The invention relates to a selective hydrogenolysis method for treating a feed rich in aromatic compounds having more than 8 carbon atoms, comprising transforming at least one alkyl group with at least two carbon atoms (ethyl, propyl, butyl, isopropyl, etc.) attached to a benzene ring into at least one methyl group. The invention also relates to the integration of the hydrogenolysis unit into an aromatic complex.

The invention relates to a selective hydrogenolysis method for treating a feed rich in aromatic compounds having more than 8 carbon atoms, comprising transforming at least one alkyl group with at least two carbon atoms (ethyl, propyl, butyl, isopropyl, etc.) attached to a benzene ring into at least one methyl group. The invention also relates to the integration of the hydrogenolysis unit into an aromatic complex.

Tungstated zirconium catalysts for paraffin isomerization may comprise: a mixed metal oxide that is at least partially crystalline and comprises tungsten, zirconium, and a variable oxidation state metal selected from Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Ce, Ni, and any combination thereof. The mixed metal oxide comprises about 5 wt. % to about 25 wt. % tungsten, about 40 wt. % to about 70 wt. % zirconium, and about 0.01 wt. % to about 5 wt. % variable oxidation state metal, each based on a total mass of the mixed metal oxide. The mixed metal oxide has a total surface area of about 50 m.sup.2/g or greater as measured according to ISO 9277, and at least one of the following: an ammonia uptake of about 0.05 to about 0.3 mmol/g as measured by temperature programmed adsorption/desorption, or a collidine uptake of about 100 μmol/g or greater as measured gravimetrically.

Systems and methods for isomerizing n-butane to form isobutane are disclosed. A segmented reactor system is used to isomerize n-butane. The segmented reactor system comprises a segmented reactor that includes a first catalyst bed and a second catalyst bed separated by a first heat exchanger. The catalyst in the first catalyst bed does not contact the catalyst in the second catalyst bed. During the exothermic process of isomerizing n-butane, the first heat exchanger extracts heat from an intermediate product flowing from the first catalyst bed to the second catalyst bed to improve the conversion rate of n-butane.

Systems and methods for isomerizing n-butane to form isobutane are disclosed. A segmented reactor system is used to isomerize n-butane. The segmented reactor system comprises a segmented reactor that includes a first catalyst bed and a second catalyst bed separated by a first heat exchanger. The catalyst in the first catalyst bed does not contact the catalyst in the second catalyst bed. During the exothermic process of isomerizing n-butane, the first heat exchanger extracts heat from an intermediate product flowing from the first catalyst bed to the second catalyst bed to improve the conversion rate of n-butane.

Methods of preparing an acidic catalyst are disclosed that include heating a metal halide to produce a vapor phase metal halide, contacting an initial support material with the vapor phase metal halide in a reaction vessel causing a first chemical reaction and producing an intermediate acidic catalyst, contacting the intermediate acidic catalyst with HBr causing a second chemical reaction and producing an acidic catalyst product which is both more acidic than the intermediate acidic catalyst and more acidic than the initial support material.

Methods of preparing an acidic catalyst are disclosed that include heating a metal halide to produce a vapor phase metal halide, contacting an initial support material with the vapor phase metal halide in a reaction vessel causing a first chemical reaction and producing an intermediate acidic catalyst, contacting the intermediate acidic catalyst with HBr causing a second chemical reaction and producing an acidic catalyst product which is both more acidic than the intermediate acidic catalyst and more acidic than the initial support material.

A method for producing a three-dimensional porous transition alumina catalyst monolith of stacked catalyst fibers, comprising the following steps: a) Preparing a suspension paste in a liquid diluent of hydroxide precursor particles or oxyhydroxide precursor particles of transition alumina particles or mixtures thereof and which suspension can furthermore comprise a binder material in a maximum amount of 20 wt %, based on the amount of hydroxide precursor particles or oxyhydroxide precursor particles of transition alumina particles or mixtures thereof and/or a plasticizer and/or a dopant in a maximum amount of 10 wt %, based on the amount of hydroxide precursor particles or oxyhydroxide precursor particles of transition alumina particles or mixtures thereof, all particles in the suspension having a number average particle size in the range of from 0.05 to 700 m, b) extruding the paste of step a) through one or more nozzles to form fibers, and depositing the extruded fibers to form a three-dimensional porous catalyst monolith precursor, c) drying the porous catalyst monolith precursor to remove the liquid diluent, d) performing a temperature treatment of the dried porous catalyst monolith precursor of step c) at a temperature in the range of from 500 to 1000 C., to form the transition alumina catalyst monolith, wherein no temperature treatment of the porous catalyst monolith precursor or porous catalyst monolith at temperatures above 1000 C. is performed and wherein no further catalytically active metals, metal oxides or metal compounds are applied to the surface of the transition alumina precursor particles, the catalyst monolith precursor or transition alumina catalyst monolith. no further catalytically active metals, metal oxides or metal compounds are present in the suspension paste.

Systems and methods for isomerizing n-butane to form isobutane are disclosed. A segmented reactor system is used to isomerize n-butane. The segmented reactor system comprises a segmented reactor that includes a first catalyst bed and a second catalyst bed separated by a first heat exchanger. The catalyst in the first catalyst bed does not contact the catalyst in the second catalyst bed. During the exothermic process of isomerizing n-butane, the first heat exchanger extracts heat from an intermediate product flowing from the first catalyst bed to the second catalyst bed to improve the conversion rate of n-butane.

Systems and methods for isomerizing n-butane to form isobutane are disclosed. A segmented reactor system is used to isomerize n-butane. The segmented reactor system comprises a segmented reactor that includes a first catalyst bed and a second catalyst bed separated by a first heat exchanger. The catalyst in the first catalyst bed does not contact the catalyst in the second catalyst bed. During the exothermic process of isomerizing n-butane, the first heat exchanger extracts heat from an intermediate product flowing from the first catalyst bed to the second catalyst bed to improve the conversion rate of n-butane.