Fine-tune your EbscoHost Search Technique

“The most perfect technique is that which is not noticed at all.” -- Pablo Casals (Spanish Cellist and Conductor, 1876-1973)

Many organizations subscribe to one or more online research services.  They all have simple, easy to use search interfaces.  They also have advanced search features.  Mastering the advanced features can save you time by focusing the results of your search on highly relevant sections of the database.

Today’s tip … focus your search by selecting the journals that are most likely to contain the kind of article pertinent to your area of interest.

Case study … Search for “sulfur” in petroleum related journals in EbscoHost Academic

Step 1: Click “Publications”

Step 2: In the Publications Browse box type: hydrocarbon oil petroleum

Step 3: Select “Match Any Words” and click Search

Step 4: Browse the resulting list and Check the box next to each journal you want to include

Step 5: Click Add

Step 6: In the resulting window, click Search

Step 7: The next window provides the option to add search terms.  For this example, type “Sulfur”

Step 8: Click Search

Step 9: You’re done!  Browse the results.

Screen shots illustrating the above appear below.

Final tip … Every online database has its own peculiar way of going beyond simple searches.  Ask your librarian for guidance on advanced search techniques for your organization’s subscribed databases.

Your organization doesn’t employ a librarian?  You can ask your management to hire one … or you can use the services of an Independent Information Professional.  Visit AIIP-Association of Independent Information Professionals (www.aiip.org) to find one that fits your needs.

One more tip … add a Desulfurization Blog (www.desulf.blogspot.com) feed to your organization’s Intranet.

Conference Alert: 2nd Annual Global Petrochemicals Technology Conference

“To think is to practice brain chemistry.” -- Deepak Chopra (Indian ayurvedic Physician and Author, b.1947)

Thanks to a post to the Petroleum Downstream LinkedIn Group, I ran across the following upcoming conference …

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2nd Annual Global Petrochemicals Technology Conference

Advances in technology can see a growing utilization of methanol, coal, ethanol and CO2 as petrochemical feedstocks, with the ‘green’ factor in ethanol & CO2 usage already fueling interest among corporations to invest in further research and development activities

Key speakers:

Prof. Farid Benyahia, Qatar University

Professor & Head of Chemical Engineering Department, Qatar

Rob Parry, BASF - The Chemical Company

Executive Account Manager, Chemical Catalyst

Dr. Trevor J. Hutley, Saudi International Petrochemical Company (SIPCHEM)

General Manager, Product & Technology Development

Abdullah Al-Saeed, TASNEE Co.

PDH & PP Operations Manager

Ayman Ahmed Kamal Naji, QAPCO

Operations - Polyolefins Specialist

Abdulhadi Al-Ajmi, Equate Petrochemicals

R & D Leader

Dhaval Shah, SABIC Innovative Plastics

Sustainability Program Manager

Harith Al-Qurtas, TASNEE Petrochemicals, Saudi Arabia 

General Manager Operations

Pawan K. Bassim Chevron Phillips Chemical Co LP, USA

Global Director Licensing

Randy Hagenson, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co LP, USA

Licensing Manager

Martijn Vogelzang, Lyondellbasell Industries, Germany

Licensing Manager, Europe & AFMEI

Key advisors:

Dr. Trevor J. Hutley, Saudi International Petrochemical Company (SIPCHEM)

General Manager, Product and Technology Development

Kaizad Sunavala, Chevron (USA)

Advisor, Global Refining Design for Reliability

Rob Parry, BASF (UK)

Executive Account Manager, Chemical Catalyst Europe

Abdulhadi Al-Ajmi, Equate Petrochemicals (Kuwait)

R & D Leader

Prof. Farid Benyahia, Qatar University

Professor & Head of Chemical Engineering Department

Dr. Purandar Chakravarty, Essar Oil (India)

General Manager - Technical and Head – Carbon Management

Mahesh Kalawar, Proteus Petrochemicals Pte Ltd (Singapore)

General Manager, Technical Services

Rajeev Pandia, KnowGenix (India)

Chief Mentor

Key topics:

Highlight the future of innovation & technologies in the Downstream industry

Learn more about alternative feedstocks available for petrochemical producers

Discuss trends in effective energy use & adopting cleaner fuels and reducing Co2 emissions

Come up with solutions on successful integration and catalyst development

Take in insight into technological advances & wastewater treatment for petrochemical plants

Who should attend:

Job Titles: Presidents, Vice Presidents, CEO’s / Managing Directors, Head of Strategy, Head of Technology, Director Technical & Technical Managers,

Heads of Catalyst, Head of Olefins, Steam Cracker, Polymer, Chemicals, Project Management Specialists, Head of Operations, Chief Operating Officers, Process Engineers, Plant Managers, Licensors, R&D professionals, Analysts and Consultants, etc.

