“All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual” -- Albert Einstein (German born American Physicist. Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. 1879-1955)
You add value to information by using it to solve technical problems. Add value to your added value by alerting other members of your technical team to new developments in their fields of interest.
“Why” you may ask, “should I take time from all the other things I have to do, just to make life easier for my colleagues?”
There are two reasons …
· Reason Number 2: Your colleagues. They will use the information they receive to improve their work, which will benefit them, which accordingly will benefit the organization, which thereby will benefit society etc.
· Reason Number 1: You. Yourself. First person. You will benefit in several ways. You will be establishing yourself as an expert of sorts. People will know your name. They will respect what you have to say. That can’t be bad. And, in the process of organizing the alert, you will be organizing your thoughts, which will result in good things down the road.
Which segues nicely into the substantive part of the post … organizing your alert. The best way to start is to browse a few of the tens of thousands of blogs that are on the Web.
But in lieu of that effort, I offer the following example. I produce alerts on a number of technical topics for a major global enterprise. One of the topics is … surprise! … desulfurization. The alerts are presented in a Word document, organized into three broad sections …
1. Articles
2. Theses
3. Patents
A snippet from one of the desulfurization alerts is reproduced below. It is a small subset of the alert, but there is enough of it for you to get the gist.
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HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR ALERT … ONE EXAMPLE
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Computer Distributed Control and Intelligent Environmental Monitoring (CDCIEM), 2011 International Conference, Issue Date: 19-20 Feb. 2011, page(s): 672 - 673
Wang Liang;
Li Chunhu
Ocean Univ. of China, Qingdao, China
Abstract
Oxidative desulfurization of real diesel was carried out at mild conditions( atmospheric pressure) in presence of phosphotungstic acid/semi-coke catalysts. The effects of two phase volume ratio, reaction temperature, on the efficiency of desulfurization were investigated. meanwhile, treatment of model solution of cyclohexane containing BT, DBT and 46-DMDBT with our ODS system at 80°C in 1h.
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Petroleum Science & Technology; Jan2011, Vol. 29 Issue 1, p48-58, 11p
ZHANG, J. H. (1), (2)
SHEN, B. X. (1)
SUN, H. (1)
LIU, J. C. (1)
1 State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
2 SINOPEC, Beijing, China.
Abstract
A desulfurization solvent called UDS was designed and developed based on the differences in desulfurization efficiencies of respective solvent components. The desulfurization performance of UDS was investigated in a simulated industrial unit and the thermal stability as well as the regeneration performance was evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicated that the organosulfur removal performance of UDS was significantly enhanced by introducing the sulfur-containing heterocyclic compound and the cyclic amine compound. In the industrial pressure condition of 8.3 MPa, UDS showed around 30 percentage points higher organosulfur removal efficiency than methyldiethanolamine (MDEA). The contents of H2S and total sulfur were <0.5 and 81.6 mg · m-3, respectively, in purified gas when adsorption was conducted under gas-liquid volume ratio (Vg/Vl) of 169 and pressure of 1.5 MPa, using UDS. The quality of purified natural gas met first-class standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR].
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Fuel Processing Technology, Volume 91, Issue 9, September 2010, Pages 1105-1112
Kok-Giap Haw (a), Wan Azelee Wan Abu Bakar (a), Rusmidah Ali (a), Jiunn-Fat Chong (a) and Abdul Aziz Abdul Kadir (b)
a Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
b Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
Abstract
This paper presents the development of granular functionalized-activated carbon as catalysts in the catalytic oxidative desulfurization (Cat-ODS) of commercial Malaysian diesel using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. Granular functionalized-activated carbon was prepared from oil palm shell using phosphoric acid activation method and carbonized at 500 °C and 700 °C for 1 h. The activated carbons were characterized using various analytical techniques to study the chemistry underlying the preparation and calcination treatment. Nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms exhibited the characteristic of microporous structure with some contribution of mesopore property. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy results showed that higher activation temperature leads to fewer surface functional groups due to thermal decomposition. Micrograph from Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope showed that activation at 700 °C creates orderly and well developed pores. Furthermore, X-ray Diffraction patterns revealed that pyrolysis has converted crystalline cellulose structure of oil palm shell to amorphous carbon structure. The influence of the reaction temperature, the oxidation duration, the solvent, and the oxidant/sulfur molar ratio were examined. The rates of the catalytic oxidative desulfurization reaction were found to increase with the temperature, and H2O2/S molar ratio. Under the best operating condition for the catalytic oxidative desulfurization: temperature 50 °C, atmospheric pressure, 0.5 g activated carbon, 3 mol ratio of hydrogen peroxide to sulfur, 2 mol ratio of acetic acid to sulfur, 3 oxidation cycles with 1 h for each cycle using acetonitrile as extraction solvent, the sulfur content in diesel was reduced from 2189 ppm to 190 ppm with 91.3% of total sulfur removed.
