- Email: [email protected]
Process for production of xylenes and light olefins
FOCUS gas and oil could help the UK improve energy security, create jobs and transition to a low carbon future. A 2013 study by NERC's British Geological Survey predicted 1400 trillion cu ft of gas in the Bowland shale, although recoverable reserves cannot be accurately estimated until significantly more exploration has taken place. Original Source: Technology Strategy Board, 15 Jan 2015, (Website: https://www.innovateuk. org/) © Technology Strategy Board 2015.
More efficient way of converting ethanol leads to better alternative fuel Ethanol, which is produced from corn, is commonly-used as an additive in engine fuel as a way to reduce harmful emissions and scale back US reliance on foreign oil. But since ethanol is an oxygenated fuel, its use results in a lower energy output, as well as increased damage to engines via corrosion. But now a research team led by the University of Rochester has developed a series of reactions that results in the selective conversion of ethanol to butanol, without producing unwanted by-products. The team was able to increase the amount of ethanol converted to butanol by almost 25% over currently used methods. The research was carried out under the NSF (National Science Foundation) support of the Center for Enabling New Technologies through Catalysis, an NSF Center for Chemical Innovation programme. Original Source: University of Rochester, 3 Dec 2015, (University of Rochester, website: http://www.rochester.edu/) © University of Rochester 2015.
Light-controlled acid catalyst Scientists at Monash University have created a new switchable acid catalyst that can be activated by light. The new solid material contains carbon quantum dots (CQDs), which increases acidity when exposed to light, with -SO3H acidic groups. It is easily removed when used in a chemical reaction. In the industry, acid catalysts are being utilized in several organic synthesis processes. Original Source: Chemistry in Australia, Dec 2015, 15 (Website: http://www.raci.org.au) © The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Incorporated 2015.
PATENTS Process for production of xylenes and light olefins Aromatics produced from steam cracking of naphtha are subjected to a January 2016
ON
C ATA LY S T S
subsequent catalytic upgrading step, which comprises alkylation with a methylating agent over a zeolite catalyst to produce a stream with enhanced xylene content together with ethylene and propylene. US 9,181,147, ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc. Baytown, TX, 10 Nov 2015.
Compact catalytic membrane reactor for chemical process intensification This patent describes an apparatus for simultaneous reaction and separation. The reactor includes a membrane module with a support (substrate) layer, a catalytic layer, and a membrane layer. The catalyst is preferentially used for water gas shift (WGS) reactions and is able to operate in a sulphur-laden gas environment. US 9,138,718 University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 22 Sep 2015.
Process of direct conversion of a charge comprising olefins with four and/or five carbon atoms, for the production of propylene with coproduction of gasoline This patent describes a process for production of propylene from a C4/C5 olefin cut (for example, from steam cracking or catalytic cracking). The process involves selective hydrogenation, selective oligomerization of isobutenes and an "oligocracking'' of n-butenes resulting in a high conversion of the C4/C5 olefins with attractive yields of propylene and high octane gasoline. US 9,193,922 IFP Energies Nouvelles, Rueil-Malmaison Dedex, FR 14 Nov 2015.
BOOKSHELF Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, Catalysts, and Catalysis: Advances and Applications (Chemical Industries 142) This book, edited by two well known experts in the field of Fischer-Tropsch catalysis, is primarily a compilation of papers presented at a special session on Fischer-Tropsch technology presented at the fall 2012 ACS meeting in Philadelphia. The text highlights significant recent developments in Fischer-Tropsch technology especially as they apply to the fields of renewable
resources and green energy. The book also describes new catalyst characterization techniques that shed additional light on the reaction mechanism and provide a glimpse into the processes and reaction rates under realistic commercial process conditions. B. Davis and M. Occelli (eds), 1st edn, 2016, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, ISBN-13: 978-1466555297, 428 pp.
Transition Metal-Catalyzed Heterocycle Synthesis via C-H Activation The author, who is a professor at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University (ZSTU) in China and leads a research group at the Leibniz-Institute for Catalysis in Rostock, Germany, has assembled a reference text for researchers in both academia and industry working in the field of heterocycle synthesis. The book focuses on C-H activation catalysis for natural product synthesis, pharmaceutical chemistry, and crop protection applications. The text addresses general mechanistic aspects and gives a comprehensive overview of catalytic reactions in the presence of palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, copper, iron, cobalt, and iridium. The chapters are organized according to the transition metal used and sub-divided by type of heterocycle formed to enable quick access to the synthetic route needed. X-F Wu, 1st edn, 2016, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co., Weinheim, ISBN-13: 978-3527338887, 600 pp.
A Study on Catalytic Conversion of Non-Food Biomass into Chemicals: Fusion of Chemical Sciences and Engineering This is one in a series of "outstanding'' Ph.D. theses, selected by international top-ranked research institute, that have been submitted to Springer for publication. This book provides and overview of the field of catalytic conversion of biomass. The principal focus of the thesis is the production of high yields of glucose from cellulose by using an alkali-activated carbon as a catalyst. The author, who completed his research at the Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University describes how he produced catalysts that resulted in glucose yields as high as 88%, among the highest yields ever reported. M. Yabushita, 1st edn, 2016, Springer Theses, New York, ISBN-13: 978-9811003318, 157 pp.
