Conocophillips Company

University of Kentucky Research Foundation

Devadas Panjala

Larry E Reed

Alfred E Keller

Joseph B Cross

Sriram Ramani

Charles John Lord, Iii

Gerald P Huffman

Naresh Shah

A process for removing naphthenic acids from an aqueous stream using a composition comprising calcium and activated carbon, and optionally a process for removing naphthenic acid and selenium compounds from an aqueous stream, is disclosed.

Naphthenic acid removal process

A process for purifying a light hydrocarbon stream containing HS is disclosed in which the selective catalytic partial oxidation of the HS component is carried out while the hydrocarbon components slip through substantially unconverted. A catalyst that favors the partial oxidation of HS over conversion of the hydrocarbon component of a gaseous HS-light hydrocarbon mixture is employed. Apparatus for selectively cleaning up light hydrocarbon streams containing low concentrations (e.g., less than 25 vol. %), and apparatus for selectively cleaning up light hydrocarbon streams having higher concentrations (e.g., greater than 25 vol. %) of HS are also disclosed.

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The present invention provides novel catalysts for accomplishing catalytic decomposition of undiluted light hydrocarbons to a hydrogen product, and methods for preparing such catalysts. In one aspect, a method is provided for preparing a catalyst by admixing an aqueous solution of an iron salt, at least one additional catalyst metal salt, and a suitable oxide substrate support, and precipitating metal oxyhydroxides onto the substrate support. An incipient wetness method, comprising addition of aqueous solutions of metal salts to a dry oxide substrate support, extruding the resulting paste to pellet form, and calcining the pellets in air is also discloses. In yet another aspect, a process is provided for producing hydrogen from an undiluted light hydrocarbon reactant, comprising contacting the hydrocarbon reactant with a catalyst as described above in a reactor, and recovering a substantially carbon monoxide-free hydrogen product stream. In still yet another aspect, a process is provided for catalytic decomposition of an undiluted light hydrocarbon reactant to obtain hydrogen and a valuable multi-walled carbon nanotube coproduct.

Catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons to hydrogen and high-value carbon

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Ponca City, OK, United States of America

Devadas Panjala