Abstract: This ethylbenzene process involves contacting, in an alkylation zone, a first benzene recycle stream and an ethylene feed stream with an alkylation catalyst to form ethylbenzene. In a transalkylation zone, a polyethylbenzene recycle stream and a second benzene recycle stream are contacted with a transalkylation catalyst to form additional ethylbenzene. The effluents are passed into a benzene distillation column. From the benzene distillation column, a first benzene recycle stream is removed as overhead; a second benzene recycle stream is removed as a side draw; and a bottoms stream comprising polyethylbenzene, ethylbenzene, and flux oil is removed from an end. The bottoms stream is passed to a dividing wall distillation column where the polyethylbenzene recycle stream is removed from an intermediate point; an ethylbenzene product stream is removed from a first end, and a heavy oil stream is removed from a second end.

Abstract: This cumene process involves contacting, in an alkylation zone, a first benzene recycle stream and a propylene feed stream with an alkylation catalyst to form cumene. In a transalkylation zone, a polyisopropylbenzene recycle stream and a second benzene recycle stream are contacted with a transalkylation catalyst to form additional cumene. The effluents are passed into a benzene distillation column. From the benzene distillation column, a first benzene recycle stream is removed as overhead; a second benzene recycle stream is removed as a side draw; and a bottoms stream comprising polyisopropylbenzene, cumene, and heavy aromatics is removed from an end. The bottoms stream is passed to a dividing wall distillation column where the polyisopropylbenzene recycle stream is removed from an intermediate point; a cumene product stream is removed from a first end, and a heavy aromatic stream is removed from a second end.

Abstract: This cumene process involves contacting, in an alkylation zone, a first benzene recycle stream and a propylene feed stream with an alkylation catalyst to form cumene. In a transalkylation zone, a polyisopropyl benzene recycle stream and a second benzene recycle stream are contacted with a transalkylation catalyst to form additional cumene. The effluents are passed into a dividing wall distillation column. A cumene stream is removed from an intermediate point of the dividing wall fractionation column; a first benzene recycle stream is removed from a first end and a heavy aromatics stream is removed from a second end. A second benzene recycle stream is removed from an intermediate point located between the first end and the cumene stream. A polyisopropyl benzene stream is removed from an intermediate point of located between the second end and the cumene stream.

Abstract: This ethylbenzene process involves contacting, in an alkylation zone, a first benzene recycle stream and an ethylene feed stream with an alkylation catalyst to form ethylbenzene. In a transalkylation zone, a polyethylbenzene recycle stream and a second benzene recycle stream are contacted with a transalkylation catalyst to form additional ethylbenzene. The effluents are passed into a dividing wall distillation column where a benzene overhead and a benzene side draw are removed and recycled. An ethylbenzene stream product stream is also removed. The remainder, largely polyethylbenzene and tar, is passed to a polyethylbenzene column for separation. The separated polyethylbenzene is recycled to the transalkylation reactor.

Abstract: This ethylbenzene process involves contacting, in an alkylation zone, a first benzene recycle stream and an ethylene feed stream with an alkylation catalyst to form ethylbenzene. In a transalkylation zone, a polyethylbenzene recycle stream and a second benzene recycle stream are contacted with a transalkylation catalyst to form additional ethylbenzene. The effluents are passed into a dividing wall distillation column. An ethylbenzene stream is removed from an intermediate point of the dividing wall fractionation column; a first benzene recycle stream is removed from a first end and a flux oil stream is removed from a second end. A second benzene recycle stream is removed from an intermediate point located between the first end and the ethylbenzene stream. A polyethylbenzene stream is removed from an intermediate point of located between the second end and the ethylbenzene stream.

Abstract: In an alkylation zone, a benzene recycle stream and a propylene feed stream are contacted with an alkylation catalyst to convert the propylene and benzene into cumene. In a transalkylation zone, a polyisopropylbenzene stream and a benzene recycle stream are contacted with a transalkylation catalyst to convert the polyisopropylbenzene and benzene into cumene. The alkylation and transalkylation zone effluents are passed into a dividing wall fractionation column. A cumene product stream is removed from an intermediate point of the dividing wall fractionation column. A benzene recycle stream is removed from a first end, and another benzene recycle stream is removed from an intermediate point of the dividing wall fractionation column. A polyisopropylbenzene stream is removed from a second end of the dividing wall fractionation column. The polyisopropylbenzene stream is passed to a polyisopropylbenzene fractionation column to separate the polyisopropylbenzene from a heavy ends stream.