Industries: Petrochemical Producers, Refineries, Oil and Gas Majors, Renewable Energy Companies, Technology Providers, EPC Companies, Catalyst Companies, Chemical Companies.

Event info:

E: natasha.jiandani@fleminggulf.com  Sponsorship info:

E: william.gordon@fleminggulf.com

source: http://www.fleminggulf.com/energy/middle-east/2nd-annual-global-petrochemicals-technology-conference

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I don’t know anything about Fleming Gulf (www.fleminggulf.com) , so you will want to do some due diligence before committing to the conference. 

You can begin by searching the names on the speaker list.  For example, Googling® Farid Benyahia, Qatar University results in …

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Professor Farid BENYAHIA

Qatar University, College of Engineering, Department of Chemical  Engineering

Professor Farid Benyahia joined the Department of Chemical Engineering in September 2006 and he is currently the Head of  Department.

Previously he held positions of Associate Professor, Professor and Head of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department at the UAE University (2001-06), Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at Teesside University in the UK (1992-2001), EPSRC Research Fellow in Chemical Engineering at Leeds University in the UK (1989-92) and Research Engineer in the petrochemical industry. Prof. Farid Benyahia obtained his BSc (Hons) in Polymer and Chemical Engineering from the University of Aston in Birmingham (UK) and his MSc and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Newcastle University in the UK. Professor Benyahia is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and a UK registered chartered    chemical engineer. He worked extensively on Chemical and Biochemical Reaction Engineering Systems (over 25 years experience) and process design and simulation. He supervised  and co-supervised to completion 11 PhD thesis, 15 MSc Projects (mainly in Clean Manufacturing and Environment) and acted as external examiner for 7 MSc's (research) and 3 PhD's in the UK. Prof Benyahia chaired the Research Degrees Committee in the School of Science & Technology of Teesside University (UK) and directed the MSc program in Clean Manufacturing Technology also at Teesside, UK. He is a reviewer for well known international journals in chemical engineering and research grant awarding bodies internationally. Prof Benyahia has carried out consultancy work for UK chemical and waste water industries and UAE industry. He developed an important infrastructure and research program at the UAE and Qatar Universities in soil bioremediation, advanced water treatment using immobilized cell technology (nitrification) in bubble columns, airlift bioreactors, membrane bioreactors and carbon capture and storage by mineralization. He has also been awarded  major research grants from JCCP (Japan), in partnership with TAKREER (Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Co) and Nippon Oil Corp (NORI, Japan) to develop advanced refinery oily waste water treatment technologies and an NPRP grant from Qatar Foundation to carry out research and development in CO2 mineralization.  

He trained undergraduate students in research methods and practice through 3 UREP grants funded by Qatar Foundation.

source: http://faculty.qu.edu.qa/farid/

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Contact your librarian or other information professional for guidance on other lines of research.  AND follow the Desulfurization Blog (www.desulf.blogspot.com) for a continuing stream of online research tips and tricks.

Miscellany … Journal of Chromatography A

"If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.” -- Earl Wilson

A couple of articles in the Journal of Chromatography A (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/502688/description#description) will interest some of you.

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Journal of Chromatography A

Volume 1218, Issue 3, 21 January 2011, Pages 534-544

Global approach for the selection of high temperature comprehensive two-dimensional gas  chromatography experimental conditions and quantitative analysis in regards to sulfur-containing compounds in heavy petroleum cuts

Marion.courtiade@ifpenergiesnouvelles.fr

Laure Mahéa, Thomas Dutrieza, Marion Courtiadea, Didier Thiébautb, Hugues Dulota and Fabrice Bertoncinia

a IFP Energies Nouvelles, Rond-point de l’échangeur de Solaize, BP 3, 69360 Solaize, France

b LSABM, UMR CNRS 7195 PECSA, ESPCI, Laboratoire environnement et chimie analytique, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France

