Abstract: A method for assessing the condition of an oil using a portable computer coupled to a camera comprises: separating wear particles from a sample of the oil; capturing an image of the separated wear particles using the camera; and analysing the image and generating information about the condition of the oil using the portable computer. The method may be used for tracking the condition of an oil in a machine over a period of time. The methods are particularly useful for assessing the condition of an industrial oil e.g. a lubricating oil that has been used to lubricate moving parts in a machine.

Abstract: A method for assessing the condition of an oil using a portable computer coupled to a camera comprises: separating wear particles from a sample of the oil; capturing an image of the separated wear particles using the camera; and analysing the image and generating information about the condition of the oil using the portable computer. The method may be used for tracking the condition of an oil in a machine over a period of time. The methods are particularly useful for assessing the condition of an industrial oil e.g. a lubricating oil that has been used to lubricate moving parts in a machine.

Abstract: A lubricating composition comprising a base oil of lubricating viscosity and one or more lubricant additives, wherein the base oil comprises or consists of a base stock which comprises or consists of at least one isoprenoid compound comprising: (i) one or two oxygen-containing moieties independently selected from ether and ester moieties; (ii) a first acyclic isoprenoid moiety containing 1 to 5 isoprenyl units; and (iii) optionally, a second acyclic isoprenoid moiety containing 1 to 5 isoprenyl units with the proviso that at least one isoprenoid moiety contains 3 to 5 isoprenyl units where the isoprenoid compound contains a single ether moiety.

Abstract: A lubricating composition comprising a base oil of lubricating viscosity and one or more lubricant additives, wherein the base oil comprises or consists of a base stock which comprises or consists of at least one isoprenoid compound comprising: (i) one or two oxygen-containing moieties independently selected from ether and ester moieties; (ii) a first acyclic isoprenoid moiety containing 1 to 5 isoprenyl units; and (iii) optionally, a second acyclic isoprenoid moiety containing 1 to 5 isoprenyl units with the proviso that at least one isoprenoid moiety contains 3 to 5 isoprenyl units where the isoprenoid compound contains a single ether moiety.

Abstract: A catalyst and/or precatalyst for olefin oligomerization comprising one or more coordination complexes having one or more central palladium metal atoms. Each palladium atom is bonded to four ligand donor atoms. Two of the donor atoms are group 16 elements and two of the donor atoms are group 15 elements. Also provided are neutral or cationic coordination complex dimers, so that the two palladium atoms are both bonded to one or two donor atoms from group 16, and each palladium atom is bonded to two donor atoms from group 15. In some instances, each of the two group 16 donor atoms are oxygen and each of the four group 15 donor atoms are nitrogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing methanol and ethanol, wherein the methanol is produced from synthesis gas and the ethanol is produced via the hydrogenation of an ethanoic acid feed; characterized in that the hydrogenation of the ethanoic acid feed is carried out within the same alcohol synthesis unit and in the presence of the same catalyst(s) that is used to produce the methanol from the synthesis gas and wherein the feed introduced to the alcohol synthesis unit comprises synthesis gas and ethanoic acid.

Abstract: A catalyst and/or precatalyst for olefin oligomerization comprising one or more coordination complexes having one or more central palladium metal atoms. Each palladium atom is bonded to four ligand donor atoms. Two of the donor atoms are group 16 elements and two of the donor atoms are group 15 elements. Also provided are neutral or cationic coordination complex dimers, so that the two palladium atoms are both bonded to one or two donor atoms from group 16, and each palladium atom is bonded to two donor atoms from group 15. In some instances, each of the two group 16 donor atoms are oxygen and each of the four group 15 donor atoms are nitrogen.

Abstract: Process for reducing the methane selectivity in a Fischer-Tropsch conversion of syngas to hydrocarbons, by using a catalyst composition containing (i) cobalt, either as the elemental metal, oxide, or a compound thermally decomposable to the elemental metal or oxide, (ii) zinc, in the form of the oxide or a compound thermally decomposable to the oxide, and (iii) platinum, in the elemental metal form, or in the form of a compound wherein the amount of platinum metal present in the composition is in the range 0.0001 to 1.50% w/w.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing methanol and ethanol, wherein the methanol is produced from synthesis gas and the ethanol is produced via the hydrogenation of an ethanoic acid feed; characterised in that the hydrogenation of the ethanoic acid feed is carried out within the same alcohol synthesis unit and in the presence of the same catalyst(s) that is used to produce the methanol from the synthesis gas and wherein the feed introduced to the alcohol synthesis unit comprises synthesis gas and ethanoic acid.

