Abstract: Bubble columns fractionate with vapor-liquid mass transfer efficiencies approaching that of distillation towers when vapor velocities in excess of 50% of jet flood are used. If the vapor velocities are pushed above about 70% of jet flood then the distillation performance of a given column packing becomes similar for both liquid continuous operation (bubble column mode) and vapor continuous operation (ordinary distillation tower mode).

Abstract: A process for the isomerization of heptane preferably contained within a naphtha stream is disclosed wherein the naphtha is stripped of the butanes and the pentanes and hexanes are removed for isomerization. The heptanes and heavier are fed to a distillation column reactor containing an isomerization catalyst where the normal heptane is isomerized to mono and di branched heptane and removed as overheads. The cyclic heptanes and heavier are removed as bottoms and for feed to a catalytic reforming process.

Abstract: Bubble columns fractionate with vapor-liquid mass transfer efficiencies approaching that of distillation towers when vapor velocities in excess of 50% of jet flood are used. If the vapor velocities are pushed above about 70% of jet flood then the distillation performance of a given column packing becomes similar for both liquid continuous operation (bubble column mode) and vapor continuous operation (ordinary distillation tower mode).

Abstract: Cumene and secondary butyl benzene are produced simultaneously in a distillation column reactor by feeding propylene, butylene and benzene to the reactor. Unreacted benzene is removed as overheads and cumene and secondary butyl benzene are removed as products. The catalysts used are acid cation exchange resins, zeolites, particularly beta zeolite.

Abstract: A process for the reduction of naphthalene in process streams containing alkylaromatic solvents. Naphthalene is contacted with alkylbenzenes in a distillation column reactor in the presence of transalkylation catalyst to produce alkylnaphthalenes which are concurrently separated by fractional distillation as bottoms and the alkylbenzenes are separated as overheads.

Abstract: Bubble columns fractionate with vapor-liquid mass transfer efficiencies approaching that of distillation towers when vapor velocities in excess of 50% of jet flood are used. If the vapor velocities are pushed above about 70% of jet flood then the distillation performance of a given column packing becomes similar for both liquid continuous operation (bubble column mode) and vapor continuous operation (ordinary distillation tower mode).

Abstract: A process for the alkylation of alkane with olefin or olefin precursor such as an oligomer of tertiary olefin comprising contacting a liquid system comprising acid catalyst, isoparaffin and olefin in concurrent downflow into contact in a reaction zone with a disperser mesh under conditions of temperature and pressure to react said isoparaffin and said olefin to produce an alkylate product is disclosed. Preferably, the liquid system is maintained at about its boiling point in the reaction zone. Unexpectedly, the olefin oligomers have been found to function as olefin precursors and not as olefins in the reaction. Thus, for example, a cold acid alkylation using an oligomer of isobutene (principally dimer and trimer) with isobutane produces isooctane with the isobutane reacting with the constituent isobutene units of the oligomers on a molar basis. The product isooctane is essentially the same as that produced in the conventional cold acid process.

Abstract: A process for the production of gasoline stocks wherein lower molecular weight olefins are first oligomerized and the oligomers then hydrogenated. In the first instance the oligomerization is carried out in a single pass fixed bed boiling point reactor. The oligomers are then hydrogenated in a distillation column reactor.

Abstract: Alkenes, such as normal butenes in a mixed C4 stream are oligomerized, preferably to dimers, which are dimerized in a distillation column reactor over ZSM-57 zeolite catalyst at high conversions and high selectivity to octenes. Prior to oligomerization the mixed C4 stream is pretreated to remove dimethyl ether, butadienes and sulfur compounds.