Abstract

Extending the knowledge on sulfur-containing compounds is crucial for the petroleum industry because they contribute to atmospheric pollution by combustion. Most of them are concentrated in heavy petroleum cuts, such as vacuum  gas oils  (VGOs). However, the resolution of the existing analytical methods does not allow a quantitative speciation of S-compounds contained in VGOs. Therefore, a high temperature GC × GC chromatograph hyphenated to a SCD was implemented in this study to obtain a quantitative S-compounds speciation. Firstly, various thermally stable stationary phases, in particular the new ionic liquid IL59 and Mega Wax-HT, were investigated in 1D-GC as a way to reduce the number of columns sets to be used in GC × GC. Consequently, several normal and reversed configurations of these columns were selected and tested in GC × GC. Then, a decision method was applied to facilitate the choice of the best combination of columns. Finally, the most adapted methods led to an innovative group type quantification and to a quantitative distribution of heavy sulfur species contained in a VGO sample. These results represent a major step towards the study of S-compounds in heavy petroleum cuts.

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Journal of Chromatography A

Volume 1217, Issue 17, 23 April 2010, Pages 2918-2924

Separation  of alkanes and aromatic compounds by packed column  gas  chromatography using functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes as stationary phases

Andrea Speltinia, Daniele Merlia, Eliana Quartaroneb, and Antonella Profumoa

Andrea.speltini@unipv.it

Daniele.merli@libero.it

Eliana.quartarone@unipv.it

Antonella.profumo@unipv.it

a Department of General Chemistry, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy

b Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 16, 27100 Pavia, Italy

Abstract

In the present work, we show a novel application of pristine and functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) as stationary phase in low-cost packed columns for the  gas  chromatographic  separation  of alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons. The MWCNTs were deeply investigated by means of physical and chemical methods, like thermal analysis, IR and atomic force microscopy, and Inverse  Gas  Chromatography (IGC) in order to correlate the adsorption process and surface properties with the material purity level and functionalization degree. The derivatization process of the pristine nanotubes was a key factor to achieve a successful  separation  of both the light n-alkanes (C3–C5) and the related isomers (C4–C5 branched alkanes). Satisfactory results were similarly obtained in the case of  separation  of aromatic hydrocarbons (BTX).

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If either of these articles … or any other article you find … contains useful information, mine that vein.  Look for other articles written by the authors.  For example, Thomas Dutriez (co-author of “Global approach for the selection of high temperature comprehensive two-dimensional gas  chromatography experimental conditions and quantitative analysis in regards to sulfur-containing compounds in heavy petroleum cuts,” also authored …

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Extended characterization of a vacuum gas oil by offline LC-high-temperature comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Thomas Dutriez (1)

Journal of Separation Science, Volume 33, Issue 12, pages 1787–1796, June 2010

Abstract

In a context of environmental preservation, purification and conversion of heavy petroleum cuts into high-quality fuel becomes essential. The interest for the characterization of those very complex matrices becomes a trendy analytical challenge, when it comes to get molecular information for the optimization of industrial processes. Among new analytical techniques, high-temperature 2-D GC has recently proved its applicability to heavy petroleum matrices, but lacks in selectivity to separate all chemical groups. To gain resolution, heart cutting is demonstrated for LC separation of saturated, aromatic and polar compounds prior to high-temperature 2-D GC. Therefore, an extended global resolution was obtained, especially by a better distinction of saturated compounds. This includes iso-paraffins and biomarker polynaphthenic structures, which are impossible to quantify with MS methods. This new way to analyze heavy petroleum fractions gives innovative opportunities for the construction of global weight distributions by carbon atoms number and by chemical families. This can right now be employed for quantitative analysis of heavy petroleum fractions and for studying conversion processes.

source: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jssc.201000102/abstract

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And always remember and never forget … adding a feed of the Desulfurization Blog (www.desulf.blogspot.com) to your homepage is EASY and FREE.

Journal Alert: Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas

“The New England Journal of Medicine reports that 9 out of 10 doctors agree that 1 out of 10 doctors is an idiot.” -- Jay Leno (American TV Host and Comedian, b.1950)

Even if your primary focus is desulfurization, you may be interested in Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas (www.saudiarabiaoilandgas.com)

According to the journal’s Web …

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About Us

Saudi Arabia Oil and Gas Magazine is part of EPRasheed Group and was formed in June 2004. Saudi Arabia Oil and Gas covers field development expertise, technological programmes, technology applications and, from time to time, social developments. Specifically, Saudi Arabia Oil and Gas outlines key technology applications, technology partnerships and R&D initiatives in meeting Saudi Arabian E&P technology needs.There is also deep coverage of local content and technology development for the future.

