Systems and methods for producing light olefins and BTX (benzene, toluene, and xylene). Crude oil is first separated to produce light naphtha and heavy naphtha. Light naphtha is fed to a steam cracking unit and heavy naphtha is fed to a catalytic cracking unit. The effluent from the steam cracking unit and the effluent from the catalytic cracking unit are flowed into an oil quench tower and are further separated in a separation unit to produce an ethylene stream, a propylene stream, and a BTX stream. The C.sub.4 hydrocarbons, ethane, and propane from the effluent of the steam cracking unit and the effluent from the catalytic cracking unit are recycled to the steam cracking unit. The non-BTX C.sub.6+ hydrocarbons from the effluent of the steam cracking unit and the effluent from the catalytic cracking unit are recycled to the catalytic cracking unit.

Systems and methods for producing light olefins and BTX (benzene, toluene, and xylene). Crude oil is first separated to produce light naphtha and heavy naphtha. Light naphtha is fed to a steam cracking unit and heavy naphtha is fed to a catalytic cracking unit. The effluent from the steam cracking unit and the effluent from the catalytic cracking unit are flowed into an oil quench tower and are further separated in a separation unit to produce an ethylene stream, a propylene stream, and a BTX stream. The C.sub.4 hydrocarbons, ethane, and propane from the effluent of the steam cracking unit and the effluent from the catalytic cracking unit are recycled to the steam cracking unit. The non-BTX C.sub.6+ hydrocarbons from the effluent of the steam cracking unit and the effluent from the catalytic cracking unit are recycled to the catalytic cracking unit.

The present invention provides an electrocatalytic material and a method for making an electrocatalytic material. There is also provided an electrocatalytic material comprising amorphous metal or mixed metal oxides. There is also provided methods of forming an electrocatalyst, comprising an amorphous metal oxide film.

The present invention utilizes mechanical vapor compression and/or thermal vapor compression integrating compression loops across multiple process stages. A sequential network of compressors is utilized to increase the pressure and condensing temperature of the vapors within each process stage, as intra-vapor flow, and branching between process stages, as inter-vapor flow. Because the vapors available are shared among and between compressor stages, the number of compressors can be reduced, improving economics. Balancing vapor mass flow through incremental compressor stages which traverse multiple process stages by splitting vapors between compressor stages enables the overall vapor-compression system to be tailored to individual process energy requirements and to accommodate dynamic fluctuations in process conditions.

The present invention utilizes mechanical vapor compression and/or thermal vapor compression integrating compression loops across multiple process stages. A sequential network of compressors is utilized to increase the pressure and condensing temperature of the vapors within each process stage, as intra-vapor flow, and branching between process stages, as inter-vapor flow. Because the vapors available are shared among and between compressor stages, the number of compressors can be reduced, improving economics. Balancing vapor mass flow through incremental compressor stages which traverse multiple process stages by splitting vapors between compressor stages enables the overall vapor-compression system to be tailored to individual process energy requirements and to accommodate dynamic fluctuations in process conditions.

A method for upgrading a petroleum feedstock using a supercritical water petroleum upgrading system includes introducing the petroleum feedstock, water and an auxiliary feedstock. The method includes operating the system to combine the petroleum feedstock and the water to form a mixed petroleum feedstock and introducing separately and simultaneously into a lower portion of an upflowing supercritical water reactor. The auxiliary feedstock is introduced such that a portion of a fluid contained within the upflowing reactor located proximate to the bottom does not lack fluid momentum. An embodiment of the method includes operating the supercritical water petroleum upgrading system such that the upflowing reactor product fluid is introduced into an upper portion of a downflowing supercritical water reactor. The supercritical water petroleum upgrading system includes the upflowing supercritical water reactor and optionally a downflowing supercritical water reactor.

A method for upgrading a petroleum feedstock using a supercritical water petroleum upgrading system includes introducing the petroleum feedstock, water and an auxiliary feedstock. The method includes operating the system to combine the petroleum feedstock and the water to form a mixed petroleum feedstock and introducing separately and simultaneously into a lower portion of an upflowing supercritical water reactor. The auxiliary feedstock is introduced such that a portion of a fluid contained within the upflowing reactor located proximate to the bottom does not lack fluid momentum. An embodiment of the method includes operating the supercritical water petroleum upgrading system such that the upflowing reactor product fluid is introduced into an upper portion of a downflowing supercritical water reactor. The supercritical water petroleum upgrading system includes the upflowing supercritical water reactor and optionally a downflowing supercritical water reactor.

A process of making an aromatization catalyst comprising: (a) mixing a zeolite, a binder, and water to form a mixture; (b) extruding the mixture to form a green extrudate; (c) drying the green extrudate to form a dried green extrudate; (d) calcining the dried green extrudate to form a support, wherein calcining the dried green extrudate is the only calcination step in the process; (e) washing the support to form a washed support; (f) drying the washed support to form a dried washed support; (g) impregnating the dried washed support with a Group 8-10 transition metal compound and at least one halide-containing compound to form a metalized-halided material; and (h) vacuum drying the metalized-halided material to form a dried metalized-halided material which is the aromatization catalyst.

A process of making an aromatization catalyst comprising: (a) mixing a zeolite, a binder, and water to form a mixture; (b) extruding the mixture to form a green extrudate; (c) drying the green extrudate to form a dried green extrudate; (d) calcining the dried green extrudate to form a support, wherein calcining the dried green extrudate is the only calcination step in the process; (e) washing the support to form a washed support; (f) drying the washed support to form a dried washed support; (g) impregnating the dried washed support with a Group 8-10 transition metal compound and at least one halide-containing compound to form a metalized-halided material; and (h) vacuum drying the metalized-halided material to form a dried metalized-halided material which is the aromatization catalyst.

This disclosure provides systems and methods that utilize integrated mechanical vapor or thermal vapor compression to upgrade process vapors and condense them to recover the heat of condensation across multiple processes, wherein the total process energy is reduced. Existing processes that are unable to recover the heat of condensation in vapors are integrated with mechanical or thermal compressors that raise vapor pressures and temperatures sufficient to permit reuse. Integrating multiple processes permits vapor upgrading that can selectively optimize energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, process economics, or a prioritized blend of such goals. Mechanical or thermal vapor compression also alters the type of energy required in industrial processes, favoring electro-mechanical energy which can be supplied from low-carbon, renewable sources rather than combustion of carbonaceous fuels.