University of Alberta

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited

Amt International Inc.

Other

Cpc Corporation, Taiwan

Uop Lcc

Eka Nobel Ab

Alberta Research Council Incorporated

Nova Chemicals Inc.

Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.

Shiny Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.

Ethyl Tech Inc.

Karl T Chuang

Alan Rodney Sanger

Jingli Luo

Bing Zhou

Tzong-Bin Lin

Hung-Chung Shen

Yung F Chen

Kuang-Yeu Wu

Francis William Lemon

Guo-Chang Pan

Chong-Si Xu

Christina Dirk-Faitakis

Guangxia Chen

Stefan V Slavov

Maurice F Roett

Long Fu

Adam T Lee

Jyh-Haur Hwang

Andrzej Z Krzywicki

Cheng-Tsung Hong

Douglas A Lillico

Wei-Bin Su

Lindsey Vuong

Varagur S Rajan

Pai-Yu Polly Chiang

John C Donini

Hsun-Yi Huang

Edward K Liu

Mingqian Zhang

David R Thatcher

Allan E Everatt

Jing-li Luo

Guolin Wei

Xian-zhu Fu

Nemanja Danilovic

Vesna Stanic

Zhanping Xu

James B McMonagle

Robert J Quaiattini

William A Seddon

David E Clegg

Alan R Sanger

Propylene glycol methyl ether is produced by feeding a solution of a basic catalyst in methanol to a catalytic distillation column containing a heterogeneous basic catalyst defining a heterogeneous reaction zone, and feeding propylene oxide to the column. The methanol reacts with the propylene oxide according to a dual homogeneous catalytic reaction and heterogeneous catalytic reaction to form propylene glycol methyl ether, which is removed from the column as a bottoms product. Alternatively, methanol can be reacted with propylene oxide in a pre-reactor, to form propylene glycol methyl ether, and, when the temperature in the pre-reactor reaches about 100&#xb0; C., the reaction products are transferred to the catalytic distillation column for further reaction.

Process for producing propylene glycol methyl ether

Anode catalysts for conversion of hydrocarbon feeds in solid oxide fuel cell membrane reactors. An anode catalyst may be a mixture of a metal with a metal oxide, for example a mixture of copper or copper-nickel alloy or copper-cobalt alloy with CrO. Mixed oxides can be prepared by dissolving into water soluble salts of the different metals, chelating the metal ions with a chelating agent, neutralizing the solution, removing water by evaporation to form a gel which then is dried, and finally heating the dried gel to form a mixed oxide of the different metals. The chelating agent can be citrate ions, and ammonia can be added to the solution until the pH of the solution is about 8. The mixed oxide so formed then is reduced, for example by hydrogen, to form a composite comprising the metal (Cu, Cu&#x2014;Co, Cu&#x2014;Ni) and metal oxide, here CrO. Typically, the composite oxides so formed comprise approximately spherical nanoparticles, and the reduced composites are nanoparticles comprising very small particles of the metal within a network of the oxide, CrO.

Anode catalysts for fuel cell membrane reactors

A dual-bed catalytic distillation tower has a catalytic column having an upper catalytic bed filled with low temperature dehydration catalysts and a lower catalytic bed filled with high temperature dehydration catalysts. When using the dual-bed catalytic distillation tower, the feed may be fed to the tower at the top of the upper catalytic bed, between the upper and lower catalytic beds, or at the bottom of the lower catalytic bed for dehydration to obtain DME. The dual-bed catalytic distillation tower has the advantage of flexible set up depending on various feeds, such as anhydrous or crude methanol and on different grades of DME to be obtained.

Dual-bed catalytic distillation tower and method for preparing dimethyl ether using the same

A continuous epoxidation process for the production of high purity propylene oxide by the reaction of propylene with an oxidant that is a per-acid, such as peracetic acid (PAA), in a reactive distillation (RD) column. The RD column provides excellent heat integration and temperature control, and the process has the advantage of lower investment cost for capital equipment. The process operates at mild temperatures and pressures. A ferric acetylacetonate homogeneous catalyst and/or stabilizer may be included as part of the PAA feed to the process to increase PAA conversion and selectivity to propylene oxide. A pre-reactor can be incorporated upstream of the RD column to increase the residence time at lower temperatures to enhance productivity.

