Abstract: Disclosed are methods for treating an ethylene oxide stream suitable for use in carbonylation reactions. Such treatment uses an inorganic solid to remove water from the ethylene oxide stream. Discloses are also systems to carry out the methods herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are absorbent polymers produced from beta-propiolactone, and methods and systems of producing such polymers. The beta-propiolactone may be derived from ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide. The absorbent polymer may be bio-based and/or biodegradable. The absorbent polymers may be used for diapers, adult incontinence products, and feminine hygiene products, as well as for agricultural applications.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for treating an ethylene oxide stream suitable for use in carbonylation reactions. Such treatment uses an inorganic solid to remove water from the ethylene oxide stream. Discloses are also systems to carry out the methods herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are absorbent polymers produced from beta-propiolactone, and methods and systems of producing such polymers. The beta-propiolactone may be derived from ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide. The absorbent polymer may be bio-based and/or biodegradable. The absorbent polymers may be used for diapers, adult incontinence products, and feminine hygiene products, as well as for agricultural applications.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems, and methods of using such systems, for producing acrylic acid from ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide on an industrial scale. The production system/production process has various unit operations, including, for example, a ?-propiolactone production system/production process configured to produce ?-propiolactone from ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide; a polypropiolactone production system/production process configured to produce polypropiolactone from ?-propiolactone; and a glacial acrylic acid production system/production process configured to produce acrylic acid with a high purity by thermolysis of polypropiolactone.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device for an electrochemical conversion assembly. In one embodiment, the electrochemical conversion assembly is a fuel cell system. The device includes one or more fluid-manipulating components combined into a housing to minimize weight, size and complexity. In one form, the device may include a compressor, heat exchanger and a water vapor transfer unit, at least the latter two of which are located within a chamber defined by the housing. A controller can be used to monitor and selectively vary the extent to which at least one of these components modifies properties a fluid (such as air) that can be used as a reactant in the electrochemical conversion assembly. In a particular form, the heat exchanger and water vapor transfer unit can cooperate to promote the hydration of the reactant.

Abstract: A stand-alone fuel processor (10) for producing hydrogen from a hydrocarbon fuel for a fuel cell engine in a vehicle. The fuel processor (10) includes a primary reactor (14) that dissociates hydrogen and other by-products from the hydrocarbon fuel as a reformate gas. The reformate gas is applied to a WGS reactor (48) to convert carbon monoxide and water to hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The WGS reactor (14) may include an adsorbent for adsorbing carbon monoxide. The reformate gas from the WGS reactor (48) is then sent to a rapid-cycle PSA device (12) for adsorbing the undesirable by-products in the gas and generates a stream of pure hydrogen. A liquid water separator (70) separates water from the reformate gas before it is applied to the PSA device (12). The PSA device (12) uses a portion of the separated hydrogen as a desorbing gas to purify the adsorbent in the PSA device (12). The by-products of the reformate gas can be used as a fuel in a combustor (30) that generates heat for the primary reactor (14).

Abstract: A PSA unit for purifying hydrogen in a fuel processor system. The PSA unit employs rotary valves that cycle the pressurization of vessels, including an adsorbent, between a high pressure state and a low pressure state. The purified hydrogen is released from the vessels through a purified gas output port when the vessels are in the high pressure state and the impurities are released through an exhaust port when the vessels are in the low pressure state. The PSA unit also employs a mass flow control device and a pressure sensor in the purified gas output port. A controller receives a pressure signal from the pressure sensor, and controls the flow through the mass flow control device and the speed of the rotary valves so that the proper pressure is maintained at the hydrogen output port.

Abstract: A stand-alone fuel processor (10) for producing hydrogen from a hydrocarbon fuel for a fuel cell engine in a vehicle. The fuel processor (10) includes a primary reactor (14) that dissociates hydrogen and other by-products from the hydrocarbon fuel as a reformate gas. The reformate gas is applied to a WGS reactor (48) to convert carbon monoxide and water to hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The WGS reactor (14) may include an adsorbent for adsorbing carbon monoxide. The reformate gas from the WGS reactor (48) is then sent to a rapid-cycle PSA device (12) for adsorbing the undesirable by-products in the gas and generates a stream of pure hydrogen. A liquid water separator (70) separates water from the reformate gas before it is applied to the PSA device (12). The PSA device (12) uses a portion of the separated hydrogen as a desorbing gas to purify the adsorbent in the PSA device (12). The by-products of the reformate gas can be used as a fuel in a combustor (30) that generates heat for the primary reactor (14).