7
More efficient way of converting ethanol leads to better alternative fuel Ethanol, which is produced from corn, is commonly-used as an additive in engine fuel as a way to reduce harmful emissions and scale back US reliance on foreign oil. But since ethanol is an oxygenated fuel, its use results in a lower energy output, as well as increased damage to engines via corrosion. But now a research team led by the University of Rochester has developed a series of reactions that results in the selective conversion of ethanol to butanol, without producing unwanted by-products. The team was able to increase the amount of ethanol converted to butanol by almost 25% over currently used methods. The research was carried out under the NSF (National Science Foundation) support of the Center for Enabling New Technologies through Catalysis, an NSF Center for Chemical Innovation programme. Original Source: University of Rochester, 3 Dec 2015, (University of Rochester, website: http://www.rochester.edu/) © University of Rochester 2015.
Light-controlled acid catalyst Scientists at Monash University have created a new switchable acid catalyst that can be activated by light. The new solid material contains carbon quantum dots (CQDs), which increases acidity when exposed to light, with -SO3H acidic groups. It is easily removed when used in a chemical reaction. In the industry, acid catalysts are being utilized in several organic synthesis processes. Original Source: Chemistry in Australia, Dec 2015, 15 (Website: http://www.raci.org.au) © The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Incorporated 2015.
PATENTS Process for production of xylenes and light olefins Aromatics produced from steam cracking of naphtha are subjected to a January 2016
ON
C ATA LY S T S
subsequent catalytic upgrading step, which comprises alkylation with a methylating agent over a zeolite catalyst to produce a stream with enhanced xylene content together with ethylene and propylene. US 9,181,147, ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc. Baytown, TX, 10 Nov 2015.
Compact catalytic membrane reactor for chemical process intensification This patent describes an apparatus for simultaneous reaction and separation. The reactor includes a membrane module with a support (substrate) layer, a catalytic layer, and a membrane layer. The catalyst is preferentially used for water gas shift (WGS) reactions and is able to operate in a sulphur-laden gas environment. US 9,138,718 University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 22 Sep 2015.
Process of direct conversion of a charge comprising olefins with four and/or five carbon atoms, for the production of propylene with coproduction of gasoline This patent describes a process for production of propylene from a C4/C5 olefin cut (for example, from steam cracking or catalytic cracking). The process involves selective hydrogenation, selective oligomerization of isobutenes and an "oligocracking'' of n-butenes resulting in a high conversion of the C4/C5 olefins with attractive yields of propylene and high octane gasoline. US 9,193,922 IFP Energies Nouvelles, Rueil-Malmaison Dedex, FR 14 Nov 2015.
BOOKSHELF Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, Catalysts, and Catalysis: Advances and Applications (Chemical Industries 142) This book, edited by two well known experts in the field of Fischer-Tropsch catalysis, is primarily a compilation of papers presented at a special session on Fischer-Tropsch technology presented at the fall 2012 ACS meeting in Philadelphia. The text highlights significant recent developments in Fischer-Tropsch technology especially as they apply to the fields of renewable
resources and green energy. The book also describes new catalyst characterization techniques that shed additional light on the reaction mechanism and provide a glimpse into the processes and reaction rates under realistic commercial process conditions. B. Davis and M. Occelli (eds), 1st edn, 2016, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, ISBN-13: 978-1466555297, 428 pp.
Transition Metal-Catalyzed Heterocycle Synthesis via C-H Activation The author, who is a professor at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University (ZSTU) in China and leads a research group at the Leibniz-Institute for Catalysis in Rostock, Germany, has assembled a reference text for researchers in both academia and industry working in the field of heterocycle synthesis. The book focuses on C-H activation catalysis for natural product synthesis, pharmaceutical chemistry, and crop protection applications. The text addresses general mechanistic aspects and gives a comprehensive overview of catalytic reactions in the presence of palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, copper, iron, cobalt, and iridium. The chapters are organized according to the transition metal used and sub-divided by type of heterocycle formed to enable quick access to the synthetic route needed. X-F Wu, 1st edn, 2016, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co., Weinheim, ISBN-13: 978-3527338887, 600 pp.
A Study on Catalytic Conversion of Non-Food Biomass into Chemicals: Fusion of Chemical Sciences and Engineering This is one in a series of "outstanding'' Ph.D. theses, selected by international top-ranked research institute, that have been submitted to Springer for publication. This book provides and overview of the field of catalytic conversion of biomass. The principal focus of the thesis is the production of high yields of glucose from cellulose by using an alkali-activated carbon as a catalyst. The author, who completed his research at the Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University describes how he produced catalysts that resulted in glucose yields as high as 88%, among the highest yields ever reported. M. Yabushita, 1st edn, 2016, Springer Theses, New York, ISBN-13: 978-9811003318, 157 pp.
7