Chemical reactor with a filtration apparatus

Abstract

There is described a filtration apparatus for reducing contaminants in a feed stream, the apparatus comprising (a) a vessel; and (b) a plurality of filtration members arranged within the vessel. Filtration members (b) each comprise (i) at least 10 channels extending through the filtration member from a first face of the filtration member to a second face of the filtration member, and (ii) a mean average channel diameter of up to 2,500 um. At least 60% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of filtration members (b). Filtration members (b) comprise a first fraction of filtration members and a second fraction of filtration members. The filtration members of the first fraction each comprise a larger mean average channel diameter than the filtration members of the second fraction.

Description

[0001] CHEMICAL REACTOR WITH A FILTRATION APPARATUS

[0002] FIELD

[0003]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to filtration apparatus for reducing contaminants by filtration in a chemical reactor. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to grading, bed-topping or guard-bed filtration for reducing feed stream contaminants in a chemical reactor. The present disclosure also relates to apparatus and processes for chemical reactions using the filtration apparatus.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005]

[0002] Grading, bed-topping and guard beds are filtration material arranged toward the feed inlet of chemical reactors relative to a main catalyst bed to reduce the level of contaminants and fouling agents in the feed stream, thereby reducing fouling and poisoning of the main catalyst bed. In the case of guard beds, the filtration material may be arranged in a separate vessel upstream to the main catalyst bed.

[0006]

[0003] Such filtration material are utilised in areas such as hydroprocessing. Hydroprocessing is a crucial process in the refining and petrochemical industries, important for producing high-quality fuels and meeting environmental standards. Hydroprocessing applications include hydrotreating, hydrocracking, and hydroisomerisation, all of which play an important role in producing renewable fuels. During hydrotreating, raw feed streams react with hydrogen in fixed bed reactors that perform hydrodesulfurisation (HDS) - sulfur removal, hydrodenitrification (HDN) - nitrogen removal, hydrodemetallisation (HDM) - contaminant metals removal, and / or hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) - oxygen removal.

[0007]

[0004] The feedstock of a hydrotreating unit can contain various contaminants, including metals, organo-metallic compounds, corrosion products, olefins, and / or di-olefins. These contaminants are a challenge for the hydrotreating catalyst and may cause premature EOR (End of Run) pressure drop conditions if not removed. Such contaminants can foul the hydrotreating catalyst by depositing on its surface, blocking the active catalyst sites, and also increasing the pressure drop across the reactor bed - shortening the cycle length of the hydrotreating catalyst.

[0008]

[0005] Hydrocracking and hydroisomerisation processes also use fixed catalyst bed reactors that reconfigure hydrocarbon molecules through cracking and isomerisation reaction mechanisms. These catalyst beds operate at around 225 - 425°C and 30 - 150 bar, depending on the feed quality and processing conditions. These processes increase the efficiency of fuels and reduce harmful environmental contaminants in final products. Since these reactor systems have fixed catalyst beds, pressure drop across hydroprocessing reactors can be a challenge to maximising the overall life cycle of the catalyst materials.

[0006] High pressure drop in hydroprocessing reactors can lead to suboptimal catalyst performance, decreased reactor efficiency, feed maldistribution, shorter operating cycles, and increased operational, catalyst and maintenance costs

[0009]

[0007] It is therefore an object of aspects of the present disclosure to address one or more of the above mentioned or other problems.

[0010] SUMMARY

[0011]

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided filtration apparatus for reducing contaminants in a feed stream, the apparatus comprising:

[0012] (a) a vessel; and

[0013] (b) a plurality of filtration members arranged within the vessel, wherein the filtration members each comprise;

[0014] (i) at least 10 channels extending through the filtration member from a first face of the filtration member to a second face of the filtration member, and

[0015] (ii) a mean average channel diameter of up to 2,500 urn, wherein at least 60% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of filtration members (b), and wherein filtration members (b) comprise a first fraction of filtration members and a second fraction of filtration members, wherein the filtration members of the first fraction each comprise a larger mean average channel diameter than the filtration members of the second fraction.

