Abstract: A process for the continuous isomerization of an alkane to produce an isomerized product through contacting the alkane with a simulated moving bed acting as a catalyst for isomerization and an adsorbent for the alkanes has been developed. The alkane may be n-butane and the isomerized product 2-methylpropane, the alkane may be n-pentane and the isomerized product 2-methylbutane or 2,2-dimethylpropane, the alkane may have from 6 up to about 8 carbon atoms with no more than one methyl branch and the isomerized product having the same number of carbon atoms and at least two methyl branches, or the reactant may be a mixture of the foregoing alkanes with the corresponding isomerized products being formed. In a zone of the simulated moving bed, the alkanes are catalytically isomerized to form the isomerized products. The unreacted alkanes are adsorbed, and the isomerized products are collected.

Abstract: A process for the continuous isomerization of an alkane to produce an isomerized product through contacting the alkane with a simulated moving bed acting as a catalyst for isomerization and an adsorbent for the alkanes has been developed. The alkane may be n-butane and the isomerized product 2-methylpropane, the alkane may be n-pentane and the isomerized product 2-methylbutane or 2,2-dimethylpropane, the alkane may have from 6 up to about 8 carbon atoms with no more than one methyl branch and the isomerized product having the same number of carbon atoms and at least two methyl branches, or the reactant may be a mixture of the foregoing alkanes with the corresponding isomerized products being formed. In a zone of the simulated moving bed, the alkanes are catalytically isomerized to form the isomerized products. The unreacted alkanes are adsorbed, and the isomerized products are collected.

Abstract: A two-stage process for effecting a chemical reaction has been developed. The reactants are contacted with a first stage fixed catalyst bed containing a solid catalyst or mixture of catalysts effective to catalyze the reaction and form a mixture of reactants and products. This reaction mixture and a desorbent are then contacted with a second stage simulated moving bed containing a solid or a mixture of solids effective to catalyze the reaction and to selectively adsorb at least one component from the reaction mixture. At least one product-containing stream is formed and collected. The process may be conducted in the liquid phase or in the vapor phase.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for separating at least a first component from a second component of at least a first stream within a single vessel having at least one distillation zone and an adsorption zone. The invention may be applied to separates an alcohol from a mixture of the alcohol and water, such as separating isopropyl alcohol from a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water. The invention may be applied to more complex systems such as separating isopropyl alcohol and separating diisopropyl ether from the effluents of each reactor of a two-stage diisopropyl ether production process. The benefit of the invention is a high purity separation process at reduced capital equipment costs.

Abstract: The present invention is a single vessel apparatus for separating at least a first component from a second component of a process stream. The apparatus has a vertically-elongated vessel which contains a plurality of vertically spaced apart distillation contactors for vapor and liquid distillation and an adsorbent-retaining volume defined at least in part by a solids-impermeable member located above the contactors for passing a fluid into the retaining volume. The apparatus also contains a mechanism for adding adsorbent above the solids-impermeable member and a mechanism for withdrawing adsorbent particles from the retaining volume to contact the fluid with adsorbent particles and to provide at least intermittent downward gravity flow of adsorbent particles through the retaining volume and to selectively adsorb a portion of the fluid.

