Exxon Research and Engineering Company

Grdc, LLC

Cop Energy Technologies LLC

Richard J Bellows

Patrick G Grimes

John L Robbins

Kenneth R Newby

Harry Einstein

Edward Kantner

Markus Zahn

Hsue C Tsien

Elise Marucchi-Soos

Henry A Wolf

David Terence Buckley

Gary Brice McVicker

David William Savage

Joseph Ernest Baumgartner

George D Cody

Chester W Elspass

Maureen A Grimes, Legal Representative

James P Dennis

A process, preferably continuous, for producing hydrogen gas comprising contacting in the liquid phase at least one oxidizable organic substance in the presence of a mixture comprising at least one conductive catalyst and an aqueous alkaline carbonate electrolyte, wherein at least one bicarbonate composition produced by reaction of the electrolyte is regenerated and the at least one oxidizable organic substance comprises a oxygenated hydrocarbon, for example methanol and/or dimethyl ether. In a preferred embodiment the alkaline electrolyte is regenerated using steam. Various advantageous reaction schemes are described, utilizing, e.g., co-current and countercurrent stream flow and alternative tower sequence arrangements.

Hydrogen production using electrochemical reforming and electrolyte regeneration

The present invention comprises a method for lowering the carbon monoxide content of a CO-containing hydrogen-rich gas stream by contacting the gas stream with a scavenger capable of preferentially oxidizing the carbon monoxide in the gas stream and then regenerating the scavenger. The scavenger is selected from the group of mixed oxides of manganese and copper; mixed oxides of manganese and copper in combination with mixed oxides of silver, nickel, iron, and tin; mixed oxides of tin and copper; SnO.sub.2 --CuO gels; and mixtures thereof. Preferably the scavenger will have a surface area from about 0.5 to about 200 m.sup.2 /gm.

Carbon monoxide removal method based on a regenerable CO scavenger

The invention is directed towards a CO-tolerant fuel cell electrode formed from a carbon supported, platinum dispersed, non-stoichiometric hydrogen tungsten bronze electrode catalyst. The electrode catalyst is capable of oxidizing CO at very low potentials, and is sequentially formed from stable precursors.

Co-tolerant fuel cell electrode

The invention is a composition, comprising: a carbon-supported, dispersed platinum-zinc alloy having the formula Pt-Zn.sub.x /C wherein x ranges from greater than 0.05 to less than 1 wherein platinum is in the form of platinum particles ranging in size from about 20 .ANG. to about 30 .ANG. on a carbon support, wherein the carbon is in the form of high surface area carbon having surface area ranging from about 100 to about 500 m.sup.2 /g, and the platinum particles are present in an amount ranging from about 10 to about 40 wt % on the carbon support. The composition is made by the process of depositing on the carbon support a soluble zinc source selected from the group of zinc nitrate, acetate, halides, formates, oxalates, and acetyl acetonates and mixtures thereof; calcining to convert the zinc source to ZnO; and then reducing the zinc oxide at a temperature ranging from about 250.degree. C. to about 600.degree. C., in the presence of hydrogen at a pressure ranging from about 1 atmosphere (100 KPa) to about 10 atmospheres(1000 KPa). or by the process of admixing zinc powder with Pt/C powder; and heating the mixture under a reducing atmosphere at a temperature sufficient to produce the Pt-Zn.sub.x /C alloy, wherein x ranges from greater than 0.05 to less than 1. The invention has utility in fuel cells in electrochemical processes requiring CO tolerant anodes.

CO tolerant platinum-zinc fuel cell electrode

The present invention comprises a method for lowering the carbon monoxide content of a CO-containing hydrogen rich gas stream by contacting the gas stream with an adsorbent capable of preferentially adsorbing the carbon monoxide in the gas stream, the adsorbent being selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhenium, iridium, the carbides and nitrides of tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium, chromium, tantalum, and mixtures thereof whereby a substantially CO free, hydrogen rich gas stream is obtained. Preferably the absorbent will have a surface area from 0.5 to about 200 m.sup.2 /gm.

Carbon monoxide removal method based on adsorption/steam desorption cycle

The present invention is a method for determining the mass flow rate of liquid from each of the nozzles on a manifold of nozzles. A method is demonstrated to provide an absolute calibration technique.

Method to determine liquid flow rate for manifold feed nozzles

Basically, the present invention is predicated on the discovery that zeolites that have a high silica to alumina ratio, e.g., a ratio of 20 and above, pore diameters of greater than about 5.0.ANG., and which have substantially no active acid sites, i.e., zeolites which are non-reactive toward olefin isomerization and oligomerization, are especially useful in substantially separating linear olefins and paraffins from hydrocarbon mixtures containing at least linear and branched aliphatic hydrocarbons and optionally containing aromatic and other hydrocarbons.

Zeolite composition for use in olefinic separations

A method for the separation of benzene from a hydrocarbon stream, such as a gasoline boiling range stream, which comprises contacting the hydrocarbon stream with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing the benzene from the stream, hydrogenating the adsorbed benzene to cyclohexane, and desorbing the cyclohexane from the adsorbent. The hydrogenation of the benzene to cyclohexane facilitates the removal of the benzene from the adsorbent.

Benzene removal from hydrocarbon streams

A on-line method for detecting erosion or plugging for manifolded feed nozzle systems which carry two-phase liquid/gas flow by determining a liquid flow parameter related to liquid flow. The method can determine whether the erosion is at the liquid nozzle or the gas restriction orifice. The amount of erosion or plugging can be quantified.

On-stream method for detecting erosion or plugging for manifolded feed

There is disclosed a process for stably fluidizing a magnetically stabilized bed by periodically removing and reapplying the magnetic field whereby axial dispersion and the width and length of channels between solid material are substantially reduced.

Process for reducing axial dispersion in a magnetically stabilized

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electrochemical cell having a metal bromine couple. The cell includes an electrode structure on which to deposit the metal of the couple and a counterelectrode at which to generate bromine. A microporous membrane separates the electrode and counterelectrode. Importantly, the aqueous electrolyte comprises an aqueous metal bromide solution containing a water soluble bromine complexing agent capable of forming a water immiscible complex with bromine and an additive capable of decreasing the wettability of the microporous separators employed in such cells by such water immiscible bromine complexes.

Electrolyte additive for improved battery performance

It has now been discovered that reduction in the coulombic efficiency of metal halogen cells can be minimized if the microporous separator employed in such cells is selected from one which is preferably wet by the aqueous electrolyte and is not wet substantially by the cathodic halogen.

Metal halogen electrochemical cell

A tunnel protected electrochemical device features channels fluidically communicating between manifold, tunnels and cells. The channels are designed to provide the most efficient use of auxiliary power. The channels have a greater hydraulic pressure drop and electrical resistance than the manifold. This will provide a design with the optimum auxiliary energy requirements.

Electrochemical device

An electrochemical cell construction features a novel co-extruded plastic electrode in an interleaved construction with a novel integral separator-spacer. Also featured is a leak and impact resistant construction for preventing the spill of corrosive materials in the event of rupture.

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Hampton, NJ, United States of America

Richard J Bellows