Abstract: This cumene process involves contacting, in an alkylation zone, a first benzene recycle stream and a propylene feed stream with an alkylation catalyst to form cumene. In a transalkylation zone, a polyisopropyl benzene recycle stream and a second benzene recycle stream are contacted with a transalkylation catalyst to form additional cumene. The effluents are passed into a dividing wall distillation column. A cumene stream is removed from an intermediate point of the dividing wall fractionation column; a first benzene recycle stream is removed from a first end and a heavy aromatics stream is removed from a second end. A second benzene recycle stream is removed from an intermediate point located between the first end and the cumene stream. A polyisopropyl benzene stream is removed from an intermediate point of located between the second end and the cumene stream.

Abstract: This ethylbenzene process involves contacting, in an alkylation zone, a first benzene recycle stream and an ethylene feed stream with an alkylation catalyst to form ethylbenzene. In a transalkylation zone, a polyethylbenzene recycle stream and a second benzene recycle stream are contacted with a transalkylation catalyst to form additional ethylbenzene. The effluents are passed into a dividing wall distillation column where a benzene overhead and a benzene side draw are removed and recycled. An ethylbenzene stream product stream is also removed. The remainder, largely polyethylbenzene and tar, is passed to a polyethylbenzene column for separation. The separated polyethylbenzene is recycled to the transalkylation reactor.

Abstract: This ethylbenzene process involves contacting, in an alkylation zone, a first benzene recycle stream and an ethylene feed stream with an alkylation catalyst to form ethylbenzene. In a transalkylation zone, a polyethylbenzene recycle stream and a second benzene recycle stream are contacted with a transalkylation catalyst to form additional ethylbenzene. The effluents are passed into a benzene distillation column. From the benzene distillation column, a first benzene recycle stream is removed as overhead; a second benzene recycle stream is removed as a side draw; and a bottoms stream comprising polyethylbenzene, ethylbenzene, and flux oil is removed from an end. The bottoms stream is passed to a dividing wall distillation column where the polyethylbenzene recycle stream is removed from an intermediate point; an ethylbenzene product stream is removed from a first end, and a heavy oil stream is removed from a second end.

Abstract: The apparatus includes an alkylation unit connected to a first benzene recycle conduit, a feed conduit and an alkylation effluent conduit; a transalkylation unit connected to an polyalkylbenzene recycle conduit, a second benzene recycle conduit, and a transalkylation effluent conduit. A dividing wall distillation column is in fluid communication with the transalkylation effluent conduit, the alkylation effluent conduit, a product stream, a bottoms stream conduit and first and second benzene recycle conduits. A polyalkylbenzene fractionation column is connected to the bottoms stream conduit, the polyalkylbenzene recycle conduit and a heavy component conduit.

Abstract: In an alkylation zone, a benzene recycle stream and a propylene feed stream are contacted with an alkylation catalyst to convert the propylene and benzene into cumene. In a transalkylation zone, a polyisopropylbenzene stream and a benzene recycle stream are contacted with a transalkylation catalyst to convert the polyisopropylbenzene and benzene into cumene. The alkylation and transalkylation zone effluents are passed into a dividing wall fractionation column. A cumene product stream is removed from an intermediate point of the dividing wall fractionation column. A benzene recycle stream is removed from a first end, and another benzene recycle stream is removed from an intermediate point of the dividing wall fractionation column. A polyisopropylbenzene stream is removed from a second end of the dividing wall fractionation column. The polyisopropylbenzene stream is passed to a polyisopropylbenzene fractionation column to separate the polyisopropylbenzene from a heavy ends stream.

Abstract: This cumene process involves contacting, in an alkylation zone, a first benzene recycle stream and a propylene feed stream with an alkylation catalyst to form cumene. In a transalkylation zone, a polyisopropylbenzene recycle stream and a second benzene recycle stream are contacted with a transalkylation catalyst to form additional cumene. The effluents are passed into a benzene distillation column. From the benzene distillation column, a first benzene recycle stream is removed as overhead; a second benzene recycle stream is removed as a side draw; and a bottoms stream comprising polyisopropylbenzene, cumene, and heavy aromatics is removed from an end. The bottoms stream is passed to a dividing wall distillation column where the polyisopropylbenzene recycle stream is removed from an intermediate point; a cumene product stream is removed from a first end, and a heavy aromatic stream is removed from a second end.

