Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for producing low sulfur propane and butane. The method includes reacting a mercaptan in a washed feed stream with a caustic stream to produce a mercaptan salt in a rich caustic stream and a hydrocarbon treated stream. The mercaptan salt in the rich caustic stream is reacted with oxygen and water to produce a mixed caustic/disulfide stream, and the caustic and disulfides in the mixed caustic/disulfide stream are separated to produce a disulfide stream and the caustic stream. The hydrocarbon treated stream is fractionated to produce a propane stream, a butane stream, and a C5+ stream.

Abstract: Removing ethanol from fuel by admitting the ethanol-containing fuel into a contained amount of water which is then mixed such that the ethanol-containing fuel may readily be separated into another container. Water and ethanol have an affinity for each other and separate away from the now ethanol-free fuel, and the water/ethanol mixture settles to a lower portion of the container. Once separated, the ethanol free fuel is readily removed into a separate container. The alcohol (ethanol) and water mixture is a valuable by-product of the invention, and is collected separately.

Abstract: A process is described, such process comprising i) contacting a hydrocarbon feed with a heterogeneous catalyst under conditions suitable to hydrolyze nitriles present in the feed to form a nitrile hydrolysis product comprising ammonia, carboxylic acid and carboxylate salts or a mixture thereof; and ii) removing the nitrile hydrolysis product from the feed. In an embodiment, the hydrocarbon feed comprises olefins and is intended for use in an olefin oligomerization process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conditioning synthetic crude oils are provided herein. The systems and methods described herein subject the synthetic crude to one or more process solutions to provide conditioned synthetic crude exhibiting, for example, a reduced TAN.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for separating from the reactor effluent of an olefin oligomerization procedure those catalyst materials and polymeric by-products which can cause difficulties in the downstream processing of such effluent. Polymer by-products and catalyst in the effluent are separated from reaction products by flash vaporization utilizing an in-situ hot solvent which is contacted with the effluent and serves as the heating medium to promote this flash vaporization step. Subsequent processing of a liquid portion of the effluent which is left after flash vaporization involves recovery of catalyst and polymeric by-products therefrom in a steam stripping vessel. Also disclosed is a multiple reactor system which can be used for continuous trimerization of ethylene to 1-hexene while at the same time washing polymeric by-products from one of the reactors in the series using a wash oil solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for treating an output from a hydrocarbon conversion, wherein the hydrocarbon conversion is performed in the presence of an acidic ionic liquid. The hydrocarbon conversion is preferably an isomerization. A mixture which originates from the hydrocarbon conversion and comprises at least one hydrocarbon and at least one hydrogen halide is washed with an aqueous medium having a pH between 5 and 9, which removes hydrogen halide from the mixture.

Abstract: A method for determining a salt concentration of a hydrocarbon fluid using a conductivity sensor and a hydrocarbon testing solution includes forming the hydrocarbon testing solution. The electropolymerizable monomer is operable to form a resultant associated polymer at a peak potential of the electropolymerizable polymer. The method includes introducing the hydrocarbon testing solution into the conductivity sensor. The method includes inducing a range of potential across the hydrocarbon testing solution such that at least a portion of the electropolymerizable monomer polymerizes. The range of induced potential includes the peak potential of the electropolymerizable polymer. The method includes detecting a range of electrical current associated with the range of potential induced. The method also includes the step of determining the salt concentration of the hydrocarbon fluid using the range of potential induced and the range of electrical current detected.

Abstract: A method for suppressing isomerization of an olefin metathesis product produced in a metathesis reaction includes adding an isomerization suppression agent that includes nitric acid to a mixture that includes the olefin metathesis product and residual metathesis catalyst from the metathesis reaction under conditions that are sufficient to passivate at least a portion of the residual metathesis catalyst. Methods of refining a natural oil are described.

