Abstract: A method of operating a continuous process employing solid catalyst particles by means of charging a feedstock to a reactor and contacting the feedstock with a dense-phase moving bed of catalyst particles at conversion conditions in a reactor. A hydrogen-rich gas containing unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds is recovered from the reactor effluent and at least a portion is contacted with a hydrogenation catalyst to hydrogenate the olefins. The resulting hydrogenated hydrogen-rich gaseous stream is heated and used to supply heat to a vessel containing solid catalyst particles which are preheated and subsequently introduced into the reactor.

Abstract: In an etherification process that uses an FCC effluent as a source of isoolefins, the buildup of nitriles in an alcohol-containing stream that is recycled to the etherification zone is prevented by dragging at least a portion of the methanol-containing stream to the FCC reaction zone. As a result, the etherification catalyst deactivation rate is reduced.

Abstract: The activity, selectivity and yield of a dehydrogenation process used to produce olefins from normal paraffin hydrocarbons having 2 to 5 carbon atoms per molecule is improved by the introduction of an essentially constant level of water into the inlet of two or more beds of dehydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane and butane in the presence of a catalyst comprising platinum and a carrier material. Reconditioning of catalyst particles containing platinum by transferring the catalyst particles through a combustion zone, a drying zone and a re-dispersion zone improves the process. Drying of the catalyst particles immediately after the combustion of coke improves the operation of a platinum re-dispersion zone. The lower moisture content in the re-dispersion zone allows the equilibrium reaction between hydrogen chloride and oxygen on the one hand, and water and chlorine on the other hand to be shifted to the production of chlorine. This shift of the equilibrium reaction can be further improved by maintaining an oxygen-enriched environment within the platinum re-dispersion zone. The use of a much lower chloride concentration in the re-dispersion zone reduces the emissions of hydrogen chloride from the regeneration zone.

Abstract: A process for reforming hydrocarbons has a regeneration process for reconditioning catalyst particles containing platinum that improves the process by transferring the catalyst particles through a combustion zone, a drying zone, a redispersion zone and a chloride uptake zone. Drying of the catalyst particles immediately after the combustion of coke improves the operation of a platinum redispersion zone and a chloride uptake zone. Separate platinum redispersion zones and chloride uptake zones are provided so that the dried catalyst that enters the platinum redispersion zone can be contacted with a high concentration of chlorine with a lower overall concentration of chloride compounds in the redispersion zone. The lower moisture content allows the equilibrium reaction between hydrogen chloride and oxygen on the one hand, and water and chlorine on the other hand to be shifted to the production of chlorine.

Abstract: A process for the dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane and butane in the presence of a catalyst comprising platinum and a carrier material. Reconditioning of catalyst particles containing platinum by transferring the catalyst particles through a combustion zone, a drying zone and a re-dispersion zone improves the process. Drying of the catalyst particles immediately after the combustion of coke improves the operation of a platinum re-dispersion zone. The lower moisture content in the re-dispersion zone allows the equilibrium reaction between hydrogen chloride and oxygen on the one hand, and water and chlorine on the other hand to be shifted to the production of chlorine. This shift of the equilibrium reaction can be further improved by maintaining an oxygen-enriched environment within the platinum re-dispersion zone. The use of a much lower chloride concentration in the re-dispersion zone reduces the emissions of hydrogen chloride from the regeneration zone.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons is disclosed. Paraffinic hydrocarbons are dehydrogenated to yield an olefin-containing stream, which is later charged to an alkylation zone for reaction with an aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of a solid alkylation catalyst. The olefin-containing stream is first passed through a selective hydrogenation zone in which diolefins are converted to monoolefins by contact with a selective catalyst. This increases the yield and the quality of the product alkylate by greatly reducing the production of biphenyl compounds and oligomers in the alkylation zone. Process efficiency is improved by passing unconverted paraffinic and monoolefinic hydrocarbons from the alkylation zone through another hydrogenation zone for the saturation of monoolefinic hydrocarbons and recycling the saturated stream to the dehydrogenation zone.

Abstract: A combination process for the conversion of C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 aliphatic hydrocarbons into easily transportable hydrocarbons of greater molecular weight. The combination process comprises converting the C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 aliphatic hydrocarbons to aromatic hydrocarbons in a dehydrocyclodimerization reaction zone after which the aromatic is directly hydrogenated in the presence of hydrogen from the dehydrocyclodimerization reaction step to produce large transportable aliphatic hydrocarbons. It is also an aspect of the invention that the hot hydrogenation reaction zone product stream is used to preheat the feed stream to the dehydrocyclodimerization reaction zone.

Abstract: An improved catalytic reforming process. The process is operated at high severity in order to obtain a reformate product having an enhanced octane rating. Higher octane reformate is required to compensate for the reduction or total elimination of lead-based additives used in motor gasoline for increasing octane rating, since reformate is a primary component of motor gasoline. High severity operation results in the formation of quantities of polycyclic aromatic compounds whose presence is highly undesirable. These compounds are removed from the vaporous products of the catalytic reforming process by adsorption on an appropriate material. It was totally unexpected to find that these very high molecular weight compounds are present in vapor streams comprised of hydrogen and light normally-gaseous hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, and propane.