Processes for cracking an alkane reactant to form a lower aliphatic hydrocarbon product and for converting an alkane reactant into a higher aliphatic hydrocarbon product are disclosed, and these processes include a step of contacting the alkane reactant with a supported chromium (II) catalyst. In addition to the formation of various aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as linear alkanes, branched alkanes, 1-alkenes, and internal alkenes, aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrogen also can be produced.

Systems for separating a contaminant trapping additive from a cracking catalyst may include a contaminant removal vessel having one or more fluid connections for receiving contaminated cracking catalyst, contaminated contaminant trapping additive, fresh contaminant trapping additive, and a fluidizing gas. In the contaminant removal vessel, the spent catalyst may be contacted with contaminant trapping additive, which may have an average particle size and/or density greater than the cracking catalyst. A separator may be provided for separating an overhead stream from the contaminant removal vessel into a first stream comprising cracking catalyst and lifting gas and a second stream comprising contaminant trapping additive. A recycle line may be used for transferring contaminant trapping additive recovered in the second separator to the contaminant removal vessel, allowing contaminant trapping additive to accumulate in the contaminant removal vessel. A bottoms product line may provide for recovering contaminant trapping additive from the contaminant removal vessel.

Systems for separating a contaminant trapping additive from a cracking catalyst may include a contaminant removal vessel having one or more fluid connections for receiving contaminated cracking catalyst, contaminated contaminant trapping additive, fresh contaminant trapping additive, and a fluidizing gas. In the contaminant removal vessel, the spent catalyst may be contacted with contaminant trapping additive, which may have an average particle size and/or density greater than the cracking catalyst. A separator may be provided for separating an overhead stream from the contaminant removal vessel into a first stream comprising cracking catalyst and lifting gas and a second stream comprising contaminant trapping additive. A recycle line may be used for transferring contaminant trapping additive recovered in the second separator to the contaminant removal vessel, allowing contaminant trapping additive to accumulate in the contaminant removal vessel. A bottoms product line may provide for recovering contaminant trapping additive from the contaminant removal vessel.

A method for separation of at least one catalyst or adsorbent from a homogeneous mixture of catalysts or adsorbents, used in a method for treatment of gas or hydrocarbon feedstock, in which the grains of catalysts or adsorbents are separated according to a sorting threshold corresponding to a content of the constituent element that is sought and defined by the user.

Systems for mixing a catalyst precursor with a heavy oil feedstock preparatory to hydroprocessing the heavy oil feedstock in a reactor to form an upgraded feedstock. Achieving very good dispersion of the catalyst precursor facilitates and maximizes the advantages of the colloidal or molecular hydroprocessing catalyst. A catalyst precursor and a heavy oil feedstock having a viscosity greater than the viscosity of the catalyst precursor are provided. The catalyst precursor is pre-mixed with a hydrocarbon oil diluent, forming a diluted catalyst precursor. The diluted precursor is then mixed with at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock so as to form a catalyst precursor-heavy oil feedstock mixture. Finally, the catalyst precursor-heavy oil feedstock mixture is mixed with any remainder of the heavy oil feedstock, resulting in the catalyst precursor being homogeneously dispersed on a colloidal and/or molecular level within the heavy oil feedstock.

Systems for mixing a catalyst precursor with a heavy oil feedstock preparatory to hydroprocessing the heavy oil feedstock in a reactor to form an upgraded feedstock. Achieving very good dispersion of the catalyst precursor facilitates and maximizes the advantages of the colloidal or molecular hydroprocessing catalyst. A catalyst precursor and a heavy oil feedstock having a viscosity greater than the viscosity of the catalyst precursor are provided. The catalyst precursor is pre-mixed with a hydrocarbon oil diluent, forming a diluted catalyst precursor. The diluted precursor is then mixed with at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock so as to form a catalyst precursor-heavy oil feedstock mixture. Finally, the catalyst precursor-heavy oil feedstock mixture is mixed with any remainder of the heavy oil feedstock, resulting in the catalyst precursor being homogeneously dispersed on a colloidal and/or molecular level within the heavy oil feedstock.

Synthesis of organic compounds that has chirality is an important technique in the fields of pharmaceuticals, agrichemicals, health foods and the like. However, raw materials of a catalyst used for the synthesis of such compounds are expensive, and the synthesis needs many steps, so that it is difficult to reduce the cost. Linking a catalyst center to a polymer chain or a resin through an organic group enables to use the catalyst repeatedly and produce a chiral compound at low cost.

Synthesis of organic compounds that has chirality is an important technique in the fields of pharmaceuticals, agrichemicals, health foods and the like. However, raw materials of a catalyst used for the synthesis of such compounds are expensive, and the synthesis needs many steps, so that it is difficult to reduce the cost. Linking a catalyst center to a polymer chain or a resin through an organic group enables to use the catalyst repeatedly and produce a chiral compound at low cost.

A platinum-gallium based catalyst for alkane dehydrogenation is provided with an oxidation promotor in the form of cerium that is added to the catalyst composition to improve the regeneration thereof. The cerium is preferably added to the catalyst composition in an amount from 0.001 to 0.5 wt %.

Articles comprising a catalyst film comprising VOx, MoO.sub.3 or WO.sub.3, and TiO.sub.2 deposited on a substrate are disclosed. The articles are useful for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx in exhaust gases. Methods for producing such articles deposit a catalyst film on the substrate to form a coated substrate, which is then calcined. When used in an SCR process, the coated articles have enhanced activity for NOx conversion, reduced activity for SOx conversion, or both. Light-weight, coated articles having high catalyst loads can be fabricated at the same or reduced dimensions when compared with laminated articles, and increased kNOx/kSOx ratios are available even from coated articles having relatively thin catalyst films. The articles should have particular value for power plant operations, where coal and high-sulfur fuels are commonly used and controlling sulfur trioxide generation is critical.