Abstract: A method for suppressing isomerization of an olefin metathesis product produced in a metathesis reaction includes adding an isomerization suppression agent to a mixture that includes the olefin metathesis product and residual metathesis catalyst from the metathesis reaction under conditions that are sufficient to passivate at least a portion of the residual metathesis catalyst. The isomerization suppression agent is phosphorous acid, a phosphorous acid ester, phosphinic acid, a phosphinic acid ester or combinations thereof. Methods of refining natural oils are described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for separating from the reactor effluent of an olefin oligomerization procedure those catalyst materials and polymeric by-products which can cause difficulties in the downstream processing of such effluent. Polymer by-products and catalyst in the effluent are separated from reaction products by flash vaporization utilizing an in-situ hot solvent which is contacted with the effluent and serves as the heating medium to promote this flash vaporization step. Subsequent processing of a liquid portion of the effluent which is left after flash vaporization involves recovery of catalyst and polymeric by-products therefrom in a steam stripping vessel. Also disclosed is a multiple reactor system which can be used for continuous trimerization of ethylene to 1-hexene while at the same time washing polymeric by-products from one of the reactors in the series using a wash oil solvent.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for forming clathrates to reduce or prevent corrosion in hydrocarbon facilities, such as pipelines, among others. An exemplary embodiment provides a method for isolating a corrosive gas in a hydrocarbon stream. The method includes combining a host compound with a hydrocarbon stream comprising a corrosive gas to form a clathrate, wherein a pressure or the reaction, a temperature of the reaction, or both, are controlled to maximize formation of a clathrate of the corrosive gas and minimize the formation of a clathrate of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon stream. The clathrate is separated from the hydrocarbon stream and melted to remove the corrosive gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for recovering hydrocarbons trapped in hydrate formations.

Abstract: Nitrogen-containing Lewis bases act as poisons for molecular sieve catalysts used in oligomerisation reactions. A lowering of their presence in the feed prior to the contacting thereof with the molecular sieve brings a significant extension of catalyst life. Excessive elimination of these poisons may be disadvantageous. Lowering the levels of these catalyst poisons to more manageable concentrations is therefore preferred.

Abstract: A light olefin feed for an olefin conversion process is subjected to a water wash to remove water-soluble contaminants after which the water is separated from the olefin prior to the conversion reaction. The water used for the wash is free of boiler feedwater additives, especially basic nitrogenous additives, which adversely affect catalytic function.

Abstract: Process for treating a product stream typically from an autothermal cracking process, the product stream comprising one or more olefins, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and one or more oxygenates, by contacting the product stream with at least one compound selected from (1) H2N—OR1, and (2) H2N—NR2R3, where R1, R2 and R3 may each be independently selected from H and carbon-containing substituents.

Abstract: A process to substantially reduce the sulfur content of a liquid hydrocarbon stream by contacting the hydrocarbon stream with an aqueous stream containing a mixture of one or more extraction agents selected from hypochlorites, cyanurates and alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, optionally in the presence of a catalyst, to remove sulfur compounds.

Abstract: A light olefin feed for an olefin utilization process is subjected to a water wash to remove water-soluble contaminants after which the water is separated from the olefin by coalescence separation at a low temperature, typically below 40° C. The coalescence separation technique is effective for separating the olefins from the water with its dissolved contaminants. If desired, a supplemental washing may be carried out by adding additional water to the feed/water mix after the initial wash step but before the coalescer in order to remove provide additional contaminant removal.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes for removing particles such as catalyst fines from hydrocarbon streams, such as a wax dried from a Fischer Tropsch reaction using centrifugation in combination with a treatment with an aqueous solution preferably containing an acid, or with an acid. According to an aspect of the invention, catalyst particles are removed from a wax derived from a Fischer Tropsch by pre-treating the hydrocarbon stream with an aqueous solution and forming a mixture comprising the hydrocarbon stream and 5-25% v/v organic acid solution; and introducing the mixture to a centrifuge and separating, from the mixture, a hydrocarbon stream, an aqueous solution and particles. The process may be a continuous and/or a batch process.

Abstract: Metal hydride compounds, which are prepared by mixing together from about 1 to about 10 parts by molecular weight of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum, tin, and zinc; from about 1 to about 3 parts by molecular weight of an alkali metal hydroxide; and from about 5 to about 10 parts by molecular weight of water and allowing this mixture to stand for a time sufficient to form a metal hydride, can be used for making fuel additives, treating sour gas, enhancing oil refining, extracting oil from tar sands and shale, increasing production of hydrogen from a hydrogen plant, treating oil and gas wells to enhance production, eliminate PCBs, cleaning soil contaminated by hydrocarbons and/or heavy metals, controlling odors, cleaning polluting stack emissions, extracting edible and essential oils, and eliminating bacteria, fungicides, and parasites from vegetation.

Abstract: Metal hydride compounds, which are prepared by mixing together from about 1 to about 10 parts by molecular weight of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum, tin, and zinc; from about 1 to about 3 parts by molecular weight of an alkali metal hydroxide; and from about 5 to about 10 parts by molecular weight of water and allowing this mixture to stand for a time sufficient to form a metal hydride, can be used for making fuel additives, treating sour gas, enhancing oil refining, extracting oil from tar sands and shale, increasing production of hydrogen from a hydrogen plant, treating oil and gas wells to enhance production, eliminate PCBs, cleaning soil contaminated by hydrocarbons and/or heavy metals, controlling odors, cleaning polluting stack emissions, extracting edible and essential oils, and eliminating bacteria, fungicides, and parasites from vegetation.

