Methods and a reactor system for producing acetic acid in a selective oxidation (SO) reactor are provided. An example method includes providing a fresh feed stream to the SO reactor, wherein the fresh feed stream includes a methane feed stream, a carbon dioxide feed stream, and a steam feed stream. Acetic acid is formed in the SO reactor. An acetic acid product stream is separated from a reactor effluent stream in a scrubber. A recycle gas stream is obtained from the scrubber. At least a portion of the recycle gas stream is combined into the fresh feed stream to the SO reactor.

The present invention relates to a process for starting up a reactor for preparation of phthalic anhydride by the catalytic oxidation of ortho-xylene and/or naphthalene, containing a bed of shaped catalyst bodies and within a temperature-controlled salt bath. The industrial production of phthalic anhydride from ortho-xylene and/or naphthalene is affected by selective gas phase oxidation in a shell and tube reactor cooled with a salt bath, which may contain several thousand reactor tubes. There are 4 to 5 different catalyst layers in each reactor, which are introduced into each reactor successively in axial direction.

The present disclosure relates to catalytic static mixers comprising catalytic material. The static mixers can be configured for use with continuous flow chemical reactors, for example tubular continuous flow chemical reactors for heterogeneous catalysis reactions. This disclosure also relates to processes for preparing static mixers. This disclosure also relates to continuous flow chemical reactors comprising the static mixers, systems comprising the continuous flow chemical reactors, processes for synthesising products using the continuous flow reactors, and methods for screening catalytic materials using the static mixers.

The present disclosure relates to catalytic static mixers comprising catalytic material. The static mixers can be configured for use with continuous flow chemical reactors, for example tubular continuous flow chemical reactors for heterogeneous catalysis reactions. This disclosure also relates to processes for preparing static mixers. This disclosure also relates to continuous flow chemical reactors comprising the static mixers, systems comprising the continuous flow chemical reactors, processes for synthesising products using the continuous flow reactors, and methods for screening catalytic materials using the static mixers.

An electrically heated reactor is a tube surrounded by electrical heating means having radiative sheeting placed coaxially with regard to the reactor tube. The surface area of the sheeting facing the outer surface area of the reactor tube defines an inner surface area covering at least 60% of the reactor tube outer surface area. The distance between the reactor tube and the heating means is selected such that the ratio between the inner surface area of the electrical heating means to the reactor tube outer surface area is in the range of 0.7 to 3.0. The reactor is useful in many industrial scale high temperature gas conversion and heating technologies.

A liquid-phase reactor has an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder disposed along an axial direction of the reactor. The outer cylinder has a top head, a straight cylinder section and a bottom head. An annular space is formed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. A top end of the inner cylinder is open and is in communication with the annular space. The inner cylinder has an upper cylinder and a lower cylinder sequentially from top to bottom. The upper cylinder is positioned in the straight cylinder section, with its cross-sectional area being gradually reduced from top to bottom. The lower cylinder is positioned in the bottom head, with its cross-sectional area being gradually increased from top to bottom. An inorganic membrane tube extending along the axial direction of the reactor is provided in the lower cylinder so that a shell-and-tube structure is formed.

This disclosure provides improved processes for converting aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene/toluene, alkylation, transalkylation, or isomerization. In an embodiment, a process comprises utilizing a passivated reactor to reduce deactivation of a molecular sieve catalyst. Additional measures such as the use of an auxiliary catalyst and/or an elevated reactor pressure may be used to further reduce deactivation of the molecular sieve catalyst.

The invention relates to a catalyst system and process for preparing dimethyl ether from synthesis gas as well as the use of the catalyst system in this process.

The invention relates to a catalyst system and process for preparing dimethyl ether from synthesis gas as well as the use of the catalyst system in this process.

Methods and systems for treating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated in a hydrocarbon treating process are disclosed. An effluent stream containing the VOCs, as well as carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) is combined with hot exhaust gas from a turbine and provided to a waste heat recovery unit (WHRU). The WHRU is adapted to contain a catalyst bed containing oxidation catalyst capable of effecting the oxidation of the VOCs. The temperature of the catalyzing reaction can be tailored based on the position of the catalyst bed within the temperature gradient of the WHRU. The methods and systems described herein solve the problem of effecting the removal of VOCs from the effluent. Heating the CO.sub.2-containing effluent in the WHRU also lend buoyancy to the effluent, thereby facilitating its dispersal upon release.