[0016]

[0009] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a kit of parts for a filtration apparatus for reducing contaminants in a feed stream, the kit of parts comprising;

[0017] (a) a vessel; and

[0018] (b) a plurality of filtration members operable to be arranged within the vessel, wherein each filtration member comprises

[0019] (i) at least 10 channels extending through the filtration member from a first face of the filtration member to a second face of the filtration member, and

[0020] (ii) a mean average channel diameter of up to 2,500 urn, wherein at least 60% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of filtration members (b), and wherein filtration members (b) comprise a first fraction of filtration members and a second fraction of filtration members, wherein the filtration members of the first fraction each comprise a larger mean average channel diameter than the filtration members of the second fraction.

[0021]

[0010] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for reducing contaminants in a feed stream, the method comprising use of;

[0022] (a) a vessel; and

[0023] (b) a plurality of filtration members, wherein each filtration member comprises

[0024] (i) at least 10 channels extending through the filtration member from a first face of the filtration member to a second face of the filtration member, and

[0025] (ii) a mean average channel diameter of up to 2,500 urn, wherein at least 60% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of filtration members (b), and wherein filtration members (b) comprise a first fraction of filtration members and a second fraction of filtration members, wherein the filtration members of the first fraction each comprise a larger mean average channel diameter than the filtration members of the second fraction, the method comprising arranging filtration members (b) in the vessel, and contacting a feed stream with filtration members (b) to reduce contaminants in the feed stream.

[0026]

[0011] According to a fourth aspect of the presentation invention there is provided chemical reactor apparatus operable to chemically alter a component of a feed stream toward a desired product, wherein the chemical reactor apparatus comprises:

[0027] (a) a vessel;

[0028] (b) a plurality of filtration members arranged within the vessel, wherein the filtration members each comprise;

[0029] (i) at least 10 channels extending through the filtration member from a first face of the filtration member to a second face of the filtration member, and (ii) a mean average channel diameter of up to 2,500 urn, wherein at least 60% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of filtration members (b), and wherein filtration members (b) comprise a first fraction of filtration members and a second fraction of filtration members, wherein the filtration members of the first fraction each comprise a larger mean average channel diameter than the filtration members of the second fraction, and

[0030] (c) a main bed catalyst operable to chemically alter a component of a feed stream toward the desired product.

[0031]

[0012] According to a fifth aspect of the presentation invention there is a provided a process for performing a chemical reaction wherein a component of a feed stream is chemically altered toward a desired product, the process comprising use of a chemical reactor apparatus comprising:

[0032] (a) a vessel;

[0033] (b) a plurality of filtration members arranged within the vessel, wherein the filtration members each comprise;

[0034] (i) at least 10 channels extending through the filtration member from a first face of the filtration member to a second face of the filtration member, and

[0035] (ii) a mean average channel diameter of up to 2,500 urn, wherein at least 60% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of filtration members (b), and wherein filtration members (b) comprise a first fraction of filtration members and a second fraction of filtration members, wherein the filtration members of the first fraction each comprise a larger mean average channel diameter than the filtration members of the second fraction, and

[0036] (c) a main bed catalyst operable to chemically alter a component of a feed stream toward the desired product, wherein the process comprises arranging filtration members (b) and the main bed catalyst in a vessel, which may be the same vessel or a different vessel; and contacting the feed stream with filtration members (b) and with the main bed catalyst to chemically alter the component of the feed stream toward the desired product.

[0037] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038]

[0013] Filtration members (b) may comprise a bed-grading, bed-topping or guard-bed portion in the vessel. Filtration members (b) may be operable to reduce contaminant levels in the feed so as to reduce fouling and poisoning of the main catalyst bed, such as a main reactive hydrotreating catalyst.