Abstract: A stripping process is provided which continuously strips volatile substances from a dispersion containing a polymer particles through stripping the volatile substances from a dispersion by blowing an inert gas into the dispersion to draw the volatile substances into the inert gas, removing the volatile substances from the gas mixture of the inert gas and the stripped volatile substances and circulating the purified inert gas obtained by removing the volatile substances from the gas mixture, and blowing the purified inert gas into the dispersion. Also provided is a production process for a toner which uses this stripping process.

Abstract: A method for operating a dimerization reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feed and produces an output stream comprising a light hydrocarbon component, a dimer and an alcohol component comprises: (a) separating the first output stream into a top stream containing the light hydrocarbon and a bottom stream containing the dimer, with the alcohol being present in the top stream or the bottom stream or both; (b) contacting at least one of the bottom and top streams with a water stream so as to extract at least a major portion of the alcohol therefrom, thereby forming an water/alcohol stream; (c) contacting the water/alcohol stream with a hydrocarbon stream so as to extract at least a major portion of the alcohol present in the water/alcohol stream into the hydrocarbon stream, thereby forming an alcohol-enriched hydrocarbon stream; and (d) feeding the alcohol-enriched hydrocarbon stream into the dimerization reactor.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of removing dimethyl ether from an olefin stream. Dimethyl ether is removed from the olefin stream by first separating the olefin stream into a first stream comprising dimethyl ether and lighter boiling point compounds, and a second stream comprising C4+ olefin and higher boiling point hydrocarbons. The dimethyl ether is then separated from the first stream using extractive distillation.

Abstract: A process for the dimerization of isobutene wherein tertiary butyl alcohol is used to enhance the selectivity of the catalyst to the dimer is disclosed wherein the tertiary butyl alcohol is removed from the diisobutene product by water wash. The water/TBA stream is then subjected to reextraction to remove the TBA for recycle to the dimerization reactor. The dimerization is preferably carried out in a reactor wherein the pressure is controlled to maintain the reaction mixture at is boiling point. Additional dimerization is carried out in a distillation column reactor that acts as a debutanizer to separate the unreacted isobutene form the product and the tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: A process for the dimerization of isobutene wherein tertiary butyl alcohol is used to enhance the selectivity of the catalyst to the dimer is disclosed wherein the tertiary butyl alcohol is removed from the diisobutene product by water wash. The water/TBA stream is then subjected to reextraction to remove the TBA for recycle to the dimerization reactor. The dimerization is preferably carried out in a reactor wherein the pressure is controlled to maintain the reaction mixture at is boiling point. Additional dimerization is carried out in a distillation column reactor that acts as a debutanizer to separate the unreacted isobutene form the product and the tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of purifying olefin containing oxygenate contaminants. The method incorporates the use of extractive distillation. Under the appropriate conditions, olefins containing very low levels of oxygenate contaminants can be recovered.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of perfluorinated sulphonic acid from a hydrocarbon residue, comprising the steps of (a) treating the residue with an alkyl ammonium salt of the perfluorinated sulphonic acid or a mixture of an alkyl ammonium salt of the perfluorinated sulphonic acid and the perfluorinated sulphonic acid in an amount being effective to liquefy the residue at ambient temperature; (b) contacting the liquefied residue with water at conditions to obtaining an aqueous extract containing the perfluorinated sulphonic acid and/or the alkyl ammonium salt of the perfluorinated acid into water; and (c) separating water from the aqueous extract to recover the perfluorinated sulphonic acid or the mixture of the acid and the ammonium salt.

Abstract: An efficient dehalogenation can be carried out by a method which comprises treating an organic compound containing a compound of halogen, such as fluorine or chlorine, as an impurity and having non-conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds, for example, butene polymer produced with a boron trifluoride catalyst, with an inorganic solid treating agent containing aluminum atoms. When the dehalogenation is conducted in the presence of a basic substance such as ammonia or an amine, it can be continued over long while inhibiting the isomerization of the non-conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds.

Abstract: The invention is a process for recovering heat and removing impurities from a reactor effluent stream withdrawn from a fluidized exothermic reaction zone for conversion of oxygenates into light olefins from an oxygenate feedstream. The process comprises a two-stage quench tower system to remove water from the reactor effluent stream in the first tower and recover heat from the reactor effluent to at least partially vaporize the feedstream by indirect heat exchange between the oxygenate feedstream and either a first stage overhead stream or a first stage pumparound stream. A drag stream withdrawn from the first tower comprises the majority of the impurities and higher boiling oxygenates. The second stage tower further removes water and provides a purified water stream which requires minimal water stripping to produce a high purity water stream. The invention concentrates the impurities into a relatively small stream and results in significant energy and capital savings.

Abstract: An additive is used in a method for settling suspended finely divided inorganic solid particles from a hydrocarbon slurry. The additive comprises (a) a hydroxy-terminated polyoxyalkylate chain(s) containing polymer having at least one oxygen atom and at least one nitrogen atom and, optionally, (b) other components such as a solvent, an acid or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The processing oil contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, which is a substance known to be toxic to the human body, in an amount of less than 3 wt. % and an aromatic hydrocarbon in an amount of 25 wt. % or more, and has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 10-30 mm2/s, a density of 0.870-970 g/cm3, and a 5 vol. % recovery temperature of 370-530° C. The processing oil exhibits excellent performance which has conventionally been obtained. The processing oil can be produced by a method in which oil mixture comprising an extract obtained through extraction from mineral oil by use of a polar solvent in an amount of 40-97 vol. % and lubricating base oil in an amount of 3-60 vol. % is subjected to extraction treatment by use of a polar solvent.

Abstract: Described is a process for separating sulfone from a hydrocarbon having a small concentration of said sulfone by use of water as an extraction solvent.

Abstract: An adsorbent product for the adsorption of trace elements of sulfur, arsenic, mercury, compounds which contain these elements or metal hydrides from a hydrocarbon gas stream, preferably an olefinic or paraffinic stream, wherein the adsorbent product is iron oxide and manganese oxide placed on a support material, preferably aluminum oxide. Also disclosed is a process for the use of this adsorbent product for the removal of trace elements of arsenic, mercury and sulfur or compounds containing those elements or metal hydrides from a hydrocarbon gas stream, preferably an olefinic or paraffinic gas stream.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering styrene from a feedstock containing at least styrene, ethylbenzene, and one or more aromatic or non-aromatic hydrocarbon compounds which includes separating said feedstock into a first stream relatively more concentrated in styrene than said feedstock and a second stream relatively more concentrated in ethylbenzene than said feedstock, recovering styrene from said first stream to produce a styrene product stream, dehydrogenating the ethylbenzene of said second stream to produce additional styrene, and recovering said additional styrene. The feedstock may be separated into said first and second streams by a process selected from the class consisting of extractive distillation, azeotropic distillation, distillation, liquid-liquid extraction, chemical complex formation, membrane separation, and combinations thereof, and the additional styrene may be recovered by recycling it into said feedstock.

Abstract: A method for recovering titanium and vanadium compounds, such as alkoxides, from a liquid hydrocarbon mixture by hydrolyzing the mixture with a base or acid wash having a sufficiently different density so that two liquid phases form, and separating the two liquid phases.

Abstract: A method for cleaning elastomeric articles comprising contacting the elastomeric article with at least one supercritical fluid under conditions and for a time sufficient to remove the phtalates and/or polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained therein. Elastomeric articles having a reduced phtalate and/or PAH content prepared by the above method are also claimed. Such elastomeric articles having reduced phtalate contents can be utilized as gaskets, valves, seats, flaps or plugs in metered dose delivery devices such as aerosols for demanding medicinal and pharmaceutical uses.

Abstract: An extractive distillation process for separating at least one substituted unsaturated aromatic from a pyrolysis gasoline mixture, containing said aromatic and at least one close-boiling aromatic or non-aromatic hydrocarbon, employing a two part extractive solvent, the first part selected from propylene carbonate, sulfolane (tetramethylene sulfone), methyl carbitol, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, 2-pyrrolidinone and mixtures thereof, and the second portion consisting of water.

Abstract: 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene is difficult to sepparate from 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene because of the proximity of their boiling points. They are readily separated by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are 1-propanol, methyl formate and 1-nitropropane.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for reactive separation of mixtures containing hydrocarbons and oxygenated hydrocarbons, by contacting a mixture of hydrocarbons such as C.sub.2 to C.sub.26 hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof and oxygenated hydrocarbons, such as C.sub.2 to C.sub.40 oxygenated hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof to form a mixture of hydrocarbons and lower molecular weight oxygenated hydrocarbons and heating the mixture in water at temperature typically from about and pressure sufficient to cleave the oxygenated hydrocarbons to lower molecular weight products to form a liquid layer containing water soluble reaction products and an organic layer containing primarily hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for removing volatile constituents from a polymer dispersion or solution by stripping with a carrier gas is disclosed. The carrier gas being, in the case of a polymer solution, the vapor of the solvent used for the polymer solution as an inert gas saturated with said vapor. In the case of a polymer dispersion, the vapor of the dispersing medium used for the polymer dispersion or an inert gas saturated with said vapor. In both processes certain amount of the carrier gas is passed through the polymer dispersion or solution, the volatile constituents taken up the carrier gas on passage through the polymer dispersion or solution are then removed from the carrier gas in such a manner that the energy content of the carrier gas remains essentially unchanged. The carrier gas thus obtained is then reused for further removal of volatile constituents from the same polymer dispersion or solution by stripping.

