Common Chemical Plant and Refinery Catalytic Processes

7 Common Chemical Plant and Refinery Catalytic Processes 

This is an endothermic reaction in a hydrogen environment taking place in the vapor phase. The catalyst is the size of grains of rice and contains very costly platinum (which sells for twice the price of gold). The objective is to produce aromatics benzene, toluene, or xylene. Benzene and xylene are the basic building blocks of the chemical industry. 

This is a very exothermic reaction. Iso-butane and light olefines react to form iso-octane, a gasoline blending component with a 100 octane. That s where the word octane comes from. Reaction takes place at 50°F, in a liquid phase of either H SO or HF acid. 

This is an old process using a solid bed of phosphoric acid. Reaction takes place in the vapor phase. Feed is normally propylene. Products are hexane and nonane. Polymerization is a very exothermic process. 

This is slightly exothermic process. Mercaptains are converted to disulfides by adding air. Catalyst is a blue powder (Merox), which impregnates a bed of charcoal saturated with caustic. Converting 

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