[0039]

[0014] The vessel may comprise a chemical reactor. The chemical reactor may comprise a main bed catalyst operable to chemically alter a part of the feed toward a desired product. The chemical reactor may be a guard-bed reactor operable to reduce contaminant levels in the feed before the feed is passed on to a further chemical reactor comprising a main bed catalyst operable to chemically alter a part of the feed toward a desired product. A guard-bed reactor may be substantially free of a main bed catalyst operable to chemically alter a part of the feed toward a desired product.

[0040]

[0015] Filtration members (b) may be arranged upstream in the vessel, such as toward a feed inlet of the vessel, such as of a hydrotreating reactor. Filtration members (b) may be operable to contact the feed to reduce contaminant levels in the feed before the feed contacts the main catalyst bed, such as the main reactive hydrotreating catalyst.

[0041]

[0016] Surprisingly, the filtration apparatus of the present invention has been found to provide a significant improvement in capture volume in combination with improved pressure drop. An improvement in the amount of contaminant retained may also be achieved. In addition, these advantageous results may be achieved with the use of significantly fewer filtration members, providing a substantial cost reduction. The filtration apparatus of the present invention may therefore enhance overall reactor performance.

[0042]

[0017] It has also been found that grouping of like-sized channel filtration members in larger and fewer layers may surprisingly reduce the levels of crusting while maintaining a significant improvement in capture volume in combination with improved pressure drop.

[0043]

[0018] The vessel, chemical reactor, chemical reaction, kit of parts, or method of any aspect of the presentation disclosure may comprise a fixed bed vessel / reactor.

[0044]

[0019] The vessel may be a steel vessel, such as a chrome steel vessel and / or a carbon steel vessel, for example a stainless-lined carbon steel vessel. The vessel may have a wall thickness of from 1 to 3 inches, such as from 1 .5 to 2.5 inches. The vessel may have an internal diameter of from 3 inches to 20 feet.

[0045]

[0020] The vessel, chemical reactor, chemical reaction, kit of parts, or method of any aspect of the presentation disclosure may be for a hydrotreating reactor, hydrocracker, hydrocracker tre- treat, FCC pre-treat, unifiner units, kerosene hydrotreater, high temperature shift, low temperature shift, sulfur guard units, chloride guard units, semi-regen reformer, isom guard units, gas oil hydrotreater, VGO hydrotreater / gas oil, axens prime G unit, naphtha hydrotreater (Coker / SRU), diesel hydrotreater, Exxon NHT, GOHT, coker gas oil hydrotreater, lube oil hydrotreater, sulfur guard units, chloride guard units, Claus unit - first reactor, and / or clay treater.

[0046]

[0021] For a hydrotreating reactor, the feed stream may comprise vacuum residuum, atmospheric residuum, kerosene, fluidized catalytic cracker feed, jet fuel, diesel oil, and / or hydro cracker feed.

[0047]

[0022] In a high temperature water-gas shift reactor, water and carbon monoxide are reacted to form carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Boiler leaks in the feed to such a reactor could contaminate the shift catalyst with liquid water, which can significantly affect catalyst performance. In addition, water from boiler leaks may contain a number of additional contaminants that can poison the catalyst. To reduce this occurrence, filtration members (b) according to the present disclosure may be arranged between the boiler and the shift catalyst to trap liquid water that might be entrained in the gas stream.

[0048]

[0023] Where the shift reactor is used to increase the hydrogen content of syngas produced by coal gasification the sulphur-tolerant "sour shift" catalyst used in this process can be fouled by fine coal particles ("soot") entrained in the gas stream. The filtration members (b) of the present disclosure may be arranged in soot scrubbers upstream of the sour shift catalyst.

[0049]

[0024] Excess water may also be a potential catalyst poison in low-temperature water-gas shift reactors that may be found in hydrogen and ammonia plants. Such reactors may be protected from liquid water contamination by arranging filtration members (b) according to the present disclosure upstream of the shift catalyst to reduce liquid water from reaching the catalyst.