Abstract: Process for the production of a condensed-phase product from one or more gas-phase reactants, by feeding one or more reactants into a reactor, in which reactor the one or more reactants react in the gas-phase in the presence of a solid catalyst having one or more catalyst components to produce at least one product which is in a condensed-phase under reaction conditions. The solid catalyst is present as a bed having two or more regions in which the contact time of the one or more gas-phase reactants with the one or more catalyst components is different.

Abstract: A composition for use as a catalyst or catalyst precursor for the conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons said composition comprises (i) cobalt either as the elemental metal, oxide or a compound thermally decomposable to the elemental metal or oxide and (ii) zinc in the form of the oxide or a compound thermally decomposable to the oxide and (iii) platinum in elemental form or in the form of a compound characterised in that the platinum metal is present in the composition in amount in the range 0.0001 to 1.50% w/w. The compositions show improved activity over a wide temperature range than prior art compositions and also exhibit improved methane selectivity.

Abstract: A process for producing at least one condensed-phase product from one or more gas-phase reactants in the presence of a solid catalyst having one or more catalyst components, wherein the solid catalyst has two or more regions in which the contact time of the one or more gas-phase reactants with the one or more catalyst components is different. On one embodiment this is achieved by the solid catalyst having two or more regions in which the cross-sectional area and volume of each region is different. In another embodiment, this is achieved by the solid catalyst having regions with different concentrations of the one or more catalyst components.

Abstract: A process for the liquid phase carbonylation of an alcohol and/or a reactive derivative thereof in the presence of hydrogen in which there is employed a catalyst comprising rhodium of iridium coordinated with a polydentate ligand.

Abstract: A process for the production of a carboxylic acid and/or the alcohol ester of a carboxylic acid by carbonylating an alcohol and/or a reactive derivative thereof with carbon monoxide employing as the carbonylation catalyst, cobalt, rhodium or iridium coordinated with a tridentate ligand.

Abstract: A process for the liquid phase carbonylation of an alcohol and/or a reactive derivative thereof in the presence of hydrogen in which there is employed a catalyst comprising rhodium of iridium coordinated with a polydentate ligand.

Abstract: A process for the production of a carboxylic acid and/or the alcohol ester of a carboxylic acid by carbonylating an alcohol and/or a reactive derivative thereof with carbon monoxide employing as the carbonylation catalyst, cobalt, rhodium or iridium coordinated with a tridentate ligand.

Abstract: Acetic acid is produced by oxidation of methane with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of an acid selected from concentrated sulfuric acid and fuming sulfuric acid, a palladium-containing catalyst and a promoter, preferably a copper or iron salt. The addition of a promoter and O2 to a system that includes a palladium-containing catalyst such as PdCl2 increases the rate of acetic acid formation from methane by more than an order of magnitude as compared with prior art and, in addition, inhibits the precipitation of Pd black.

Abstract: Acetic acid is produced by oxidation of methane with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of an acid selected from concentrated sulfuric acid and fuming sulfuric acid, a palladium-containing catalyst and a promoter, preferably a copper or iron salt. The addition of a promoter and O2 to a system that includes a palladium-containing catalyst such as PdCl2 increases the rate of acetic acid formation from methane by more than an order of magnitude as compared with prior art and, in addition, inhibits the precipitation of Pd black.

Abstract: Acetyl anhydrides such as acetyl sulfate are produced by a process for comprising contacting methane and carbon dioxide in an anhydrous environment in the presence of effective amounts of a transition metal catalyst and a reaction promoter, and an acid anhydride compound, and optionally an acid. The acetyl anhydride can be contacted with water to produce acetic acid or with an alcohol to produce a product comprising an acetate ester and that may also comprise acetic acid. Optionally, water in stoichiometric amounts or less, with respect to the acetic anhydride, may be fed to a continuous process of this type to produce some acetic acid in situ.

Abstract: Acetyl anhydrides such as acetyl sulfate are produced by a process for comprising contacting methane and carbon dioxide in an anhydrous environment in the presence of effective amounts of a transition metal catalyst and a reaction promoter, and an acid anhydride compound, and optionally an acid. The acetyl anhydride can be contacted with water to produce acetic acid or with an alcohol to produce a product comprising an acetate ester and that may also comprise acetic acid. Optionally, water in stoichiometric amounts or less, with respect to the acetic anhydride, may be fed to a continuous process of this type to produce some acetic acid in situ.