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THESIS
Liu, Dongxing (2010)
A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Chemical Engineering in The Gordon A. and Mary Cain Department of Chemical Engineering
Abstract
An analysis of heterogeneous oxidation catalysts was performed to determine the activities and optimal operating conditions for the multiphase oxidative desulfurization (ODS) reactions, using a model diesel. Catalysts studied included well-characterized Pd on Al2O3 and activated carbon supports, and carbon-supported Mo2C and W2C, which were prepared by temperature programmed reaction. Several other typical oxidation catalysts were also examined. The model diesel consisted of ~1 wt% sulfur compounds (thiophene and dibenzothiophene) with appropriate amounts of aliphatic, alkylaromatic and N-heterocyclic compounds to simulate a raw number 2 diesel. With oxygen as the oxidant in ODS reactions of this model diesel (70-90ºC, 0.8-1.8 MPa, feed vol/wt cat. = 100 mL/g), Pd/C and Mo2C/C showed the best selectivity for oxidizing the N- and S-heterocycles vs. the alkylaromatics. Increasing the pressure increased the reaction rates of the N- and S-heterocycles. Except for thiophene, there was only a small dependence of observed rates on temperature, which suggests the reactions were partially diffusion (of O2) controlled. The optimal ODS catalysts (carbides and 5%Pd/MPT-5) also showed high activity for the conversion of N-heterocycles. Current work includes further investigations of the better catalysts, full characterization of the products by GC-MS, and kinetics measurements using catalyst monoliths in a pistonoscillating reactor, which can eliminate the diffusion limitations and provide a uniform hydrodynamic environment.
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THESIS
Botchwey, Christian
A Thesis Submitted to the College of Graduate Studies and Research in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Chemical Engineering University of Saskatchewan
Abstract
This thesis summarizes the methods and major findings of Ni-W(P)/ã-Al2O3 nitride cata-lyst synthesis, characterization, hydrotreating activity, kinetic analysis and correlation of the catalysts’ activities to their synthesis parameters and properties.
The range of parameters for catalyst synthesis were W (15-40 wt%), Ni (0-8 wt%), P (0-5 wt%) and nitriding temperature (TN) (500-900 °C). Characterization techniques used included: N2 sorption studies, chemisorption, elemental analysis, temperature programmed studies, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray, infrared spectroscopy, trans-mission electron microscopy and x-ray absorption near edge structure. Hydrodesulfurization (HDS), hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) and hydrodearomatization (HDA) were performed at: tem-perature (340-380 °C), pressure (6.2-9.0 MPa), liquid hourly space velocity (1-3 h-1) and hydro-gen to oil ratio (600 ml/ml, STP).
The predominant species on the catalyst surface were Ni3N, W2N and bimetallic Ni2W3N. The bimetallic Ni-W nitride species was more active than the individual activities of the Ni3N and W2N. P increased weak acid sites while nitriding temperature decreased amount of strong acid sites. Low nitriding temperature enhanced dispersion of metal particles. P interacted with Al2O3 which increased the dispersion of metal nitrides on the catalyst surface. HDN activity in-creased with Ni and P loading but decreased with increase in nitriding temperature (optimum conversion; 60 wt%). HDS and HDA activities went through a maximum with increase in the synthesis parameters (optimum conversions; 88. wt% for HDS and 47 wt% for HDA). Increase in W loading led to increase in catalyst activity. The catalysts were stable to deactivation and had the nitride structure conserved during hydrotreating in the presence of hydrogen sulfide.
The results showed good correlation between hydrotreating activities (HDS and HDN) and the catalyst nitrogen content, number of exposed active sites, catalyst particle size and BET surface area.
HDS and HDN kinetic analyses, using Langmuir-Hinshelwood models, gave activation energies of 66 and 32 kJ/mol, respectively. There were no diffusion limitations in the reaction process. Two active sites were involved in HDS reaction while one site was used for HDN. HDS and HDN activities of the Ni-W(P)/ã-Al2O3 nitride catalysts were comparable to the corre-sponding sulfides.