[0050]

[0025] In hydrotreating reactors, a hydrocarbon feed such as resid, gas oil, diesel, kerosene or naphtha is treated with hydrogen to eliminate unsaturated compounds such as olefins and aromatics. In some cases, the hydrotreating step also removes sulfur and nitrogen containing compounds. Under certain conditions high molecular weight hydrocarbons such as those in vacuum distillate can also be reacted with hydrogen to convert them to lighter, higher value products such as gasoline and diesel ("hydrocracking"). In each of these processes, contaminants in the hydrocarbon feed may include polymerisation sludge, corrosion products from upstream equipment such as iron sulfide, particles of carbon and metal, and various other by-products. It is desirable to remove these materials before the hydrocarbon feed undergoes hydrotreating or hydrocracking to reduce catalyst fouling, pore plugging and deactivation. Filtration members (b) according to the present disclosure may be arranged upstream of the hydrotreating or hydrocracking catalyst, either in the same vessel or in an upstream vessel, to trap contaminants that might cause reactor fouling or deactivation.

[0051]

[0026] Protection of feed materials from contaminants that may also be applied in operations that use a fluidised catalyst bed, such as fluidised catalytic cracking. Filtration members (b) according to the present disclosure may be arranged upstream of the fluidised bed to trap such contaminants.

[0052]

[0027] The Claus sulfur recovery process is a two-stage process for converting hydrogen sulfide (which is a refinery by-product) to elemental sulfur. While the first stage of the process is a thermal reaction that converts about two-thirds of the hydrogen sulfide, the second stage of the process employs a fixed-bed reactor ("Claus converter") with an alumina or titanium oxide catalyst, usually with down-flow of the feed through the bed. Fine particles from upstream of the process can collect on and foul the catalyst bed unless they are removed from the process stream by filtration. Filtration members (b) according to the present disclosure may be arranged on top of the main active catalyst bed within the reactor. Alternatively, the filtration may be accomplished in a separate vessel to permit replacement of used filtration members without affecting the main active catalyst.

[0053]

[0028] A number of catalytic processes, particularly hydrogenation processes, are extremely sensitive to catalyst deactivation from hydrogen chloride and organic chlorides. Most such processes are equipped with chloride guard beds containing a chloride absorbing material such as activated alumina, promoted alumina, or a chemical absorbent to remove any chlorides before the feed stream contacts the principal catalyst. Chloride guard beds are especially prone to fouling, partly because acidic alumina can catalyse oligomerisation and polymerisation of unsaturated feed materials. Fouling results in increased pressure drop and eventually degrades performance of the guard bed. This problem can be controlled by substituting a filtration members (b) according to the present disclosure for the conventional alumina or other absorbent particles. Filtration members (b) may be produced from the same materials as the conventional adsorbents, allowing comparable chloride protection.

[0054]

[0029] In the process for making hydrogen from hydrocarbons, as well as the process for making ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen, the hydrogen is usually generated by catalytic reforming of methane or other hydrocarbons and must be treated to remove carbon dioxide before it can be reacted with nitrogen. Carbon dioxide removal is usually accomplished by passing the hydrogencontaining gas through a scrubber containing a solution of diethanolamine or a similar amine that absorbs CO2, followed by reaction of the residual CO2 with some of the hydrogen to produce methane. Because carryover of the amine solution into the methanator interferes with the methanation catalyst, it is desirable to filter the methanator feed to remove any amine solution. Filtration members (b) according to the present disclosure may be arranged on the methanator catalyst bed or in an upstream vessel to trap amine solution droplets before they reach the catalyst.

[0055]

[0030] The channels of filtration members (b) may be fluid flow channels, such as feed fluid flow channels, operable to allow the fluid, such as a fluid feed stream, to flow from the first face of the filtration member through to the second face of the filtration member while also being operable to trap desired contaminants.

[0056]

[0031] Filtration members (b) may comprise an extruded filtration member, i.e. a filtration member formed by extrusion of a material, such as of a ceramic material. Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of extruded filtration members. Filtration members (b) may be extruded filtration members.

[0057]

[0032] The first and second face of filtration members (b) may be substantially opposed, and may substantially parallel, concentric and / or co-terminus.

