Abstract: A carbon nanotube material that comprises carbon nanotubes, a magnesia support and a catalyst metal can be purified by contacting it with a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and water. At least some of the magnesia support is reacted to form water-soluble compounds.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for making carbon nanotubes from a flowing gaseous carbon-containing feedstock, such as CO, at superatmospheric pressure and at temperatures between about 500° C. and about 2000° C. utilizing a reactor wherein the flowing carbon-containing feedstock sequentially passes multiple points of catalyst injection, where the catalyst is provided by the decomposition of one or more catalyst precursor species, such as Fe(CO)5. In one embodiment, a catalyst cluster nucleation agency is employed to facilitate metal catalyst cluster formation. The reactor permits broad control over the reaction conditions, and enables addition of controlled amounts of catalyst over the length of the conduit reactor. The invention provides higher catalyst productivity because more catalyst precursor is used to form small active catalyst clusters versus forming catalyst clusters that grow along the reactor into large clusters, which are inactive for carbon nanotube production.

Abstract: A method for growing single-wall carbon nanotubes involves preparing a catalyst comprising catalytic metals, iron and molybdenum, and magnesium oxide support material and contacting the catalyst with a gaseous carbon-containing feedstock at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient contact time to make single-wall carbon nanotubes. The weight ratio of iron and molybdenum can range from about 2 to 1 to about 10 to 1 and the metals loading up to about 10 wt % of the MgO. The catalyst can be sulfided. Methane is a suitable carbon-containing feedstock. The process can be conducted in batch, continuous or semi-continuous modes, in reactors, such as a transport reactor, fluidized bed reactor, moving bed reactors and combinations thereof. The process also includes making single-wall carbon nanotubes with catalysts comprising at least one Group VIB or Group VIIIB metal on supports such as magnesia, zirconia, silica, and alumina, where the catalyst is sulfided.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a gas-phase method for producing high yields of single-wall carbon nanotubes with high purity and homogeneity. The method involves separating the step of catalyst cluster formation from initiation and growth of the single-wall carbon nanotubes. The method involves reacting catalyst precursors and forming catalyst clusters of the size desirable to promote initiation and growth of single-wall carbon nanotubes prior to mixing with a carbon-containing feedstock at a reaction temperature and pressure sufficient to produce single-wall carbon nanotubes. The catalyst cluster reactions may be initiated either by rapid heating or by photolysis by high energy electromagnetic radiation, such as a laser, or both. The carbon feedstock gas for single-wall carbon nanotube synthesis is preferably CO or methane, catalyzed by the catalyst clusters, preferably iron or a combination of iron and nickel.

Abstract: This invention provides a process to remove aromatic color bodies, particularly oxygen or sulfur containing aromatics from a C.sub.8-11 aromatic hydrocarbon stream having a boiling range between about 160.degree.-460.degree. F. The process involves contacting the hydrocarbon stream with a neutral attapulgite clay for a time sufficient to adsorb the aromatic color bodies. The process is effective in reducing the APHA color value of the subject hydrocarbon stream from an initial 850-1100 value to about 400 or less.

Abstract: A process for separating or stripping lighter components from a heavier hydrocarbon feedstock contaminated with or otherwise including light components. The separation is accomplished by introducing the feedstock into a column and allowing the feedstock to flow through the column, contacting a first stripping medium and a second stripping medium. The first stripping medium entrains the lighter components. The second stripping medium entrains the first stripping medium and any lighter components remaining in the feedstock. Preferred first stripping media include hydrogen, methane, propane, and other inert gas and preferred second stripping media include nitrogen and other inert gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing RCS from off-spec white mineral oil prepared by catalytic hydrogenation by filtering the off-spec white mineral oil through a bleaching clay, such as a smectite clay, particularly an acid treated montmorillonite clay, such as bentonite or attapulgite.

Abstract: A method of producing and upgrading crude oil in flowable form which is characterized by the steps of forming hydrogen from methane gas and hydrogenating only a portion of the crude oils and produce a less viscous bottom stream that is then admixed with the remainder of the crude to form a flowable crude and transporting the flow of crude to a refinery.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of converting light hydrocarbons to olefins, gasoline and methanol. In the first stage, a gas containing one or more light hydrocarbons is synthesized to higher hydrocarbons including raw gasoline. However, at commercially acceptable selectivities using currently available catalyst, a majority of the light hydrocarbons remain unsynthesized. In addition, the synthesis produces significant quantities of carbon dioxide and some carbon monoxide. In this method the unsynthesized light hydrocarbons and the oxides of carbon are used to produce methanol, which can be used for several purposes including gasoline or ethylene synthesis.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for hydroconverting a hydrocarbon chargestock having the steps of: heating the chargestock to produce a minor amount of coke; contacting the coke within the chargestock with a minor effective amount of an oil-soluble metal compound, the metal being selected from the group consisting of Groups IV-B, V-B, VI-B, VII-B, and VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements, and mixtures thereof; contacting the metal compound and the coke within the chargestock with a hydrogen-containing gas under conditions to produce a solid catalyst within the chargestock capable of promoting hydroconversion of at least a portion of the chargestock; contacting the chargestock containing the catalyst with hydrogen under hydroconversion conditions; and recovering a hydroconverted substantially-hydrocarbon product.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon hydroconversion process is disclosed which comprises:combining the chargestock and a minor, effective amount of at least one molybdenum compound prepared by a method which comprises interacting molybdenum metal with at least one peroxy compound in the presence of at least one saturated alcohol having from one to four carbon atoms per molecule to solubilize at least a portion of the molybdenum metal;contacting the molybdenum compound within the chargestock in the presence of a gas selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen-containing gas, a hydrogen sulfide-containing gas, and a gas comprising hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide, at conditions to produce a solid catalyst within the chargestock capable of promoting the hydroconversion of at least a portion of the chargestock;contacting the chargestock containing the catalyst with hydrogen under hydroconversion conditions to hydroconvert at least a portion of the chargestock; andrecovering a hydroconverted hydrocarbon product.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for distributing a generally downwardly flowing liquid-vapor mixture through a bed of solid particles comprising:(1) a tray deck located above said bed of solid particles;(2) at least one hollow chimney member in fluid communication with said bed of solid particles attached to said tray deck and extending upwardly from said tray deck, said chimney member having at least one aperture through said chimney member along the length of said chimney member below the top opening of said chimney member to provide fluid communication between the space above said tray deck and the hollow space of said chimney member; and(3) plate means located at a distance D above the top opening of said chimney member whereby said mixture is restricted from flowing directly into the top opening of said chimney member.An improved process for distributing a generally downwardly flowing liquid-vapor mixture is disclosed as well as an improved process for hydrocarbon conversion.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing particulate impurities from a fluid stream flowing into a bed of discrete solid elements, such as a bed of catalyst particles. An improved basket design is provided which maximizes the use of the bed and the mesh area of the basket to remove the particulate impurities in such a manner that the cycle life of the bed of catalyst particles or the like is extended.