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THESIS
University of Saskatchewan
Sigurdson, Stefan Kasey
A thesis submitted to the College of Graduate Studies & Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science Degree in the Department of Chemical Engineering,
Abstract
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are a potential alternative to commonly used catalyst support structures in hydrotreating processes. Synthesis of MWCNTs with specific pore diameters can be achieved by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of a carbon source onto an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template. AAO films consist of pore channels in a uniform hexagonal arrangement that run parallel to the surface of the film. These films are created by the passivation of an aluminum anode within an electrolysis cell consisting of certain weak acid electrolytes. Changing the concentration of the electrolyte (oxalic acid) and the electrical potential of the electrolysis cell altered the pore channel diameter of these AAO films. Controlling the pore diameter of these templates enabled the pore diameter of MWCNTs synthesized by CVD to be controlled as well. The produced MWCNTs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption analysis. Anodizing conditions of 0.40 M oxalic acid concentration and 40.0 V maximum anodizing potential were found to produce AAO films that resulted in MWCNTs with optimum surface characteristics for a catalyst support application. CVD parameter values of 650°C reaction temperature and 8.00 mL/(min·g) C2H2-to-AAO ratio were found to produce the highest yield of MWCNT product.
The MWCNTs were synthesized for the purpose of supporting hydroprocessing catalysts, with several grades of NiMo/MWCNT sulfide catalysts being prepared to determine the optimum pore size. These catalysts were characterized by techniques of TEM, CO chemisorption, N2 adsorption, and H2 temperature programmed reduction (TPR). A MWCNT grade with 67 nm inner diameters (found from TEM analysis) was found to offer the best hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) activities for the treatment of coker light gas oil (CLGO). After determining the most suitable pore diameter, the optimum catalyst metal loadings were found to be 2.5 wt.% for Ni and 19.5 wt.% for Mo. The optimum catalyst was found to offer HDS conversions of 90.5%, 84.4%, and 73.5% with HDN conversions of 75.9%, 65.8%, and 55.3% for temperatures of 370°C, 350°C, and 330°C, respectively. An equal mass loading of commercial NiMo/ã-Al2O3 catalyst offered HDS conversions of 91.2%, 77.9%, and 58.5% with HDN conversions of 71.4%, 53.2%, and 31.3% for temperatures of 370°C, 350°C, and 330°C, respectively.
A kinetic study was performed on the optimum NiMo/MWCNT catalyst to help predict its HDS and HDN activities while varying the parameters of temperature, liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV), pressure, and gas-to-oil flow rate ratio. Rate expressions were then developed to predict the behavior of both the HDS and HDN reactions. Power law models were best fit with reaction orders of 2.6 and 1.2, and activation energies of 161 kJ/mol and 82.3 kJ/mol, for the HDS and HDN reactions, respectively. Generalized Langmuir-Hinshelwood models were found to have reaction orders of 3.0 and 1.5, and activation energies of 155 kJ/mol and 42.3 kJ/mol, for the HDS and HDN reactions, respectively.
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PATENT
Inventors: Manoj KUMAR, M.P. SINGH, Maya CHAKRADHAR, Dheer SINGH, Veena BANSAL, Vijay Kumar CHHATWAL, Ravinder Kumar MALHOTRA, Anand KUMAR
Assignee: INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LIMITED
Application number: 12/684,390
Publication number: US 2010/0176025 A1
Filing date: Jan 8, 2010
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention, in general relates to a process for upgrading liquid hydrocarbon fuels. In particular, the present invention provides a process for reducing aromatic, sulfur and nitrogen content of liquid fuel and crude oils and upgrading the same employing a biocatalyst.
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PATENT
Inventors: Xionghou GAO, Shuhong SUN, Lin WANG, Xinmei PANG, Zhifeng WANG, Yongfu GAO, Zhaoyong LIU, Conghua LIU, Jinsen GAO, Gang WANG, Yanhui ZHANG, Tao LIU, Juanjuan LIU
Assignee: PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED
Application number: 12/813,179
Publication number: US 2010/0314289 A1
Filing date: Jun 10, 2010
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a catalytic cracking process for reducing sulfur content in gasoline and the device thereof. Particularly, the present invention relates to a catalytic cracking process for evidently reducing sulfur contents and olefin in gasoline and the device thereof.
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Your organization can benefit from a focused alert … in other words, an alert that is specific to the research needs of your particular organization. Jean Steinhardt Consulting specializes in producing customized alerts. Contact us at research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com to discuss how we can help your organization.
