Poly-functional Catalyst Development for Benzene Production from Alkyl-aromatic Mixture via Hydrodealkylation

Development of a poly-functional catalyst that has higher hydrodealkylation activity based on 15% Cr/γ- Al₂ O₃ was researched for benzene production from an alkyl-aromatic mixture via hydrodealkylation. For this goal, the effects of the promoters like Fe, Co, or Ni and their concentrations on the activity of a Cr/Al₂ O₃ catalyst were investigated. Toluene + n-heptane + tetrahydrotiophene (89:10:1 w%) model mixture, which has the same content as industrial aromatics, was used as feedstock. The activities of catalysis in reactions of hydrodealkylation, hydrocracking, and hydrogenolize with respect to conversions of toluene, heptane, and tetrahydrotiophene were tested, respectively. As to the obtained results, the catalyst including 5% Fe has a higher hydrodealkylation activity, compared to the catalyst including Co, and especially to the alumocrom catalyst not including a promoter, while it has a lower coke formation and reduced activity to the catalyst including Ni.     

Correlation of reactivity with chemical structure: Thermal hydrogenation of gas oils

The relationship between chemical structure and reactivity for thermal hydroprocessing was studied for five gas oils derived from Alberta bitumens. Chemical structure was characterized by combining data from ¹ H and ¹³ C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, class fractionation, and elemental analysis to calculate structural parameters. Thermal hydrotreating was performed in a continuous-flow stirred reactor at 420 and 440°C, 13.9 MPa hydrogen pressure, and 1.5 h¹ LHSV. Conversion of the 343–525°C boiling fraction of the gas oils was correlated with the concentration of naphthenic methylene groups in the feed. Formation of methane and ethane was dependent on the degree of condensation of the aromatic rings in the feed oils. Thermal desulfurization was highly correlated with the amount of saturates in the feed, and the aromaticity of the resin fraction. Hydrogen consumption increased with the aromaticity of the gas oil…     

The relationship between chemical structure and reactivity of alberta bitumens and heavy oils

Long residues (424°C +) from Athabasca, Cold Lake, Lloydminster, and Peace River were hydrocracked over a commercial NilMo on y-alumina catalyst at 430°C, 13.9 MPa (2000 psia). The conversion of residue fraction ranged from 55 to 68%, and was correlated with the concentration of carbon bound to aromatic rings in the feeds. Conversions of sulfur, Micro-Carbon Residue, and metals were all highest for Peace River feed, following the same ranking as residue conversion. Estimates for the breakage of carbon-carbon bonds and the uptake of hydrogen were diagnostic in interpreting the reactor performance.     

CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SUPERCRITICAL TOLUENE EXTRACTS FROM TWO TURKISH LIGNITES

ABSTRACT

Samples from two major deposits of Turkish lignites were subjected to supercritical toluene extraction at 325°C and 14.1 MPa in an autoclave. The resultant extracts were separated into pre-asphaltene, asphaltene, saturates, aromatics and resin fractions by column chromatography. The fractions were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, IR. and elemental analysis in order to compare the chemical composition of extracis from the two coal samples. The results show that the extracts from the Tungbiiek (T-coal) deposits contain aliphatic constituent which is composed of mostly long chain unbranched alkyl compounds while the extracts from the Soma Mcrkeg (S-coal) deposits contain a significant amount of branched paraffinic compounds. The resin fractions from both samples were found to contain a significant amount of single ring aromatic compounds.     

CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SUPERCRITICAL TOLUENE EXTRACTS FROM TWO TURKISH LIGNITES

Samples from two major deposits of Turkish lignites were subjected to supercritical toluene extraction at 325°C and 14.1 MPa in an autoclave. The resultant extracts were separated into pre-asphaltene, asphaltene, saturates, aromatics and resin fractions by column chromatography. The fractions were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, IR. and elemental analysis in order to compare the chemical composition of extracis from the two coal samples. The results show that the extracts from the Tungbiiek (T-coal) deposits contain aliphatic constituent which is composed of mostly long chain unbranched alkyl compounds while the extracts from the Soma Mcrkeg (S-coal) deposits contain a significant amount of branched paraffinic compounds. The resin fractions from both samples were found to contain a significant amount of single ring aromatic compounds.     

Catalytic Conversion of a Mesitylene and n-Decane Mixture in the Presence of Hydrogen Over ZSM-5 Based Catalysts

Conversion reactions of mesitylene and n-decane mixture over different catalysts prepared on the base of ZSM-5 zeolite were investigated. The influence of reaction temperature on the activity and selectivity of HZSM-5, DZSM-5, and Ni-Mo/ZSM-5 catalysts obtained from NH₄ZSM-5 zeolite was researched for this purpose. According to received results it can be concluded that mesitylene mostly exposed to isomerization and disproportionation, n-decane exposed to hydrocracking reactions up to C₁–C₄ hydrocarbon gases. The catalysts were characterized by textural properties and crystallinity. Thermal oxidation characteristics of coke deposited on the catalysts surface were also researched.     

