The invention relates to an integrated method for thermal conversion and indirect combustion of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in a redox chemical loop for producing hydrocarbon streams. The heavy hydrocarbon feedstock (1) is brought into contact with inert particles (2) in a thermal conversion zone (100). Thermal conversion in the absence of hydrogen, water vapour and a catalyst produces a first gaseous effluent of hydrocarbon compounds (4) and coke, which effluent is deposited on the inert particles (5). The latter is then burned in a redox chemical loop (200) in the presence of oxygen-carrying solid particles (6). The inert particles thus flow between the thermal conversion zone (100) and a reduction zone (300) of the chemical loop while the oxygen-carrying solid particles flow between the oxidation (400) and reduction zones (300) of the chemical loop.

A method for testing catalysts in a fluidized bed reactor comprises enclosing catalyst material in capsules having pores or holes smaller than the catalyst material, inserting the capsules filled with catalyst material to into a port of the fluidized bed reactor and recovering at least a portion of the catalyst capsules from the fluidized bed reactor after use through an additional port of the fluidized bed reactor, wherein the capsules move with a flow of uplifted fluid and gas in the fluidized bed reactor.

A method for testing catalysts in a fluidized bed reactor comprises enclosing catalyst material in capsules having pores or holes smaller than the catalyst material, inserting the capsules filled with catalyst material to into a port of the fluidized bed reactor and recovering at least a portion of the catalyst capsules from the fluidized bed reactor after use through an additional port of the fluidized bed reactor, wherein the capsules move with a flow of uplifted fluid and gas in the fluidized bed reactor.

A method for recovering an active metal of a lithium secondary battery according to exemplary embodiments comprises preparing a preliminary cathode active material mixture including a lithium composite oxide and a binder, forming a cathode active material mixture by removing the binder from the preliminary cathode active material mixture through a heat treatment in a fluidized bed reactor, and recovering a lithium precursor from the cathode active material mixture. Accordingly, the active metal of the lithium secondary battery can be recovered with high purity and high efficiency.

A process and reactor for contacting a feed stream with a catalyst stream comprises a reaction chamber comprising two spent catalyst inlets for delivering two spent catalyst streams to the reaction chamber and at least one regenerated catalyst inlet for delivering a regenerated catalyst stream to the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber may also include a second regenerated catalyst inlet for delivering a second regenerated catalyst stream to the reaction chamber. The second spent catalyst inlet enables thorough mixing of catalyst streams.

A process and reactor for contacting a feed stream with a catalyst stream comprises a reaction chamber comprising two spent catalyst inlets for delivering two spent catalyst streams to the reaction chamber and at least one regenerated catalyst inlet for delivering a regenerated catalyst stream to the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber may also include a second regenerated catalyst inlet for delivering a second regenerated catalyst stream to the reaction chamber. The second spent catalyst inlet enables thorough mixing of catalyst streams.

A method for the conversion of a carbonaceous material. The method comprising the steps of providing a carbonaceous material, providing a hot powder material and contacting the carbonaceous material and the powder material in an atmosphere configured to no more than partially oxidize carbon to CO.sub.2. The carbonaceous material is at least a partial converted into volatiles. The volatiles are separated from the additional components by specific gravity.

A method for the conversion of a carbonaceous material. The method comprising the steps of providing a carbonaceous material, providing a hot powder material and contacting the carbonaceous material and the powder material in an atmosphere configured to no more than partially oxidize carbon to CO.sub.2. The carbonaceous material is at least a partial converted into volatiles. The volatiles are separated from the additional components by specific gravity.

Apparatus and processes herein provide for converting hydrocarbon feeds to light olefins and other hydrocarbons. The processes and apparatus include, in some embodiments, feeding a hydrocarbon, a first catalyst and a second catalyst to a reactor, wherein the first catalyst has a smaller average particle size and is less dense than the second catalyst. A first portion of the second catalyst may be recovered as a bottoms product from the reactor, and a cracked hydrocarbon effluent, a second portion of the second catalyst, and the first catalyst may be recovered as an overhead product from the reactor. The second portion of the second catalyst may be separated from the overhead product, providing a first stream comprising the first catalyst and the hydrocarbon effluent and a second stream comprising the separated second catalyst, allowing return of the separated second catalyst in the second stream to the reactor.

Apparatus and processes herein provide for converting hydrocarbon feeds to light olefins and other hydrocarbons. The processes and apparatus include, in some embodiments, feeding a hydrocarbon, a first catalyst and a second catalyst to a reactor, wherein the first catalyst has a smaller average particle size and is less dense than the second catalyst. A first portion of the second catalyst may be recovered as a bottoms product from the reactor, and a cracked hydrocarbon effluent, a second portion of the second catalyst, and the first catalyst may be recovered as an overhead product from the reactor. The second portion of the second catalyst may be separated from the overhead product, providing a first stream comprising the first catalyst and the hydrocarbon effluent and a second stream comprising the separated second catalyst, allowing return of the separated second catalyst in the second stream to the reactor.