Abstract: A process for the continuous isomerization of an alkane to produce an isomerized product through contacting the alkane with a simulated moving bed acting as a catalyst for isomerization and an adsorbent for the alkanes has been developed. The alkane may be n-butane and the isomerized product 2-methylpropane, the alkane may be n-pentane and the isomerized product 2-methylbutane or 2,2-dimethylpropane, the alkane may have from 6 up to about 8 carbon atoms with no more than one methyl branch and the isomerized product having the same number of carbon atoms and at least two methyl branches, or the reactant may be a mixture of the foregoing alkanes with the corresponding isomerized products being formed. In a zone of the simulated moving bed, the alkanes are catalytically isomerized to form the isomerized products. The unreacted alkanes are adsorbed, and the isomerized products are collected.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons such as isobutane and benzenes are alkylated using a solid catalyst in a process which simulates the cocurrent movement of the catalyst bed versus the reactants. This has been found to greatly reduce the rate of catalyst deactivation compared to simulated countercurrent flow. The process may be performed using five or more beds of catalyst, with two undergoing regeneration at any one time. One bed is subjected to a short term liquid-phase regeneration while the other is subjected to long term vapor-phase regeneration. The catalyst preferably contains a metal hydrogenation function effective to selectively hydrogenate C.sub.6 -plus materials trapped on the used catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the continuous hydrolysis of esters containing from 2 to about 16 carbon atoms to form at least one alcohol and at least one carboxylic acid and the concurrent separation of the hydrolysis products has been developed. The process uses a solid bed which acts as a catalyst for hydrolysis and as an adsorbent for at least one class of the products. The process operates in the simulated moving bed mode. A specific embodiment of the invention is one where the simulated moving bed is a homogeneous mixture of at least one solid effective as a hydrolysis catalyst and at least one solid effective as an alcohol or carboxylic acid adsorbent. Another specific embodiment is one where the simulated moving bed is a strongly acidic macroreticular polymeric resin effective both as a hydrolysis catalyst and as an adsorbent for at least one hydrolysis product.

Abstract: A continuous process is presented for the production and recovery of a high purity stream of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. The process comprises the general steps of: fractionating a hydrocarbon feed stream to recover a process stream rich in the various isomers of dimethylnaphthalene; subjecting the process stream rich in isomers of dimethylnaphthalene to a selective adsorption step to produce at least two streams of dimethylnaphthalene isomers, one lean in the 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene isomer and subjecting the stream of dimethylnaphthalene isomers lean in the 2,6 isomer to isomerization to increase the concentration of the 2,6 isomer of dimethylnaphthalene therein and directing the isomerized stream back to the fractionation zone to further processing.

Abstract: A dehydrocyclodimerization process employing a catalyst comprising a crystalline aluminosilicate and a metal oxide component is started-up by contacting the catalyst with a start-up gas that contains less than 50 mole percent hydrogen. The catalyst is exposed to the gaseous atmosphere containing less than 50 mole percent hydrogen until a C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 aliphatic hydrocarbon feedstock is contacted with the catalyst at dehydrocyclodimerization reaction conditions at which point hydrogen is generated as a dehydrocyclodimerization reaction product and displaces the non-hydrogen start-up gas from the process.

Abstract: A two stage adsorptive separation process for recovering purified 2,6 Dimethylnaphthalene ["2,6 DMN"] from a fresh feed mixture comprising 2,6 DMN and at least one isomer thereof, which process comprises a first stage, employing a first stage adsorbent and desorbent material and operating at 2,6 DMN rejective conditions, with at least a portion of the raffinate product of such stage being fed to a second stage, employing a second stage adsorbent and desorbent material and operating at 2,6 DMN extractive conditions, thereby producing a second stage extract product containing purified 2,6 DMN. The adsorbent(s) and desorbent material(s) used in the process will depend upon the embodiment of the process employed. The most preferred embodiment of the subject invention concerns the use of a distinct adsorbent in each stage and a desorbent material common to both stages.

Abstract: A process for separating ethylbenzene from a feed mixture comprising ethylbenzene and at least one xylene isomer. The mixture is contacted with an adsorbent comprising a barium cation exchanged type-X zeolite containing from about 3.0 to about 6.0 wt. % H.sub.2 O. The unadsorbed portion of the feed mixture is removed from the adsorbent and the ethylbenzene recovered by desorption with benzene.

Abstract: An FCC sulfur oxide acceptor, its method of manufacture and use in the FCC process. The acceptor, a particulate solid containing magnesium, sodium and aluminum, the precursor of which comprises a mixture of precipitates. One precipitate is a compound of aluminum and another is a compound of magnesium. The precipitates are simultaneously precipitated from a common solution in which they have a highly limited solubility.

Abstract: An FCC sulfur oxide acceptor, its method of manufacture and use in the FCC process. The acceptor, a particulate solid containing magnesium, sodium and aluminum, the precursor of which comprises a mixture of precipitates. One precipitate is a compound of aluminum and another is a compound of magnesium. The precipitates are simultaneously precipitated from a common solution in which they have a highly limited solubility.