Abstract: This ethylbenzene process involves contacting, in an alkylation zone, a first benzene recycle stream and an ethylene feed stream with an alkylation catalyst to form ethylbenzene. In a transalkylation zone, a polyethylbenzene recycle stream and a second benzene recycle stream are contacted with a transalkylation catalyst to form additional ethylbenzene. The effluents are passed into a dividing wall distillation column. An ethylbenzene stream is removed from an intermediate point of the dividing wall fractionation column; a first benzene recycle stream is removed from a first end and a flux oil stream is removed from a second end. A second benzene recycle stream is removed from an intermediate point located between the first end and the ethylbenzene stream. A polyethylbenzene stream is removed from an intermediate point of located between the second end and the ethylbenzene stream.

Abstract: A process for the decomposition of a cumene oxidation product mixture to produce phenol and acetone with reduced by-product formation by introducing the cumene oxidation mixture into an inlet of a decomposing vessel containing indirect heat exchange surfaces wherein the cumene oxidation product mixture and a circulating stream are admixed, reacted and cooled by passage around the indirect heat exchange surfaces.

Abstract: A process for decomposing a cumene oxidation product mixture containing cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) and dimethylphenolcarbinol (DMPC) to produce phenol and acetone.

Abstract: A selective acetylene hydrogenation process which is able to produce a high quality diolefin having extremely low levels of acetylene over an extended period of time compared with the prior art. The process of the present invention provides a selective hydrogenation reaction zone wherein the catalyst activity is maintained at a high level while the process unit remains on stream by contacting the selective hydrogenation catalyst with a polymer solvent, diolefin feed and hydrogen in one embodiment and by contacting the selective hydrogenation catalyst off-line with only polymer solvent and hydrogen in a second embodiment. In addition, the quantity of make-up regeneration solvent is significantly reduced.

Abstract: A selective acetylene hydrogenation process which is able to produce a high quality diolefin having extremely low levels of acetylene over an extended period of time compared with the prior art. The process of the present invention provides a selective hydrogenation reaction zone wherein the catalyst activity is maintained at a high level while the process unit remains on stream by contacting the selective hydrogenation catalyst with a polymer solvent, diolefin feed and hydrogen in one embodiment and by contacting the selective hydrogenation catalyst off-line with only polymer solvent and hydrogen in a second embodiment. In addition, the quantity of make-up regeneration solvent is significantly reduced.

Abstract: A process for the rejection of heavy reaction by-products from a selective hydrogenation reaction zone effluent containing butadiene and trace amounts of heavy reaction by-products by introducing the selective hydrogenation reaction zone effluent into a butadiene extraction vaporizer containing a fractionation zone, refluxing the fractionation zone with a raffinate stream from a butadiene extraction zone; removing a vaporized stream containing butadiene and having a reduced concentration of heavy reaction by-products from the vaporizer; removing and recovering a concentrated liquid product stream containing heavy reaction by-products from the vaporizer; and introducing the vaporized stream containing butadiene into the butadiene extraction zone.

Abstract: A channel reactor arrangement and a process that uses a high heat capacity heat exchange liquid to indirectly heat or cool by indirect heat exchange. The channel reactor arrangement maintains a pressure gradient through the channels and a pressure differential between the reaction channels and the heat exchange channels at all points to preserve the integrity of the plates defining the channels and to prevent any leakage of high heat capacity liquids into the reaction channels. The system brings the efficiency of plate reactor arrangements to the effectiveness of high heat capacity heat exchange fluids such as molten salts and liquid metals. The process overcomes the problem of low heat exchange pressure drop in combination with high reactant pressure drop by creating a negative pressure differential from reactant channels to the heat exchange channels.

Abstract: A method for purifying liquid metal heat exchange fluids uses a contacting drum in combination with purifiers to control metal hydride precipitation in a process with high hydrogen permeation. The contacting drum receives a slip stream of a circulating liquid metal stream and removes hydrogen from dissolved hydride by providing a high interfacial surface area and sufficient temperature for hydride decomposition under vacuum conditions. The liquid metal with a reduced hydride level may be returned to the circulating heat exchange stream or undergo further purification by hydride precipitation and filtration in a cold trap. The drum may be integrated with the cold traps to decompose re-dissolved hydride from a regenerant stream that dissolves precipitated hydride from the cold traps.