Advanced Catalysis and Processes to Convert Heavy Residues Into Fuels and High Value Chemicals

The petroleum refining process begins with distillation, first at atmospheric pressure and after at reduced pressure. The volatile fractions, in both cases, have greater economic value, and the distillation residue-produced atmospheric residue and vacuum residue represent a significant portion of a barrel of crude. The need to convert bottom of the barrel into cleaner and more valuable olefins and liquid products is continuously increasing. Thus, residue must be converted into more valuable products, and further processes can be employed for upgrading residue. Examples are delayed coking, visco-reduction, and fluidized catalytic cracking. On the other hand, the optimization of refining facilities to deal with such feeds brings economic competitiveness since these oils have low prices in the international market. Studies on processes and catalytic cracking are quite important under this aspect. The conversion of heavy petroleum fraction into valuable liquid products and high value chemicals has been important objectives for upgrading heavy petroleum oils.

Catalysis in Alkylation of Benzene With Ethene and Propene to Produce Ethylbenzene and Isopropylbenzene

The alkylation of benzene with ethylene or propylene to form ethylbenzene (EB) or cumene is an industrially significant transformation. EB is used as an intermediate in the manufacture of styrene, which in turn is an important in the manufacture of many kinds of polymers. The primary use of cumene is in the co-production of phenol and acetone, which in turn are important in the manufacture of many kinds of chemicals and polymers. In industry, EB and cumene are mainly manufactured by the alkylation of benzene with ethene or propene via two methods, the gas and the liquid phase in the presence of Lewis and Brønsted acids. The development of efficient solid catalysts has gained much attention over the last decades. The objective of this chapter is to provide an overview of the history of the alkylation of benzene with ethene and propene, the development of homogeneous and heterogeneous Lewis and Brønsted acids and zeiolite catalysts, the liquid and gas phase alkylation processes, and the industrial technologies for EB and cumene production.

“Catalyst in Biorefineries” Solution to Promote Environment Sustainability in India

India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. India has taken various initiatives to promote environmental sustainability. One of the important initiatives is increasing production and utilization of renewable energy by adopting ethanol biorefineries. Lignocellulosic biomass, which has a complex structure that can be broken down by enzymes to produce products like biodiesel, bioethanol, and various high-value products, is the major feedstock for biorefineries. The chapter presents a review of the various type of catalysts used in biorefineries and their positive impact on the environment.

Conversion of CO2 to High Value Products

Due to human activities and rapid industrialization, the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere increases by the day. It is an environmental pollutant and is indirectly responsible for causing climate change and global warming. Thus, research has been carried out for the conversion of CO2 into value added chemicals. However, CO2 is a chemically-inert and thermodynamically-stable molecule; thus, external energy should be supplied or a suitable catalyst should be designed for their conversion into useful chemical. Methanol, dimethyl ether, higher alcohols, methyl, formic acid, formaldehyde, organic carbonates, etc. are the different chemicals that are prepared from CO2. CO2 is an environmentally friendly raw material as it is nontoxic, abundant, and economical. A lot of research has been carried out on the reaction using CO2 as a raw material. This chapter mainly focused on synthesis of various chemicals from CO2 as a raw material.

New Catalytic Approaches for Producing Alternative to MTBE Additives for Reformulation of Gasoline

Due to the lead phase out that began in 1973, refiners had to replace the octane loss in gasoline. For this purpose, oxygenates and highly branched alkylates will play a major role as gasoline additives because they have relatively high octane ratings. Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) is the oxygenate as a gasoline additive the most widely used nowadays in most of the countries in the world. It is used to raise octane levels, enhance engine performance, improve combustion efficiency and to reduce emissions of air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.

Review on Fisher-Tropsch Synthesis Method in Liquid Fuel Production

This chapter describes the Fisher-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) method. Although it has been already applied at industrial scale for a century, the FTS has gained renewed interests as it is a key step for converting alternative feedstocks, including biomass to transportation fuels. It is the means by which synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide is converted to hydrocarbon products. The chapter explores that interest in FTS technology is increasing rapidly. In addition, the FTS process and products upgrading are discussed.