[0058]

[0033] Filtration members (b) may comprise a mean average channel diameter of at least 10Oum, such as at least 200um, or at least 250um and / or a mean average diameter of up to 2,000um, such as up to 1 ,900um or up to 1 ,800um. As used herein, ‘mean average channel diameter’ of the filtration member means the mean average channel diameter of all of the defined feed fluid flow channels in the filtration member.

[0059]

[0034] Filtration members (b) may comprise 5 to 70 mesh filtration members, such as 10 to 50 mesh filtration members. Filtration member (b) may comprise a filtration member that is a 10 mesh filtration member, a 25 mesh filtration member or a 50 mesh filtration member. Filtration members (b) may comprise a combination of two or more of 10 mesh, 25 mesh and / or 50 mesh filtration members. As used herein, ‘mesh’ with respect to the channels of the filtration members, indicates the number of channels in one linear inch of the filtration member.

[0060]

[0035] Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member wherein the channels of the filtration member comprise discrete fluid flow channels, such as at least 25%, or at least 50% or at least 75% of the channels of the filtration member are discrete channels. As used herein, ‘discrete’ with respect to the feed flow channels of the filtration members means that the channel is not fluidly connected to at least one other channel at a part of the channel that is between the first and second faces ofthe filtration member. Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members comprising discrete channels, such as at least 25%, or at least 50% or at least 75% of the channels of the filtration member are discrete channels. The channels of filtration members (b) may comprise discrete channels, such as at least 25%, or at least 50% or at least 75% of the channels of the filtration member are discrete channels.

[0061]

[0036] Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 20 channels extending through the filtration member from a first face of the filtration member to a second face of the filtration member, such as at least 50 channels or at least 100 channels.

[0062]

[0037] Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member comprising a plurality of substantially parallel channels, such as at least 20 substantially parallel channels, at least 50 substantially parallel channels or at least 100 substantially parallel channels. Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members comprising a plurality of substantially parallel channels, such as at least 20 substantially parallel channels, at least 50 substantially parallel channels or at least 100 substantially parallel channels.

[0063]

[0038] Filtration members (b) may comprise a plurality of substantially parallel channels, such as at least 20 substantially parallel channels, at least 50 substantially parallel channels or at least 100 substantially parallel channels.

[0064]

[0039] Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member comprising a plurality of substantially linear channels, such as at least 20 substantially linear channels, at least 50 substantially linear channels or at least 100 substantially linear channels. Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members comprising a plurality of substantially linear channels, such as at least 20 substantially linear channels, at least 50 substantially linear channels or at least 100 substantially linear channels.

[0065]

[0040] Filtration members (b) may comprise a plurality of substantially linear channels, such as at least 20 substantially linear channels, at least 50 substantially linear channels or at least 100 substantially linear channels.

[0066]

[0041] Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member comprising a plurality of substantially linear parallel channels, such as at least 20 substantially linear parallel channels, at least 50 substantially linear parallel channels or at least 100 substantially linear parallel channels. Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members comprising a plurality of substantially linear parallel channels, such as at least 20 substantially linear parallel channels, at least 50 substantially linear parallel channels or at least 100 substantially linear parallel channels.

[0067]

[0042] Filtration members (b) may comprise a plurality of substantially linear parallel channels, such as at least 20 substantially linear parallel channels, at least 50 substantially linear parallel channels or at least 100 substantially linear parallel channels.

[0068]

[0043] Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member comprising a plurality of channels having a polygonal lateral cross-section, such as an acute angle polygonal lateral cross-section, such as a triangular lateral cross-section, such as at least 20 channels having a polygonal lateral cross-section, such as an acute angle polygonal lateral cross-section, such as a triangular lateral cross-section, or at least 50 channels or at least 100 channels. Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members comprising a plurality of channels having a polygonal lateral cross-section, such as an acute angle polygonal lateral cross-section, such as a triangular lateral cross-section, such as at least 20 channels having a polygonal lateral cross-section, such as an acute angle polygonal lateral cross-section, such as a triangular lateral cross-section, or at least 50 channels or at least 100 channels.

