Houdry process

Butadiene. Although butadiene was produced in the United States in the eady 1920s, it was not until the start of Wodd War 11 that significant quantities were produced to meet the war effort. A number of processes were investigated as part of the American Synthetic Rubber Program. Catalytic dehydrogenation of / -butenes and / -butanes (Houdry process) and thermal cracking of petroleum hydrocarbons were chosen (12). 

Dehydrogenation of /i-Butane. Dehydrogenation of / -butane [106-97-8] via the Houdry process is carried out under partial vacuum, 35—75 kPa (5—11 psi), at about 535—650°C with a fixed-bed catalyst. The catalyst consists of aluminum oxide and chromium oxide as the principal components. The reaction is endothermic and the cycle life of the catalyst is about 10 minutes because of coke buildup. Several parallel reactors are needed in the plant to allow for continuous operation with catalyst regeneration. Thermodynamics limits the conversion to about 30—40% and the ultimate yield is 60—65 wt % (233). 

American Chemical. Society. (1996). A Mational Histone Chemical Landmark The Houdry Process for the Catalytic Conversion of Crude Petroleum to I ligh-Octane Gasoline. Washington, DC American Chemical Society. Buonora, P. T. (1998). Aimer IVicAfee at Gulf Oil. Chemical Heritage 16(2) 5-7, 44—4G. 

Fluid catalytic cracking rapidly overtook its competitors as both a source of fuel and of critical organic intermediates. Prior to 1942, the Houdry Process controlled 90 percent of the catalytic fuel market. But only three years later, in 1945, fluid cracking led all other catalytic cracking processes in market share (40 percent). At this time Thermofor technology stood at 31 percent, and Houdry at less chan 30 percent. 

The Houdry Process is used in the catalytic cracking of petroleum. 

Catadiene [Catalytic butadiene] Also spelled Catadien. A version of the Houdry process for converting mixtures of butane isomers into butadiene by dehydrogenation over an alumina/chromia catalyst. Another version converts propane to propylene. Rapid coking of the catalyst necessitates use of several reactors in parallel, so that reactivation can be carried out continuously. Developed by Houdiy and first operated at El Segundo, CA, in 1944. By 1993, 20 plants had been built worldwide. Now licensed by ABB Lummus Crest. 

CATOFIN [CATalytic OleFIN] A version of the Houdry process for converting mixtures of C3 - C5 saturated hydrocarbons into olefins by catalytic dehydrogenation. The catalyst is chromia on alumina in a fixed bed. Developed by Air Products Chemicals owned by United Catalysts, which makes the catalyst, and licensed through ABB Lummus Crest. Nineteen plants were operating worldwide in 1991. In 1994, seven units were used for converting isobutane to isobutylene for making methyl /-butyl ether for use as a gasoline additive. 

Cycloversion A petroleum treatment process which combined catalytic reforming with hydrodesulfurization. The catalyst was bauxite. The process differed from the Houdry process in that the catalyst bed temperature was controlled by injecting an inert gas. Developed by the Phillips Petroleum Company and used in the United States in the 1940s. Pet. Refin., 1960, 39(9), 205. 

Houdry The first catalytic petroleum cracking process, based on an invention by E. J. Houdiy in 1927, which was developed and commercialized by the Houdry Process Corporation. The process was piloted by the Vacuum Oil Company, Paulsboro, NJ, in the early 1930s. The catalyst was contained in a fixed bed. The first successful catalyst was an aluminosilicate mineral. Subsequently, other related catalysts were developed by Houdry in the United States, by I. G. Farbenindustrie in Germany, and by Imperial Chemical Industries in England. After World War II, the clay-based catalysts were replaced by a variety of synthetic catalysts, many based on alumino-silicates. Later, these too were replaced by zeolites. U.S. Patents 1,837,963 1,957,648 1,957,649. 

Hypotreating A process for desulfurizing and hydrogenating petroleum fractions. Developed by the Houdry Process and Chemical Company. 

Pyrotol A process for making benzene from pyrolysis gasoline by hydrocracking. Developed by Houdry Process and Chemical Company. In 1987, 13 units were operating worldwide. 

In 1930, Houdry was offered an opportunity to continue his research on fuels by the Vacuum Oil Company of the United States. He accepted that offer, moved to the United States, and formed his own company, Houdry Process Corporation, in partnership with Vacuum Oil. During World War II, he was a vocal opponentof the Vichy government in Fra nee, which repealed his French citizenship. Houdry became a U.S. citizen in 1942. 

The term "aviation gasoline indicates the gasoline which becomes the base of the aircraft fuel. It is either "straight-tun" or "cracked gasoline , prepd by the Houdry process. Its boiling range, 100°F(37.78°C) to 249°F(120.56°C), is lower than that for std gasoline... 

Naugatuck Chemical Co. From E. I. du Pont de Nemours Co. From Houdry Process Corp. 3 pKb, A. Farkas and K. G. Flynn, J. Amer. 

Late in 1930, Houdry was brought to the United States by the Vacuum Oil Co., subsequently the Socony-Vacuum Oil Co. His activities were transferred to the Sun Oil Co. in 1933, at which time the Houdry Process Corp. was organized. Socony rejoined the development in 1935. 

The inherent variability of the raw mineral, particularly with respect to minor constituents which in certain cases were known to have major effects on the cracking reaction, led to the development by the Houdry Process Corp. of a synthetic silica-alumina catalyst of controlled chemical composition and more stable catalytic properties. Full scale manufacture of synthetic catalyst was started in 1939. 

It is gratifying to the technicians of the Houdry Process Corp., Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., and Sun Oil Co. that a number of these engineering features developed in connection with the first commercial applications of fixed-bed catalytic cracking have proved of considerable interest to other industries where they are currently used. 

Dehydrogenation of z7-butane via the Houdry process is carried out under partial vacuum (35-75 kPa) at about 535-650°C with a fixed-bed catalyst. The catalyst contains... 

G. A. Mills, Houdry Process Corporation, Linwood, Pennsylvania... 

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