Slurry-Phase Reactors

Eastman Chemical Company has operated a coal-to-methanol plant in Kingsport, Tennessee, since 1983. Two Texaco gasifiers (one is a backup) process 34 Mg/h (37 US ton/h) of coal to synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is converted to methanol by use of ICl methanol technology. Methanol is an intermediate for producing methyl acetate and acetic acid. The plant produces about 225 Gg/a (250,000 US ton/a) of acetic anhydride. As part of the DOE Clean Coal Technology Program, Air Products and Cnemicals, Inc., and Eastman Chemic Company are constructing a 9.8-Mg/h (260-US ton/d) slurry-phase reactor for the conversion of synthesis gas to methanol and dimethyl... 

Another recent new application of a microporous materials in oil refining is the use of zeolite beta as a solid acid system for paraffin alkylation [3]. This zeolite based catalyst, which is operated in a slurry phase reactor, also contains small amounts of Pt or Pd to facilitate catalyst regeneration. Although promising, this novel solid acid catalyst system, has not as yet been applied commercially. 

Butanol over Naphtha Reforming Type Catalysts in Conventional and High Throughput Slurry Phase Reactors... 

In this study butyl acetate (AcOBu) was hydrogenolysed to butanol over alumina supported Pt, Re, RePt and Re modified SnPt naphtha reforming catalysts both in a conventional autoclave and a high throughput (HT) slurry phase reactor system (AMTEC SPR 16). The oxide precursors of catalysts were characterized by Temperature-Programmed Reduction (TPR). The aim of this work was to study the role and efficiency of Sn and Re in the activation of the carbonyl group of esters. 

We have demonstrated that supported Pd and Cu catalysts are effective in catalyzing the oxidative carbonylation at low pressure reaction condition and the supported metal catalysts can be easily separated from the product mixture in both fixed bed and slurry phase reactors (12,17). The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using Al203-supported Pd catalysts for catalyzing the reductive carbonylation of nitrobenzene with ethanol. 

SSPD [Sasol slurry phase distillate] A process for converting natural gas to diesel fuel, kerosene, and naphtha. Operated by Sasol in South Africa since 1993. Three stages are involved. In the first, natural gas is converted to synthesis gas by reforming. In the second, the synthesis gas is converted to waxy hydrocarbons in a slurry-phase reactor. In the third, the waxes are upgraded to middle distillates. See also Arge. 

Skeletal catalysts are usually employed in slurry-phase reactors or fixed-bed reactors. Hydrogenation of cottonseed oil, oxidative dehydrogenation of alcohols, and several other reactions are performed in sluny phase, where the catalysts are charged into the liquid and optionally stirred (often by action of the gases involved) to achieve intimate mixing. Fixed-bed designs suit methanol synthesis from syngas and catalysis of the water gas shift reaction, and are usually preferred because they obviate the need to separate product from catalyst and are simple in terms of a continuous process. 

There are two other kinds of reactors which should be suitable for the FT reaction. In the slurry phase reactor finely divided... 

Compared to other forms of bioremediation, slurry-phase reactors such as Biolift typically cost more than other forms of bioremediation (see Table 1). However, slurry-phase treatment typically requires less space and time than alternative bioremediation methods (D12501Z, p. 63). 

Estimated costs associated with various stages of slurry-phase reactor systems are summarized in Table 2. The table compares the cost of two sizes of Biolift reactors used to treat 20,000 yd (15,300 m ) of contaminated soil in 1993. The following is an explanation of some of the costs ... 

The phase transformations in the catalyst play an important role in determining the activity, attrition resistance, and deactivation of this catalyst. Activation of this precipitated catalyst transforms single crystals of hematite to smaller crystallites of carbide. While the transformation from hematite to magnetite is extremely rapid, the magnetite to carbide transition is much slower under the conditions of temperature and pressure employed in this study. As carbon deposits on the carbide particles, it serves to further prise the carbide particles apart. In a commercial slurry phase reactor the carbide particles break away leading to catalyst attrition. The implication of this work for the attrition resistance of iron FT catalysts is explored in detail elsewhere.18... 

Slurry phase reactors tanks into which wastes, nutrients, and microorganisms are placed. 

Particulate catalysts are usually sold by weight but are charged to a reactor by volume. Thus, the density of the support has a strong impact on the economics of the process. Fluidization in moving-bed reactors is also dependent on catalyst density. The density of powders affects the extent to which they can be suspended and eventually settled in slurry-phase reactors. 

Sasol Sasolburg, South Africa Initially coal, currently natural gas Fused Fe/K Precipitated Fe/K Precipitated Fe/K (spray dried) Circulating fluidised bed Multi-tubular fixed bed Slurry phase reactor 1955-ca. 1985 1955 1 1993 J 5 000... 

For the production of gasoline and other fuels by catalytic cracking of oils, a fluid bed reactor is used. This is a hybrid of a fixed bed and slurry phase reactor. The catalyst is fluidized as it interacts with the feed to be processed. This application is so important it... 

Due to their high specific surface area and pore volume, precipitated iron catalysts are characterized by high specific activity and can thus be operated at low temperatures. They can be u.sed in fixed bed and slurry phase reactors. 

In China, the Institute of Coal Chemistry (ICC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences together with the Shanxi New Style Fuel and Stove Company constructed a 500t/year DME plant in Xi an based on MeOH dehydration for use as a domestic cooking fuel as an alternative to LPG. Since 1995, the ICC has also been carrying out R D on one-step DME synthesis based on slurry-phase reactor technology.37 Also, plants of a total of 5,000,000 t/year DME capability have been proposed. 

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