The present invention relates to compounds capable of forming metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), particularly f-block metal MOFs which selectively sorb one component (e.g. para-xylene) from a mixture of components (e.g. m-/p-xylene mixture). The invention also relates to methods of producing and using said compounds.

The present invention relates to compounds capable of forming metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), particularly f-block metal MOFs which selectively sorb one component (e.g. para-xylene) from a mixture of components (e.g. m-/p-xylene mixture). The invention also relates to methods of producing and using said compounds.

The present invention relates to compounds capable of forming metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), particularly f-block metal MOFs which selectively sorb one component (e.g. para-xylene) from a mixture of components (e.g. m-/p-xylene mixture). The invention also relates to methods of producing and using said compounds.

The present invention provides a paraffin mixture that is suitable for use as cosmetics and cleansing oil for skin and hair and has excellent volatility. The paraffin mixture according to the present invention is a mixture that contains isoparaffin having a carbon number of 12 to 16, and the mixture has a boiling point range of 185° C. to 215° C. and has the content of 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane at less than 10 mass %.

The present invention provides a paraffin mixture that is suitable for use as cosmetics and cleansing oil for skin and hair and has excellent volatility. The paraffin mixture according to the present invention is a mixture that contains isoparaffin having a carbon number of 12 to 16, and the mixture has a boiling point range of 185° C. to 215° C. and has the content of 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane at less than 10 mass %.

An adsorptive separation process and system are used for separation of multi-component fluid mixtures. The separation process and system may include establishing, in a fluid flow within the system, a concentration distribution of the fluid mixture components based upon the components' relative affinities to the adsorbent. The concentration distribution could be establishing using a simulated moving bed system, wherein it is possible to maintain separately-identifiable portions of the fluid flow, respectively rich in strongly-adsorbing, intermediately-adsorbing, and weakly-adsorbing compounds of the fluid mixture. An intermediate raffinate of high purity in the intermediately-adsorbing compound is directly withdrawn from the portion of the fluid flow rich in intermediately-adsorbing compound(s), providing a single-stage adsorptive separation of a compound having intermediate affinity to the adsorbent. The portion of the fluid flow rich in intermediately-adsorbing compound(s) may be established directly upstream from the point of fluid mixture feed injection into the fluid flow.

An adsorptive separation process and system are used for separation of multi-component fluid mixtures. The separation process and system may include establishing, in a fluid flow within the system, a concentration distribution of the fluid mixture components based upon the components' relative affinities to the adsorbent. The concentration distribution could be establishing using a simulated moving bed system, wherein it is possible to maintain separately-identifiable portions of the fluid flow, respectively rich in strongly-adsorbing, intermediately-adsorbing, and weakly-adsorbing compounds of the fluid mixture. An intermediate raffinate of high purity in the intermediately-adsorbing compound is directly withdrawn from the portion of the fluid flow rich in intermediately-adsorbing compound(s), providing a single-stage adsorptive separation of a compound having intermediate affinity to the adsorbent. The portion of the fluid flow rich in intermediately-adsorbing compound(s) may be established directly upstream from the point of fluid mixture feed injection into the fluid flow.

In a process for producing para-xylene, a feed stream comprising C.sub.6+ aromatic hydrocarbons is separated into a toluene-containing stream, a C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream and a C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream. The toluene-containing stream is contacted with a methylating agent to convert toluene to xylenes and produce a methylated effluent stream. Para-xylene is recovered from the C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream and the methylated effluent stream in a para-xylene recovery section to produce a para-xylene depleted stream, which is then contacted with a xylene isomerization catalyst under liquid phase conditions effective to isomerize xylenes in the para-xylene depleted stream and produce an isomerized stream. The C.sub.9+-containing stream with a transalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to convert C.sub.9+-aromatics to C.sub.8−-aromatics and produce a transalkylated stream, which is recycled together with the isomerized stream to the para-xylene recovery section.

In a process for producing para-xylene, a feed stream comprising C.sub.6+ aromatic hydrocarbons is separated into a toluene-containing stream, a C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream and a C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream. The toluene-containing stream is contacted with a methylating agent to convert toluene to xylenes and produce a methylated effluent stream. Para-xylene is recovered from the C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream and the methylated effluent stream in a para-xylene recovery section to produce a para-xylene depleted stream, which is then contacted with a xylene isomerization catalyst under liquid phase conditions effective to isomerize xylenes in the para-xylene depleted stream and produce an isomerized stream. The C.sub.9+-containing stream with a transalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to convert C.sub.9+-aromatics to C.sub.8−-aromatics and produce a transalkylated stream, which is recycled together with the isomerized stream to the para-xylene recovery section.

Metal-organic framework materials (MOFs) are highly porous entities comprising a multidentate organic ligand coordinated to multiple metal centers, typically as a coordination polymer. Some highly porous MOFs lack stability at ambient conditions. MOFs having ambient condition stability may comprise a plurality of metal clusters (M.sub.4O clusters, M=a metal), and a plurality of 4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzoate ligands coordinated to the plurality of metal clusters to define an at least partially crystalline network structure having a plurality of internal pores. Methods for synthesizing these MOFs may comprise combining a metal source, such as a preformed metal cluster, with 4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzoic acid, and reacting the preformed metal cluster with the 4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzoic acid to form a MOF having an at least partially crystalline network structure with a plurality of internal pores defined therein and comprising a plurality of metal clusters coordinated to a multidentate organic ligand comprising 4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzoate.