Cracking condensates

Figure 6. Effect of the extent of cracking (condensed-oil basis) on three 1-alkene/ n-alkane ratios. The ratios were determined by capillary column chromatography with an FID detector. C8 ) C12 (O) C18 ([J).

In a FCC condensate, the COD is due to sulfides and phenols, whereas in a steam cracking condensate, it can be due mainly to aldehydes and acetic acid-... 

Acecates occur in steam cracking condensates and in some formation water. 

Partial recycling of distillation condensates, stripped FCC condensates, or better yet by steam cracking condensates that contain fewer salts. 

This technique was developed under the name Phenex (Humble Oil and Refining Co., Baton Rouge) and was designed to deal with catalytic cracking condensates which only contain from 400 to 800 mgT of phenols, radier than spent caustic. 

Figure 53 shows the advantages of simple extraction for spent caustic alone, which is much more concentrated than cracking condensates. 

If inert material is to be added, then ease of separation is an important consideration. For example, steam is added as an inert to hydrocarbon cracking reactions and is an attractive material in this respect because it is easily separated from the hydrocarbon components by condensation. If the reaction does not involve any change in the number of moles, inert material has no effect on equilibrium conversion. 

A water-condenser can be used for any liquid the boiling-point of which does not exceed 140°. Above this temperature, an air-condenser (i.e., a straight glass tube having no jacket) should be used. If a water-condenser is used above 140°, there is always a risk of the condenser cracking at the point where the hot vapour first meets the water-cooled portion. 

The cyanoacryhc esters are prepared via the Knoevenagel condensation reaction (5), in which the corresponding alkyl cyanoacetate reacts with formaldehyde in the presence of a basic catalyst to form a low molecular weight polymer. The polymer slurry is acidified and the water is removed. Subsequendy, the polymer is cracked and redistilled at a high temperature onto a suitable stabilizer combination to prevent premature repolymerization. Strong protonic or Lewis acids are normally used in combination with small amounts of a free-radical stabilizer. 

The above batch process has undergone numerous refinements to improve yields, processing characteristics, purity, and storage stabiUty, but it remains the standard method of manufacture for these products. Recentiy a continuous process has been reported by Bayer AG (6) wherein the condensation is carried out in an extmder. The by-products are removed in a degassing zone, and the molten polymer, mixed with stabilizers, is subsequendy cracked to yield raw monomer. 

Naphtha desulfurization is conducted in the vapor phase as described for natural gas. Raw naphtha is preheated and vaporized in a separate furnace. If the sulfur content of the naphtha is very high, after Co—Mo hydrotreating, the naphtha is condensed, H2S is stripped out, and the residual H2S is adsorbed on ZnO. The primary reformer operates at conditions similar to those used with natural gas feed. The nickel catalyst, however, requires a promoter such as potassium in order to avoid carbon deposition at the practical levels of steam-to-carbon ratios of 3.5—5.0. Deposition of carbon from hydrocarbons cracking on the particles of the catalyst reduces the activity of the catalyst for the reforming and results in local uneven heating of the reformer tubes because the firing heat is not removed by the reforming reaction. 

Alternatively, thermal cracking of acetals or metal-catalyzed transvinylation can be employed. Vinyl acetate or MVE can be employed for transvinylation and several references illustrate the preparation especially of higher vinyl ethers by such laboratory techniques. Special catalysts and conditions are required for the synthesis of the phenol vinyl ethers to avoid resinous condensation products (6,7). Direct reaction of ethylene with alcohols has also been investigated (8). 

Drilling Muds in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry. Since 1941, chromium chemicals have been used in the drilling of wells to combat fatigue corrosion cracking of drill strings, with about one metric ton of sodium chromate being used aimuaHy for an average West Texas well. Other early uses were in gas-condensate wells in Louisiana and East Texas. 

Thermal shock failures using water result from the water vapor entering the enamel layer through small, submicroscopic cracks formed at the instant of shock. The water condenses in the cracks and in the bubbles of the enamel traversed by the cracks. On subsequent heating, the vapor from the entrapped water expands to cause spalling of the enamel layer. Other quenchant Hquids, such as toluene, oils, and other organic Hquids, also cause fine, almost invisible cracks, but thermal shock failures do not result with these quenchants on subsequent heating (39). 

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