A fiber bundle contactor may include: a flow path defined by a conduit; a catalytic carbon fiber bundle disposed in the conduit; and an inlet allowing fluid flow into the flow path. A method may include: introducing into vessel a hydrocarbon comprising mercaptan sulfur, an aqueous caustic solution, and an oxidizer; reacting at least a portion of the mercaptan sulfur and the aqueous caustic solution to produce a mercaptide; and reacting the mercaptide and the oxidizer in the presence of a catalytic carbon fiber bundle to produce a disulfide oil.

The invention relates to a reactor and a method for producing a product, wherein the reactor comprises an inner part which is formed at least in part from a porous material comprising a catalyst and in which at least one reactant is arranged to flow into the inner part and after that through the porous material to form a product, a shell structure which surrounds the inner part, a space between the inner part and the shell structure in which the product formed from the reactant in the porous material is arranged to flow out from the reactor, and a heating device for heating electrically the porous material. Further, the invention relates to the use of the reactor.

A fiber bundle contactor may include: a flow path defined by a conduit; a catalytic carbon fiber bundle disposed in the conduit; and an inlet allowing fluid flow into the flow path. A method may include: introducing into vessel a hydrocarbon comprising mercaptan sulfur, an aqueous caustic solution, and an oxidizer; reacting at least a portion of the mercaptan sulfur and the aqueous caustic solution to produce a mercaptide; and reacting the mercaptide and the oxidizer in the presence of a catalytic carbon fiber bundle to produce a disulfide oil.

A catalytic reactor according to an embodiment includes a catalytic unit including at least one catalyst having a honeycomb structure in which a plurality of passages extending in an axial direction are formed, a reactor housing accommodating the catalytic unit, and a seal plate sealing between an outer periphery of the catalytic unit and an inner periphery of the reactor housing. The seal plate seals between the outer periphery of the catalytic unit and the inner periphery of the reactor housing at an upstream end portion of the catalytic unit with respect to a flow of a fluid flowing in the reactor housing.

A method for determining polymer concentration can include synthesizing a polymer in a reactor under a set of parameters, wherein the reactor comprises a solution mixture having a refractive index, and wherein the solution mixture comprises a solvent, a polymer, and optionally a monomer, wherein the solution mixture has a polymer concentration; measuring the refractive index of the solution mixture; comparing the refractive index of the solution mixture with a calibration curve; and identifying the polymer concentration in the solution mixture. A system for determining polymer concentration can include a reactor containing a solution mixture comprising a solvent, a polymer, and optionally a monomer; a flash vessel fluidly coupled to the reactor to receive the solution mixture from the reactor; and a first refractometer fluidly coupled to the reactor, placed between the reactor and the flash vessel, and configured to measure a refractive index of the solution mixture.

A reactor system for thermally treating a hydrocarbon-containing stream includes a pressure containment vessel having an interior chamber defined by a first end, a second end, and at least one sidewall extending from the first end to the second end. A heat transfer medium converts electrical current to heat is positioned within the interior chamber of the pressure containment vessel, and the heat transfer medium has a first end face, a second end face, and channels extending between the first end face and the second end face. A heat sink reservoir includes molten salt, and at least one of a heater or heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the heat transfer medium and thermally coupled to the heat sink reservoir.

A catalytic reactor according to an embodiment includes a catalytic unit including at least one catalyst having a honeycomb structure in which a plurality of passages extending in an axial direction are formed, a reactor housing accommodating the catalytic unit, and a seal plate sealing between an outer periphery of the catalytic unit and an inner periphery of the reactor housing. The seal plate seals between the outer periphery of the catalytic unit and the inner periphery of the reactor housing at an upstream end portion of the catalytic unit with respect to a flow of a fluid flowing in the reactor housing.

A method for determining polymer concentration can include synthesizing a polymer in a reactor under a set of parameters, wherein the reactor comprises a solution mixture having a refractive index, and wherein the solution mixture comprises a solvent, a polymer, and optionally a monomer, wherein the solution mixture has a polymer concentration; measuring the refractive index of the solution mixture; comparing the refractive index of the solution mixture with a calibration curve; and identifying the polymer concentration in the solution mixture. A system for determining polymer concentration can include a reactor containing a solution mixture comprising a solvent, a polymer, and optionally a monomer; a flash vessel fluidly coupled to the reactor to receive the solution mixture from the reactor; and a first refractometer fluidly coupled to the reactor, placed between the reactor and the flash vessel, and configured to measure a refractive index of the solution mixture.

Heterogeneous catalytic reactors and methods of their use. The reactors include heat transfer features that help establish a temperature gradient along an axial length of the reactors during use. The inventive reactors also include two or more different species of catalyst materials that are arranged within the reactors such that a given species of catalyst material is positioned at a temperature that will provide for improved or optimal catalytic performance.

A reactor system for thermally treating a hydrocarbon-containing stream includes a pressure containment vessel having an interior chamber defined by a first end, a second end, and at least one sidewall extending from the first end to the second end. A heat transfer medium converts electrical current to heat is positioned within the interior chamber of the pressure containment vessel, and the heat transfer medium has a first end face, a second end face, and channels extending between the first end face and the second end face. A heat sink reservoir includes molten salt, and at least one of a heater or heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the heat transfer medium and thermally coupled to the heat sink reservoir.