Effects of halloysite nanotubes on the performance of plasticized poly(lactic acid)‐based composites

The objective of this study is processing and characterization of Halloysite nanotube (HNT)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposites. As HNT filler, a domestic source was used (ESAN HNT). The results obtained from this HNT were compared with a well‐known reference HNT (Nanoclay HNT). To achieve the desired physical properties and clay dispersion, composites were compounded via direct melt mixing in a laboratory twin‐screw compounder. However, the constituents were observed to be incompatible without a compatibilizer. To improve the flexibility of nanocomposites and provide compatibilization between PLA and HNT, two types of blends were prepared: PLA plasticized with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) denoted as P‐PLA and PLA toughened with a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) denoted as T‐PLA. Despite the limited improvement in the P‐PLA blends, TPU addition improved the flexibility of PLA/HNT without deteriorating the tensile strength in a great manner. This was attributed to the relatively better compatibilization effect of TPU and the role of nanotubes acting as bridges between the TPU and PLA phases. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:3134–3148, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of different types of organoclays and compatibilizers on the properties of polystyrene‐based nanocomposites

Polystyrene/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation in the presence of elastomeric impact modifiers. Three different types of organically modified montmorillonites; Cloisite® 30B, 15A, and 25A, were used as reinforcement, whereas poly [styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene] (SEBS‐g‐MA) and poly(ethylene‐b‐butyl acrylate‐b‐glycidyl methacrylate) (E‐BA‐GMA) elastomeric materials were introduced to act as impact modifier. Owing to its single aliphatic tail on its modifier and absence of hydroxyl groups, Cloisite® 25A displayed the best dispersion in the polystyrene matrix, and mostly delaminated silicate layers were obtained in the presence of SEBS‐g‐MA. This was attributed to the higher viscosity of SEBS‐g‐MA compared with both E‐BA‐GMA and poly(styrene‐co‐vinyloxazolin) (PS). In addition, the compatibility between SEBS‐g‐MA and PS was found to be better in comparison to the compatibility between E‐BA‐GMA and PS owing to the soluble part of SEBS‐g‐MA in PS. The clay particles were observed to be located mostly in the dispersed phase leading to larger elastomeric domains compared with binary PS/elastomer blends. The enlargement of the elastomeric domains resulted in higher impact strength values in the presence of organoclay. Good dispersion of Cloisite® 25A in PS/SEBS‐g‐MA blends enhanced the tensile properties of this nanocomposite produced. It was observed that the change in the strength and stiffness of the ternary nanocomposites mostly depend on the type of the elastomeric material. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Characteristics of impact modified polystyrene/organoclay nanocomposites

The poor impact resistance of Polystyrene (PS) was enhanced by the addition of elastomeric material, SEBS‐g‐MA. To prevent the reduction in strength and stiffness, organoclay Cloisite® 25A was used as filler and introduced into the matrix by a corotating twin screw extruder. Throughout the study, the clay content was kept at 2 wt%, whereas the content of SEBS‐g‐MA was varied between 5 and 40 wt%. It was found that Cloisite® 25A displays well dispersion in the ternary nanocomposites and the degree of dispersion increases with the elastomer content. The elastomeric phase has a greater viscosity than pure PS. Thus, as expected, at low elastomer contents, it forms the dispersed phase in the matrix as droplets. Transmission electron microscopy results show that the clay layers reside at the interphase between PS and elastomer and also inside the elastomeric phase. Owing to the location of the clay particles, the average elastomer domain size in ternary nanocomposites are found to be greater than that in the relative binary blends of PS‐(SEBS‐g‐MA). Moreover, with the organoclay addition, phase inversion point shifts to lower elastomer contents. The mechanical test results showed that the nanocomposites containing 15 and 20 wt% SEBS‐g‐MA have the optimum average domain size that results in high‐impact strength values without deteriorating the tensile properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:1853–1861, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Kinetic Pecularities of Benzene Production from the Benzene-Toluene-Xylene Fraction of Pyrolysis Gasoline by Catalytic Hydrodealkylation at High Temperature

Hydrodealkylation (HDA) of the benzene-toluene-xylene (BTX) fraction of pyrolysis gasoline is an industrial route to produce benzene. Complicated kinetics of aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbon reactions has been experimentally investigated at the conditions of this process, employing a polyfunctional Al-Cr-KF catalyst with a high benzene selectivity, model feeds and BTX. The study reports effects of nonaromatic hydrocarbons on high temperature catalytic conversion of toluene. Above 525°C the process is found to be thermo-catalytic meaning that reactions take place on the catalyst surface and between catalyst pellets. The “pure” catalytic component of conversion is taken to be the difference between a thermo-catalytic and a thermal (i.e., without catalyst) run at the same conditions. Nonaromatic hydrocarbons substantially boost interpellet toluene HDA which is explained by a mechanism involving very fast decomposition of the nonaromatics into active radicals. The accompanying slight fall in catalytic toluene HDA, on the other hand, is considered to be due to nonaromatics and/or their hydrocracking products impeding toluene diffusion to the catalyst surface whose active centers they partially occupy. There is evidence that the C6-C8 nonaromatics of BTX influence the toluene conversion in the same manner as n-octane and cyclohexane. Benzene seems to render a small fall in surface conversion of toluene probably by inhibiting its diffusion. It apparently has no significant influence on nonaromatic hydrocracking or thermal toluene HDA. The hydrocracking products of the model feeds and BTX are 97-99 mol% C1-C4 alkanes and 1-3 mol% C2-C4 alkenes irrespective of the run type (i.e., thermal or catalytic). Moreover, given more time the hydrocracking reactions in the voids surpass those on the catalyst surface. Changing hydrogen:BTX molar ratio from 1.5 to 10 raises thermal (respectively “pure” catalytic) contribution significantly (respectively slightly) to conversions of toluene, C8 aromatics, n-octane, cyclohexane, and other C6-C8 nonaromatics.