Process for producing propylene oxide

A process and apparatus is provided for reduction of dissolved oxygen content in seawater from about 8 ppm in the feed seawater to about 10 ppb or less. Significant advantages are achieved by: use of a separator in horizontal alignment to provide high gas-liquid contacting area for separation and de-entrainment within the separator, thereby providing higher throughput; and heating seawater to at least 30&#xb0; C. and up to 60&#xb0; C., so as to enhance removal of oxygen from seawater; use of once-through fuel gas as stripping gas and its subsequent combustion for heating the seawater provides for high efficiency and reduction of fouling. The combination of these features allows the amount of residual oxygen in deoxygenated seawater to be reduced to below 10 ppb and as low as 2 ppb.

Process and apparatus for removal of oxygen from seawater

The present invention provides a fuel cell in which electricity is generated and a paraffin is converted to an olefin. Between the anode and cathode compartment of the fuel cell is a ceramic membrane of the formula BaCeALYOwherein A is selected from the group consisting of Hf and Zr and mixtures thereof, e is from 0.1 to 0.5, L is a lanthanide and f is from 0 to 0.25 and &#x3b4; is the oxygen deficiency in the ceramic.

Paraffin fuel cell

The present invention provides a fuel cell in which electricity is generated and a paraffin is converted to an olefin. Between the anode and cathode compartment of the fuel cell is a ceramic membrane of the formula BaCeLYOwherein L is a lanthanide and f is from 0 to 0.25 and &#x3b4; is the oxygen deficiency in the ceramic.

The invention disclosed relates to catalytic distillation column internals providing improved liquid reaction mixture and catalyst contacting for simultaneous catalytic reaction and separation of the reaction mixture. The invention is an improved catalytic distillation apparatus providing optimum balance of catalytic reaction and mass transfer steps, wherein distribution, mixing and feeding of liquid reaction mixture to the reaction zone and distillation section are better controlled and more uniformly applied. At least one catalyst bed is situated in at least one receiving pan of a distillation tray so that the tray performs the functions of both of the reaction section and the distillation section of the catalytic distillation column simultaneously within a stage.

Apparatus for catalytic distillation processes

An electrochemical process for the oxidation of an alkane to at least one corresponding alkene uses an electrochemical cell having an anode chamber on one side of a proton conducting medium, and a cathode chamber on the other side of the said medium. The alkane is oxidized in the anode chamber to produce at least one corresponding alkene and protons are transferred through a proton conducting membrane to the cathode chamber where protons combine with a proton acceptor, while generating electricity and water. An apparatus for use in the process is also provided.

Electrochemical process for oxidation of alkanes to alkenes

The invention disclosed relates to the production of alcohols. A first aspect of the invention relates to a process for production of alcohols, and in particular to a process for the catalytic hydration of an olefin to the corresponding alcohol in substantially anhydrous form, under selected mild reaction conditions, and using a selected catalyst. A second aspect of the invention relates to a process for dehydration of an azeotropic mixture, including a first alcohol and water. A hydration reaction between the water in the azeotropic mixture and an added olefin, under selected mild conditions, and using a selected catalyst, produces a product including a second alcohol corresponding to the olefin, and the first alcohol, in substantially anhydrous form.

Process for production of alcohols

The present invention relates to an anode catalyst for use in the electrochemical oxidation of HS to elemental sulfur and water, specifically in a fuel cell having an ion-conducting membrane. The catalyst comprises a material prepared from two or more metal sulfides of the formula MS, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Fe, Mo, Cu, Cr, W and Mn, and x is between about 1.0 and about 2.5; a conductive material suitable for fuel cell operation; and a porous material. The invention further provides methods of preparing the catalyst, fuel cells comprising the catalyst and methods of electrochemically oxidizing HS using the catalyst.

[object Object]

A liquid/gas contacting apparatus is provided wherein the perforated trays have an upper liquid repellent layer of a fluorocarbon polymer, to increase, and spread, liquid flow over the tray, and a rough underside for bursting any bubbles of any spray there against. Ridges are provided forming chevron patterns between perforations in the trays to deflect liquid towards the casing sides and remove sediment therefrom.

Liquid/gas contacting apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Edmonton, Canada

Karl T Chuang