Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc.

Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company

John K Pierce

Stephen Neil Vaughn

Albert Edward Schweizer

Douglas B King

Larry Lee Iaccino

Shun Chong Fung

Matthew J Vincent

Nicolas P Coute

Luc Roger Martens

Luc Roger Marc Martens

Christopher G Lington

Toby W Cox

The present invention relates to a method of testing catalysts and catalyst systems via a plurality of stations in which each station can accommodate a common reactor module in order to accomplish unattended, automated, rapid serial experimentation. The method includes the steps of: providing within a purged chamber a storage station of pre-loaded catalyst reactors, a hydrocarbon reaction station, one or more additional pre-treatment and/or post-treatment stations in series with said hydrocarbon reaction station, and a robotic means for moving catalyst reactors within the purged chamber between stations, pre-treating the pre-loaded catalyst reactor with a treatment gas in the post-treatment station, reacting the pre-loaded catalyst reactor with a hydrocarbon reactant in the hydrocarbon reaction station, post-treating the pre-loaded catalyst reactor with a treatment gas in the post-treatment station, and repeating the foregoing steps such that the pre-treating, reacting and post-treating steps occur simultaneously for two different pre-loaded catalyst reactors. The advantages of the present invention include improved accuracy, reproducibility and quality of test data generated, increased testing throughput rate, providing for automated unattended operation of the device, providing for the ability the ability to program a variety of sequences and settings, providing for the combination of a variety of processes (pre-treatment, HC reaction testing, post-treatment, aging, and characterization), and providing for higher temperature operation. The method finds application in laboratory test environments, and in particular in high throughput testing environments.

Rapid serial experimentation of catalysts and catalyst systems

An apparatus and process are described in which a plurality of preloaded catalyst samples tubes can be serially and automatically moved from a support to a reaction zone where each catalyst sample can be heated and a preheated reagent feed contacted with the sample and the effluent fed to a product collection and analysis system.

Catalyst testing apparatus and process

This invention is to a microreactor type of reaction and analysis system. The system includes a chemical reaction chamber having internal conduits through which a chemical reactant, such as a reaction gas, can be fed. The conduits for transporting fluids such as reactant, carrier gas and balance gas are in appropriate communication such that the amount of reactant going directly to a catalyst located in the reaction chamber can be optimally controlled. The system is highly useful for studying the kinetics of a chemical reaction.

Chemical reaction and analysis system

Hydrocarbon or oxygenate conversion process in which a feedstock is contacted with a non zeolitic molecular sieve which has been treated to remove most, if not all, of the halogen contained in the catalyst. The halogen may be removed by one of several methods. One method includes heating the catalyst in a low moisture environment, followed by contacting the heated catalyst with air and/or steam. Another method includes steam-treating the catalyst at a temperature from 400&#xb0; C. to 1000&#xb0; C. The hydrocarbon or oxygenate conversion processes include the conversion of oxygenates to olefins, the conversion of oxygenates and ammonia to alkylamines, the conversion of oxygenates and aromatic compounds to alkylated aromatic compounds, cracking and dewaxing.

Hydrocarbon conversion processes using non-zeolitic molecular sieve catalysts

Methods of calcining non-zeolitic molecular sieve catalyst to remove most, if not nearly all, of halogen contained in the catalyst. One method includes heating the catalyst in a low moisture environment, followed by contacting the heated catalyst with air and/or steam. Another method includes steam-treating the catalyst at a temperature from 400&deg; C. to 1000&deg; C. The calcination methods provides a catalyst that contains from about 10 ppmw to about 600 ppmw chlorine, preferably 10 ppmw to about 200 ppmw chlorine, more preferably 10 ppmw to about 80 ppmw chlorine.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

John K Pierce