CEO

Wajid Rasheed (Ex Hart's E&P Well Construction and Latin America Editor) has worked in many countries and has also served as a country manager for a major service company and as a technical consultant for Baker Hughes and Petrobras.

Editors

Mauro Martins (Baker Hughes, Christensen) has 25 years oilfield experience.

Majid Rasheed (International Editor). Majid has worked as a journalist for nearly 10 years and has interviewed many high profile Oil company executives incl. the President and CEO of Petrobras Sergio Gabrielli and ex President of PetroTrin Wayne Bertrand and several OPEC ministers.

Source: http://www.saudiarabiaoilandgas.com/

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While you’re at it, take a look at the Saudi Aramco Journal of Technology (http://www.saudiaramco.com/irj/portal/anonymous?favlnk=%2FSaudiAramcoPublic%2Fdocs%2FNews+Room%2FPublications%2FJournal+of+Technology&ln=en)

To quote from the journal’s Web …

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The Saudi Aramco Journal of Technology is published quarterly by Saudi Aramco to provide the company's scientific and engineering communities with a forum for the exchange of ideas. Articles present technical information aimed at advancing the hydrocarbon industry. The Journal of Technology is distributed without charge worldwide.

Source: http://www.saudiaramco.com/irj/portal/anonymous?favlnk=%2FSaudiAramcoPublic%2Fdocs%2FNews+Room%2FPublications%2FJournal+of+Technology&ln=en

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Here is the Table of Contents for the Spring 2011 edition.

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• Saudi Aramco Journal of Technology Table of Contents

• Giga-Cell Simulation

• First Successful Low-Cost Abrasive Perforation with Wireless Assisted Coiled Tubing in a Deviated High-Pressure/High Temperature Gas Well

• Hydrocarbon Reservoirs Where Proactive Geosteering Is Most Likely to Succeed

• Smart Combination of Technology Tools Resulted in a Successful Rigless Stimulation on a Trilateral Well:Case Study

• Inline Water Separation (IWS) Field Prototype Developmentand Testing

• Analysis of Long-Term Production Performance in Acid Fractured Carbonate Wells

• Integrated Multiwell Formation Evaluation for Diagnosing Reservoir Dynamics

• Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) Assessment in Crude Oil Pipelines

• Characterization of Corrosion Products in Saudi Aramco's Oil and Gas Facilities Using the X-ray Powder Diffraction Method 

Source: http://www.saudiaramco.com/irj/portal/anonymous?favlnk=%2FSaudiAramcoPublic%2Fdocs%2FNews+Room%2FPublications%2FJournal+of+Technology&ln=en

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Note that, as of the date of this post, clicking on the journal icon results in the download of the Spring 2010 edition … an oversight on the part of whoever updates this page.  However, clicking on each link in the table of contents results in selections from the Spring 2011 edition.

Defacing FaceBook … Corporate Pages

“Pictures deface walls more often than they decorate them.” -- William Wordsworth (Major English Romantic Poet. 1770-1850)

Lots of talk about how to use social media, including FaceBook, to promote your enterprise.  But how does one do that?

Why not begin by seeing what others have done?

Here are a few corporate FaceBook pages you might want to take a look at …

• Chevron (www.facebook.com/Chevron)
• ConocoPhillips (http://www.facebook.com/pages/ConocoPhillips/173793155340)
• Apache Corp. (http://www.facebook.com/ApacheCorporation)
• Koch Industries (http://www.facebook.com/KochIndustries)
• BP America (http://www.facebook.com/BPAmerica)

Whether your enterprise is corporate or academic, large or small, it might benefit from a FaceBook presence.  Give it some thought.

Here’s another thought … add the Desulfurization Blog (www.desulf.blogspot.com) as a feed on your Intranet.

ePTQ Technology Q&A

“I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said, "I don't know."” --- Mark Twain (American Humorist, Writer and Lecturer. 1835-1910)

The previous Desulfurization Blog post highlighted the value of PTQ-Petroleum Technology Quarterly, the journal.  This post highlights another valuable feature of the ePTQ site.

