, permeate stream, or feed stream when present, either alone or in combination, causes a reduction in flux decay.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a new zeolite membrane which exhibits a columnar cross-sectional morphology and preferred crystallographic orientation comprising a porous substrate having coated thereon a mesoporous growth enhancing layer and a layer of columnar zeolite crystals on said mesoporous growth enhancing layer, and wherein said mesoporous growth enhancing layer comprises nanocrystalline or colloidal sized zeolites, nanocrystalline or colloidal zeolite and metal oxide, or nanocrystalline or colloidal zeolite and colloidal metal, or nanocrystalline or colloidal zeolite, colloidal metal and metal oxide, and wherein said mesoporous growth enhancing layer has interstices of about 20 to about 2000 .ANG., and wherein said columnar zeolite layer is a polycrystalline layer wherein 99.9% of said columnar zeolite crystals have at least one point between adjacent crystals that is .ltoreq.20 .ANG..

Abstract: Membranes useful in separating moleculres or catalytic conversions comprise a substrate, a zeolite or zeolite-like layer, a selectivity enhancing coating in contact with the zeolite layer and optionally a permeable intermediate layer in contact with the substrate the zeolite layer being in contact either with the substrate or the optional intermediate layer.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed toward a process for enhancing the permselective properties, selectively sealing defects and pinholes, controllably altering the pore size and stabilizing the permselective properties of articles having apperatures therein comprising the steps of: simultaneously contacting an article having a first and second surface, said first and second surfaces being capable of passing ozone and silicon compounds therethrough and said first and second surfaces being oriented such that said silicon compounds and ozone can react across said first and second surfaces, with ozone on said first surface and a silicon compound on said second surface and wherein said contacting is conducted for a time and at a temperature and pressure sufficient to allow said ozone and said silicon compound to form a silicon oxide.