The present invention relates to a process for preparing acrylic acid from formaldehyde and acetic acid, comprising reacting formaldehyde and acetic acid via an aldol condensation in a reaction unit comprising n reaction zones arranged in series, each comprising an aldol condensation catalyst, where n is at least 2, and wherein at least one stream leaving a reaction zone, before being fed into the reaction zone immediately downstream, is mixed with a stream comprising formaldehyde and optionally comprising acetic acid. The present invention further relates to an apparatus for preparing acrylic acid from formaldehyde and acetic acid and to the use of this apparatus.

An apparatus for use in heterogeneous catalytic reactions comprising a column reactor comprising a plurality of trays mounted one above another, each adapted to hold a predetermined liquid volume and a charge of particles of a solid catalyst thereon; means for introducing a liquid phase reactant above the uppermost tray; means for introducing a vapor phase reactant below the lowermost tray; means for removing a liquid phase post-reaction stream from below the lowermost tray; means for removing a vapor phase post-reaction stream from above the uppermost tray; vapor upcomer means associated with each tray adapted to allow vapor to enter that tray from below; undertow means associated with each tray adapted to remove liquid from that tray and the column reactor before being introduced into the column reactor at a lower tray; means for temporarily directing said liquid removed from a tray to bypass at least one lower tray and be reintroduced to the column reactor at a tray located below said at least one bypassed tray; means for removing the liquid and catalyst from said at least one bypassed tray: and means for replacing a liquid and catalyst inventory on said at least one bypassed tray.

A method for producing metal chloride M.sup.x+Clx includes reacting metal carbonate in solid form using phosgene, diphosgene and/or triphosgene to form metal chloride M.sup.x+Clx, wherein the metal M is selected from the group containing alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, Al and Zn, Li and Mg, or Li, for example, and x corresponds to the valency of the metal cations. An apparatus for performing such method is also disclosed.

In an embodiment, a method of producing a carbonate comprises reacting carbon monoxide and chlorine in a phosgene reactor in the presence of a catalyst to produce a first product comprising phosgene; wherein carbon tetrachloride is present in the first product in an amount of 0 to 10 ppm by volume based on the total volume of phosgene; and reacting a monohydroxy compound with the phosgene to produce the carbonate; wherein the phosgene reactor comprises a tube, a shell, and a space located between the tube and the shell; wherein the tube comprises one or more of a mini-tube section and a second tube section; a first concentric tube concentrically located in the shell; a twisted tube; an internal scaffold; and an external scaffold.

A multi-stage process for transforming a high sulfur ISO 8217 compliant Feedstock Heavy Marine Fuel Oil involving a core desulfurizing process that produces a Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil that can be used as a feedstock for subsequent refinery process such as anode grade coking, needle coking and fluid catalytic cracking. The Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil exhibits multiple properties desirable as a feedstock for those processes including a sulfur level has a maximum sulfur content (ISO 14596 or ISO 8754) between the range of 0.05 mass % to 1.0 mass. A process plant for conducting the process is also disclosed.

A multi-stage process for the production of an ISO8217 compliant Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil from ISO 8217 compliant Feedstock Heavy Marine Fuel Oil involving a core process under reactive conditions in a Reaction System composed of one or more reaction vessels, wherein one or more of the reaction vessels contains one or more catalysts in the form of a structured catalyst bed and is operated under reactive distillation conditions. The Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil has a sulfur level has a maximum sulfur content (ISO 14596 or ISO 8754) between the range of 0.05 mass % to 1.0 mass. A process plant for conducting the process for conducting the process is disclosed.

A process for reducing the environmental contaminants in a ISO 8217:2017 Table 2 compliant Feedstock Heavy Marine Fuel Oil and resulting product, the process involving: mixing a Feedstock Heavy Marine Fuel Oil with a Activating Gas to give a feedstock mixture; contacting the feedstock mixture with one or more catalysts to form a Process Mixture; separating the Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil from the Process Mixture and, discharging the Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil. The Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil complies with ISO 8217:2017 Table 2 for residual marine fuel and the Environmental Contaminants, which are selected from the group consisting of: a sulfur; vanadium, nickel, iron, aluminum and silicon and combinations thereof, are less than 0.5 wt. %. The Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil can be used as blending stock for an ISO 8217:2017 Table 2 compliant, IMO 2020 compliant, low sulfur heavy marine fuel composition.