Go to ePTQ (www.eptq.com), register for the Technology Q&A, and begin browsing.  Search Q&A for “sulfur” and you find all sorts of interesting stuff … including the following exchange:

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Question
What Catalyst is good to upgrade a small Diesel Hydrotreater rated for 2200 BPSD in 1980, and what charge rate will be OK if available cut is Straight Run 315-371ºC TBP from Cusiana Crude? As per assay at http://portal.ecopetrol.com.co/categoria.aspx?catID=37
This cut shows ºAPI= 29.3, Sulfur= 0.271 %Wt, Total Nitrogen= 0.0202 %Wt, Cetane Index=55, and AROMATICS by SHEL method as follows: 3.52 %Wt for monoARO, 2.95 %Wt for diARO, 4.04 5Wt for TriARO, and 0.58 %Wt for TetraARO.
Reactor volume is 4 feet ID x 18 feet T/T rated for 900 psig at 800 ºF.
The unit has been hydrotreating 3000 BPSD of a kerosene cut. Hydrogen comes from the reformer (81.5 %H2), but pure hydrogen can be purchased locally if required for makeup.

Answers
07/10/2008
A: Samuel Sinanan, IPSL, Samuel.Sinanan@ipsl.co.tt
Well, your hydrogen partial pressure is good. Your LHSV at maximum throughput is 3.0. I have experience with Albermarle KF-757 in a similar service with good results.

Journal Alert: PTQ (Petroleum Technology Quarterly)

"The storm had now definitely abated, and what thunder there was now grumbled over more distant hills, like a man saying "And another thing…" twenty minutes after admitting he's lost the argument." From: So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish, By Douglas Adams

The articles in PTQ-Petroleum Technology Quarterly (www.eptq.com) occupy a middle ground between cutting edge research and hands-on how-to.  The articles are clearly written, well illustrated, and long enough to provide enough detail to give a clear picture of the practical application of the latest proven technologies.

Bookmark the ePTQ site.

And, when you read an article of interest, add key words to your list, to help you research your significant topics on Google, Yahoo!, ScienceDirect, EbscoHost, et al.

Key words I culled from a recent PTQ article … described below … include:

·         shell global solutions

·         HD tray

·         UFQ - Ultra Flat Quench

·         single-state enhanced aromatics saturation

·         SRO - selective ring opening

Here are excerpts from that article …

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PTQ - Catalysis (Vol. 16 No. 2, 2011)

Beyond ULSD

Developments in Catalyst and Internals Technologies Exploit the Flexibility of the ULSD Unit

David Casey, Salvatore P. Torrisi, Lawrence Kraus and John Smegal (Criterion Catalysts & Technologies)

Yvonne Lucas and Aris Macris (Shell Global Solutions)

David Casey is EMEA Technical Manager, Naphtha and Distillates, for CRI/Criterion Catalyst Company Ltd.

Salvatore P. Torrisi Jr. is Business Manager, Distillate Catalysts, for Criterion Catalysts & Technologies

John Smegal is Senior Research Chemist - Hydroprocessing, for Criterion Catalysts & Technologies

Lawrence Kraus works in Clean Fuels Projects, for Criterion Catalysts & Technologies

Yvonne Lucas is Licensing Technology Manager, Refining for Shell Global Solutons International BV

Acris Macris works in Licensing Technology, for Shell Global Solutons(US) Inc.

"The technical challenge, however, will be to maximize this volume while simultaneously meeting the increased fuel quality requirements, particularly the specifications for sulphur, boiling point, density, cetane and cold flow properties.  The good news, and the subject of this article, is that ULSD can act as an enabler for further upgrading."

"ULSD Chemistry: Good Match with Diesel Upgrading

“There are two key elements of ULSD that make diesel upgrading easier when compared with the older low-sulphur diesel (LSD) operation: a richer hydrogenation environment and a cleaner product that is devoid of most sulphur and nitorgen species.  Both of these factors promote aromatic saturation, ring opening, isomerization and cracking reactons.

"This improved operating environment can then be leveraged in a number of different ways to capture a range of upgrading opportunities.  There are two key enablers for implementing these upgrading opportunities: high-activity ULSD catalysts and reactor process technology, both of which are required to implement the additional chemistries."

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And another thing … remember to look at the author names for possible additions to your personal list of experts.

Jean Steinhardt is an expert online researcher, offering a continuing series of tips and tricks that can help you and your colleagues with your online research.  Ask your IT people to add a feed of the Desulfurization Blog (www.desulf.blogspot.com) to your organization’s Intranet.