Abstract: A process combination is disclosed to selectively upgrade naphtha to obtain gasoline which is in accordance with current standards for reformulated fuels. A naphtha feedstock is fractionated to selectively direct light naphtha to isomerization or blending, a head-cut fraction to reforming, and a heavy potion to selective isoparaffin synthesis to yield light and heavy synthesis naphtha and isobutane. The heavy potion of the synthesis naphtha is processed by reforming. Light naphtha may be isomerized, with or without recycle of low-octane components of the product. A gasoline component is blended from light, synthesis, and reformate products from the process combination.

Abstract: A process combination is disclosed to selectively upgrade catalytically cracked gasoline to obtain products suitable for further upgrading to reformulated fuels. A naphtha feedstock, preferably heavy naphtha, is hydrogenated to saturate aromatics, followed by selective isoparaffin synthesis to yield light and heavy synthesis naphtha and isobutane. The heavy synthesis naphtha may be processed by reforming, light naphtha may be isomerized, and isobutane may be upgraded by dehydrogenation, etherification and/or alkylation to yield gasoline components from the process combination suitable for production of reformulated gasoline.

Abstract: A process combination is disclosed to selectively upgrade naphtha to obtain products suitable for further upgrading to reformulated fuels. A naphtha feedstock is hydrogenated to saturate aromatics, followed by selective isoparaffin synthesis to yield light and heavy naphtha and isobutane. The heavy naphtha may be processed by reforming, light naphtha may be isomerized, and isobutane may be upgraded by dehydrogenation, etherification and/or alkylation to yield gasoline components from the process combination suitable for production of reformulated gasoline.

Abstract: A process combination is disclosed to reduce the aromatics content and increase the oxygen content of a key component of gasoline blends. A naphtha feedstock having a boiling range usually suitable as catalytic-reforming feed is processed by selective isoparaffin synthesis to yield lower-molecular weight hydrocarbons including a high yield of isobutane. The isobutane is processed to yield an ether component by dehydrogenation and etherification. The cracked light naphtha may be upgraded by isomerization. The heavier portion of the cracked naphtha is processed in a reformer. A gasoline component containing oxygen as ether and having a reduced aromatics content and increased volumetric yield relative to reformate of the same octane number is blended from the net products of the above processing steps. The process combination is particularly suited for use in an existing refinery.

Abstract: A process combination is disclosed to reduce the aromatics content and increase the oxygen content of a key component of gasoline blends. A naphtha feedstock having a boiling range usually suitable as catalytic-reforming feed is processed by selective isoparaffin synthesis to yield lower-molecular weight hydrocarbons including a high yield of isobutane. A portion of the isobutane is processed to yield an ether component by dehydrogenation to yield isobutene followed by etherification. Part of the isobutane and isobutene are alkylated to produce an alkylate component. The synthesis light naphtha may be upgraded by isomerization. The heavier portion of the synthesis naphtha is processed in a reformer. A gasoline component containing oxygen as ether and having a reduced aromatics content and increased volumetric yield relative to reformate of the same octane number is blended from the net products of the above processing steps.

Abstract: Metal migration from molecular sieve particles to binder particles in agglomerates of molecular sieves bearing group VIII zerovalent metal occurs readily at temperatures above 350.degree. C. Such migration can seriously impair the performance of the catalyst whose effectiveness depends on the presence of the metal largely, if not exclusively, on the molecular sieve particle. Exposure of the catalyst, or a catalyst precursor, to temperatures facilitating group VIII metal migration can occur at various periods during the catalyst's history. Group VIII metal migration can be inhibited and often effectively prevented when chlorine or a chlorine-containing compound is present in the non-reducing atmosphere at temperatures which otherwise would bring about metal migration.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for reducing benzene and toluene content in light gasoline streams comprising benzene or benzene and toluene but comprising substantially no other aromatic-hydrocarbons. The light gasoline streams may be prepared by distillation of full boiling range gasoline streams from catalytic reforming or fluidized-bed catalytic cracking units. High alkylating agent to benzene ratios are utilized in the presence of a solid alkylation catalyst to achieve a benzene conversion of 70% of more in a single pass through the reaction zone. Alkylating agent is simultaneously injected into the alkylation zone at two or more separate injection points to minimize undersirable side reactions. The alkylation product may be recovered and blended with other gasoline components to produce automotive fuel which is low in benzene content and high octane in rating.

Abstract: The activity and stability of a catalyst are enhanced by substantially precluding water contact between a catalyst finishing step and startup of a process unit utilizing the catlayst. Water is precluded from contacting the catalyst during catalyst finishing and loading at the fabrication site, transportation to the conversion site, and loading, activation, and startup in the reactors of the process unit.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for the isomerization of a non-equilibrium mixture of cresols to achieve a high yield of one or more cresol isomers using a catalyst comprising a Group VIII metal, a modifier, a pentasil zeolite, and an inorganic oxide binder.

