Abstract:
Herein disclosed in a method comprising: shearing a feed comprising a solid component in a high shear device to produce a product, at least a portion of which comprises sheared solids; and separating at least some of the sheared solids from the product to produce a component-reduced product, wherein the solid component in the feed stream comprises a first particle density, and wherein the sheared solids in the product comprise a second particle density greater than the first particle density. In some embodiments, the solid component of the feed comprises gas trapped therein, and wherein at least a portion of said gas is released from the solid component upon shearing. Herein also is disclosed a method of comminuting solids in a feed stream comprising a solid component by processing the feed stream in a high shear device to produce a product stream comprising comminuted solids.
Abstract:
Herein disclosed is a method for catalytic cracking or reforming of hydrocarbons comprising: supersaturating a hydrocarbonaceous liquid or slurry stream in a high shear device with a gas stream comprising one or more C1-C6 hydrocarbons and optionally hydrogen to form a supersaturated dispersion; introducing the supersaturated dispersion into a catalytic cracking or reforming reactor in the presence of a cracking or reforming catalyst to generate a product stream. In some embodiments, the catalyst is present as a slurry or a fluidized or fixed bed of catalyst. In some embodiments, the cracking or reforming catalyst is mixed with the hydrocarbonaceous liquid or slurry stream and the gas stream in the high shear device. Herein also disclosed is a system for catalytic cracking or reforming of hydrocarbons.
Abstract:
Herein disclosed is a reactor comprising a housing; an inlet tube having a section with perforations along its length, wherein the inlet tube section is within the reactor housing; an outlet tube having a section with perforations along its length, wherein the outlet tube section is within the reactor housing; and at least one cylinder made of sintered metal contained within the reactor housing, wherein the sintered metal is catalytically active. In some cases, the sintered metal in the reactor comprises a porous metallic multifunctional (PMM) catalyst. Other reactor designs and the method of use are also described herein.
Abstract:
Herein disclosed is a catalyst composition for producing organic compounds comprising (a) a catalyst that promotes the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) and a methane steam reforming (MSR) catalyst, wherein the catalyst composition causes oxidative dehydrogenation to form reactive species and oligomerization of the reactive species to produce the organic compounds; or (b) a catalyst that promotes syngas generation (SG) and a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) catalyst wherein the catalyst composition causes non-oxidative dehydrogenation to form reactive species and oligomerization of the reactive species to produce the organic compounds; or (c) a SG catalyst, a MSR catalyst, and a FT catalyst wherein the catalyst composition causes non-oxidative dehydrogenation to form reactive species and oligomerization of the reactive species to produce the organic compounds; or (d) a FT catalyst and a MSR catalyst wherein the catalyst composition causes reforming reactions and chain growing reactions to produce the organic compounds.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a method for cyclohexane oxidation. The method comprises a) forming a dispersion comprising liquid cyclohexane and an oxidant gas utilizing a high shear device, wherein the dispersion comprises oxidant gas bubbles with a mean diameter of less than about 5 µm, and wherein the high shear device comprises at least one rotor and at least one stator; and b) hydrogenating the dispersion in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form a product comprising cyclohexanol or cyclohexanone. In some embodiments, the oxidant comprises air, oxygen-enriched air, oxygen, or an oxygen-containing gas. In some embodiments, step a) of the method comprises forming the dispersion in the presence of an oxidation catalyst. Also disclosed herein is a system for oxidizing cyclohexane.
Abstract:
Herein disclosed is an apparatus comprising (1) a porous rotor symmetrically positioned about an axis of rotation and surrounding an interior space; (2) an outer casing, wherein the outer casing and the rotor are separated by an annular space; (3) a motor configured for rotating the rotor about the axis of rotation; (4) a feed inlet positioned along the axis of rotation and fluidly connected with the interior space; and (5) a first outlet, wherein the first outlet is fluidly connected with the interior space. Herein disclosed is a system, comprising at least one disclosed apparatus. Herein disclosed is also a method of separating a feed gas into a first fraction and a second fraction, wherein the first fraction has an average molecular weight lower than the average molecular weight of the second fraction.
Abstract:
Herein disclosed is an apparatus, which comprises (1) a first cylindrical, porous, catalytic rotor symmetrically positioned about an axis of rotation and surrounding a first interior space; wherein the first porous catalytic rotor comprises a first catalyst; (2) an outer casing, wherein the outer casing and the rotor are separated by an annular space; (3) a motor configured for rotating the rotor about the axis of rotation; (4) a feed inlet line; and (5) a first outlet line, wherein the first outlet line is fluidly connected with the annular space. Herein disclosed is also a method comprising: (1) passing a feed gas comprising at least one gaseous reactant through a porous, catalytic rotor, wherein the porous, catalytic rotor is permeable to the at least one gaseous reactant and is made from or contains a catalyst effective for catalyzing a first reaction; and (2) extracting a first desired product.
Abstract:
A method of producing volatilized fatty acids by heating a feedstock comprising at least one fat or oil in a reactor under inert vacuum to volatilize fatty acids, and removing volatilized fatty acids from bottoms residue comprising cross-linked oil. A system for stripping fatty acids from triglycerides, the system comprising a reactor, heating apparatus and a vacuum pump capable of pulling a vacuum in the range of from 1 kPa to 50 kPa on the reactor. A system for producing a hydrogenated product including a reactor comprising an inlet for a stream comprising triglycerides, an outlet for volatilized fatty acids, and an outlet for a cross-linked product, heating apparatus, a vacuum pump capable of pulling a vacuum in the range of from 1 kPa to 50 kPa on the reactor, and a hydrogenation reactor, wherein an inlet of the hydrogenation reactor is fluidly connected to the outlet for cross-linked product.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for the hydroxylation of olefenic alcohols are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote mixing and solubility of peroxides with the olefenic alcohol. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce hydroxylation time with existing catalysts.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for the hydrogenation of aldehydes and/or ketones are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of the hydrogen-containing gas (e.g. H 2 gas) in the aldehydes and/or ketones. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce hydrogenation time with existing catalysts.