Abstract: Refining processes for recovering HF from acid soluble oils (ASO) generated by the HF recovery unit of an HF alkylation unit are provided. ASO containing HF is removed from the HF recovery unit and contacted with water to form a system having two phases, an aqueous HF containing phase and an organic phase. After phase separation, the aqueous HF containing phase passes through a bed of fluidized NaF crystals, where the NaF reacts with the HF to form salts having the general formula NaF.nHF. Flow of the aqueous HF containing phase to the bed continues until exhaustion of the bed, as determined by the detection of HF in the effluent. After exhaustion of the bed, the process provides for the regeneration of the bed and release of anhydrous HF which is then returned to the HF alkylation unit.

Abstract: Polyolefins are produced by a process which includes the steps of: polymerizing an olefin in a reaction zone; removing unreacted olefin from the polymer in a flash chamber and recycling the unreacted olefin to the reaction zone; stripping unreacted olefin from the polymer by passing a stripping gas through the polymer in a stripping zone; passing the unreacted olefin from the stripping zone at superatmospheric pressure through an adsorbent which selectively adsorbs olefins; depressurizing the adsorbent to produce a substantially pure olefin and recycling the substantially pure olefin to the reaction zone; purging the adsorbent bed with a nonadsorbable gas to remove residual unreacted olefin from the adsorbent; and passing the purge gas-unreacted olefin to the stripping zone to be used as stripping gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing acid soluble oils, produced as an undesirable by-product of an acid catalyzed alkylation reaction, from a mixture containing a strong acid and methanesulfonic acid. The process includes the use of water to induce the formation of the two immiscible liquid phases of ASO and methanesulfonic acid with water. The two immiscible phases can subsequently be separated from each other.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method to separate each component from a mixed solution of organic solvents obtained during the production of .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, which is useful as a sweetener, namely, a mixed solution of acetic acid and toluene or a mixed solution of acetic acid, toluene and formic acid, recovering each component with a high recovery ratio with as small number of operations as possible. The method rationalizes the process and is highly valuable in practical use.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing acid soluble oils, produced as an undesirable by-product of an HF catalyzed alkylation reaction, from a liquid containing a sulfone compound. The process includes the use of water to induce the formation of the two immiscible liquid phases of ASO and sulfone with water. The two immiscible phases can subsequently be separated from each other.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a solution of a percarbonate compound to prevent fouling during the basic washing of hydrocarbons containing oxygenated compounds. More specifically, oxygenated compounds such as carbonyl containing organics have a tendency to polymerize, producing fouling elements when such are contained in hydrocarbons being washed with basic materials. Solutions of percarbonate compounds are quite effective in reducing the fouling tendencies due to these specific mechanisms.

Abstract: A process is provided for the purification of d-Limonene, particularly to remove odorous impurities. The process includes the step of mixing d-Limonene with an oxidizer and separating the oxidizer from the d-Limonene. In preferred embodiments, the d-Limonene is then mixed with an acid and separated. The preferred process also includes a wash water step. The oxidizer and acid are preferably provided in aqueous solutions. The process removes the odorous impurities without the formation of an off-color in the d-Limonene.

Abstract: A process for the continuous preparation of a cumene feed for cumene oxidation from a fresh cumene stream and a recycle cumene stream containing trace quantities of at least one organic acid compound by a dilute caustic wash of the contaminated cumene streams followed by a water wash of the cumene streams in a single vessel with multiple contacting sections. A portion of the water wash is supplied by a waste water stream from an oxidate wash zone having trace quantities of cumene hydroperoxide.

Abstract: A process for separating an alkali metal or alkali metal compound from a polymer comprising a conjugated diolefin and/or an alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer wherein a polymer and one or more alkali metal compounds is contacted with a suitable solid adsorbent. Preferably, the solid adsorbent will be selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica-alumina, silica and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method for refining liquified petroleum gases so that gases can be treated to reduce odor, olefins, moisture and wherein side reactions are minimized to produce stable aerosol by multistage liquid-liquid extraction of the aerosol using electrolyte solutions at controlled pH, chemically treating, drying and finishing by using molecular sieves and metal sulfides.