Abstract: An improved catalyst is disclosed for the conversion of aromatic hydrocarbons which comprise a Group VIII metal, lead, a pentasil zeolite, and an inorganic oxide binder, wherein 80-100% of the Group VIII metal and 60-100% of the lead are contained on the binder. An alkylaromatic isomerization process also is disclosed which is particularly effective for the conversion of ethylbenzene without substantial loss of xylenes.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock is catalytically reformed in a process which comprises contacting the feedstock in an initial catalyst zone with a catalyst comprising platinum, germanium and halogen on a solid catalyst support. The product from the first catalyst zone is contacted in a terminal catalyst zone with a catalyst having the essential absence of germanium and comprising platinum, halogen and a metal promoter on a solid catalyst support.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock is catalytically reformed in a process which comprises contacting the feedstock in a first catalyst zone with a catalyst consisting essentially of platinum, germanium and halogen on a solid catalyst support. The product from the first catalyst zone is contacted in a second catalyst zone with a catalyst comprising platinum, germanium, halogen and a metal promoter on a solid catalyst support.

Abstract: A novel trimetallic catalytic composite, a method of manufacture and process use thereof is disclosed. The composite comprises a refractory support having a nominal diameter of at least 650 microns and having deposited thereon a uniformly dispersed platinum component, a uniformly dispersed Group IVA metal component and a surface-impregnated metal or metal-containing component selected from the group consisting of rhodium, ruthenium, cobalt, nickel, or iridium. When this catalytic composite is used in the reforming of hydrocarbons at low pressures, significant improvement in activity stability is observed compared to catalysts of the prior art.

Abstract: This invention relates to a catalytic composite for treating an exhaust gas comprising a support which is a refractory inorganic oxide having dispersed thereon lanthanum, at least one other rare earth component and at least one noble metal component selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and iridium. An essential feature of said catalytic composite is that the lanthanum be present as crystalline particles of lanthanum oxide which have an average crystallite size of less than about 25 Angstroms. The support may be selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, titania, zirconia, aluminosilicates and mixtures thereof with alumina being preferred. Illustrative of the other rare earth components are cerium, neodymium, praeseodymium, dysprosium, europium, holmium and ytterbium. An important feature in manufacturing the catalytic composite is the dispersion of lanthanum oxide onto said refractory inorganic oxide support.

Abstract: An improved catalyst is disclosed for the conversion of aromatic hydrocarbons which comprises a Group VIII metal, lead, a pentasil zeolite, and an inorganic oxide binder, wherein 80-100% of the Group VIII metal and 60-100% of the lead are contained on the binder. An alkylaromatic isomerization process also is disclosed which is particularly effective for the conversion of ethylbenzene without substantial loss of xylenes.

Abstract: This invention presents a process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes containing ethylbenzene, using a novel catalyst formulation comprising at least one Group VIII metal, a gallium-substituted pentasil zeolite and a matrix material of zirconia-alumina.

Abstract: An improved catalyst for the isomerization of non-equilibrium C.sub.8 aromatics is presented which utilizes a novel catalytic composition. This catalyst comprises a Group VIII metal component, a bismuth component, and crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio of at least 12. An isomerization process is also disclosed which has a particular utility for the conversion of ethylbenzene without the deleterious loss of xylene.

Abstract: An improved process for the isomerization of non-equilibrium C.sub.8 aromatics is presented which utilizes a novel catalytic composition. This catalyst comprises a Group VIII metal component, a bismuth component, and crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio of at least 12. This isomerization process has a particular utility for the conversion of ethylbenzene without the deleterious loss of xylene.

Abstract: An improved reforming process utilizing a novel trimetallic catalytic composite is disclosed. The composite comprises a refractory support having a nominal diameter of at least 650 microns and having deposited thereon a uniformly dispersed platinum component, a uniformly dispersed Group IVA metal component and a surface-impregnated metal component selected from the group consisting of rhdoium, ruthenium, cobalt, nickel, or iridium. When this catalytic composite is used in the reforming of hydrocarbons at low pressures, significant improvements in activity and stability are observed compared to catalysts of the prior art.

Abstract: An isomerization catalyst is prepared by a novel method of incorporating magnesium into a crystalline aluminosilicate. The catalyst comprises an alumina matrix, a magnesium-containing zeolite, and a Group VIII metal component. It has been found that the method of magnesium addition can dramatically affect the selectivity to para-xylene, as measured by the loss of C.sub.8 aromatics due to undesirable side-reactions during the isomerization of C.sub.8 aromatics. The method of the instant invention involves addition of the magnesium to a hydrogel comprising pseudo-boehmite and a zeolite.