Abstract: There is provided a process for the selective production of para-xylene which comprises reacting toluene with methanol in the presence of a catalyst comprising a porous crystalline material having a Diffusion Parameter for 2,2 dimethylbutane of about 0.1-15 sec−1 when measured at a temperature of 120° C. and a 2,2 dimethylbutane pressure of 60 torr (8 kPa). The porous crystalline material is preferably a medium-pore zeolite, particularly ZSM-5, which has been severely steamed at a temperature of at least 950° C. The porous crystalline material is preferably combined with at least one oxide modifier, preferably including phosphorus, to control reduction of the micropore volume of the material during the steaming step.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the selective production of para-xylene which comprises reacting toluene with methanol in the presence of a catalyst comprising a porous crystalline material having a Diffusion Parameter for 2,2 dimethylbutane of about 0.1-15 sec−1 when measured at a temperature of 120° C. and a 2,2 dimethylbutane pressure of 60 torr (8 kPa). The porous crystalline material is preferably a medium-pore zeolite, particularly ZSM-5, which has been severely steamed at a temperature of at least 950° C. The porous crystalline material is preferably combined with at least one oxide modifier, preferably including phosphorus, to control reduction of the micropore volume of the material during the steaming step.

Abstract: A system for controlling the humidity level of a fuel cell is provided. The system includes a fuel cell, a humidifier for humidifying the fuel cell, and a controller for determining the humidity level of the fuel cell and controlling the humidifier in response to the determined humidity level. The resistance of the fuel cell varies as a function of the humidity level of the fuel cell. Thus, in a preferred system, the controller calculates the resistance of the fuel cell via measurements of AC preferred voltage and current components to determine the humidity level of the fuel cell. A method for controlling the humidity level of a fuel cell is also provided. The steps of the method include: determining the humidity level of the fuel cell, and humidifying the fuel cell in response to the determined humidity level.

Abstract: There is provided a process for shape selective xylene methylation that involves contacting a feedstream which includes xylene and methanol under alkylation conditions, with a low activity catalyst. Xylene conversions of at least 15% at methanol utilization levels of 25% or greater are achieved by sequential injection of methanol The xylene methylation process has a selectivity for pseudocumene of over 85% and up to 99%, with a pseudocumene:durene ratio of up to 20 or more.

Abstract: Removing sulfur oxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide in a flue gas stream by combusting fuel in the combustor with a reduced amount of oxygen to convert all sulfur-containing species in the flue gas stream to sulfur oxide, and to partially convert carbon monoxide therein to carbon dioxide, thus forming a sulfur oxide enriched gas stream having between at least about 500 ppm carbon monoxide and a consequential reduced amount of nitrogen oxide. The sulfur oxide enriched gas stream is contacted with a solid adsorbent bed for adsorbing the sulfur oxides in the form of inorganic sulfates and/or sulfur oxides. The solid adsorbent contains a catalytic oxidation promoter for oxidizing the carbon monoxide gas stream to carbon dioxide, thus forming a sulfur oxide and carbon monoxide depleted stream with the consequential reduced amount of nitrogen oxide for disposal.

Abstract: Removing sulfur oxide and carbon monoxide in a flue gas stream by combusting fuel in the combustor with a reduced amount of oxygen to partially convert carbon monoxide therein to carbon dioxide and sufficient to convert all sulfur-containing species in the flue gas stream to sulfur oxide and thus form a sulfur oxide enriched gas stream having between at least about 500 ppm carbon monoxide. The sulfur oxide enriched gas stream is contacted with a solid adsorbent bed for adsorbing the sulfur oxides in the form of inorganic sulfates and/or sulfur oxides. The solid adsorbent contains a catalytic oxidation promoter for oxidizing the carbon monoxide gas stream to carbon dioxide, thus forming a sulfur oxide and carbon monoxide depleted stream for disposal. The adsorbent bed is then contacted with a reducing gas stream for regenerating the adsorbent bed to form a hydrogen sulfide and/or sulfur dioxide bearing stream.

Abstract: Oxides of nitrogen (NO.sub.x) emissions from an FCC regenerator are reduced by forcing the regenerator to operate between full and partial CO burn mode. Operating with less than 1 mole % O2 and up to 1 or 2% CO in the flue gas creates conditions which oxidize nitrogen compounds in coke on spent catalyst to NOx, and simultaneously convert NOx in the regenerator to nitrogen. A downstream CO boiler can burn this low CO flue gas without producing large amounts of NOx. Most NOx emissions can be eliminated. An apparatus, with the regenerator air:coke ratio controlled by both CO and O2 analyzers monitoring regenerator flue gas, is also disclosed.