[0069]

[0044] Filtration members (b) may comprise a plurality of channels having a polygonal lateral cross-section, such as an acute angle polygonal lateral cross-section, such as a triangular lateral cross-section, such as at least 20 channels having a polygonal lateral cross-section, such as an acute angle polygonal lateral cross-section, such as a triangular lateral cross-section, or at least 50 channels or at least 100 channels.

[0070]

[0045] The first and / or second faces of the filtration member (or upper and lower faces) may be substantially planar. Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members having substantially planar first and / or second faces.

[0071]

[0046] Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member having an external diameter that is at least 150% of the thickness of the filtration member, such as at least 200% or at least 250%. Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member that is substantially in disc shape, wherein ‘disc’ as used herein with respect to the shape filtration member means a shape having a larger external diameter than width and having substantially planar upper and lower faces. The disc shape may or may not have a substantially circular lateral cross section. Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members having an external diameter that is at least 150% of the thickness of the filtration member, such as at least 200% or at least 250%. Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members that are substantially in disc shape.

[0072]

[0047] Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member having a substantially circular and / or polygonal lateral cross section. Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member having a substantially circular lateral cross section. Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member having a polygonal later cross section, such as a pentagonal, hexagonal or heptagonal lateral cross section. Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member having a hexagonal lateral cross section.

[0073]

[0048] Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members comprising a substantially circular lateral cross-section. Filtration members (b) may comprise a substantially circular lateral cross-section.

[0074]

[0049] Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member having an inner void fraction of at least 20%, such as at least 25% or at least 30%, and / or an inner void fraction of up to 80%, such as up to 75% or up to 70%. Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members having an inner void fraction of at least 20%, such as at least 25% or at least 30%, and / or an inner void fraction of up to 80%, such as up to 75% or up to 70%.

[0075]

[0050] Filtration members (b) may have an inner void fraction of at least 20%, such as at least 25% or at least 30%, and / or an inner void fraction of up to 80%, such as up to 75% or up to 70%.

[0076]

[0051] Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member having an external diameter of at least 10mm, such as at least 20mm or at least 30mm, and / or an external diameter of up to 80mm, such as up to 65mm or up to 50mm. Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members having an external diameter of at least 10mm, such as at least 20mm or at least 30mm, and / or an external diameter of up to 80mm, such as up to 65mm or up to 50mm.

[0077]

[0052] Filtration members (b) may have an external diameter of at least 10mm, such as at least 20mm or at least 30mm, and / or an external diameter of up to 80mm, such as up to 65mm or up to 50mm.

[0078]

[0053] Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member having a geometric surface area of at least 150cm2, such as at least 250cm2, or at least 400cm2, and / or a geometric surface area of up to 1 ,200cm2, such as up to 1 ,000cm2, or up to 800cm2. Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members having a geometric surface area of at least 150cm2, such as at least 250cm2, or at least 400cm2, and / or a geometric surface area of up to 1 ,200cm2, such as up to 1 ,000cm2, or up to 800cm2.

[0079]

[0054] Filtration members (b) have a geometric surface area of at least 150cm2, such as at least 250cm2, or at least 400cm2, and / or a geometric surface area of up to 1 ,200cm2, such as up to 1 ,000cm2, or up to 800cm2.

[0080]

[0055] Filtration members (b) may comprise a filtration member having a thickness of at least 6mm, such as at least 8mm or at least 10mm, and / or a thickness of up to 50mm, such as up to 30mm or up to 20mm. The thickness may be measured from the first to the second face of the filtration member. Filtration members (b) may comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members having a thickness of at least 6mm, such as at least 8mm or at least 10mm, and / or a thickness of up to 50mm, such as up to 30mm or up to 20mm.

[0081]

[0056] Filtration members (b) may have a thickness of at least 6mm, such as at least 8mm or at least 10mm, and / or a thickness of up to 50mm, such as up to 30mm or up to 20mm.

[0082]

[0057] At least 70% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), may have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of the filtration members, such as at least 75%, or at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 95%. Accordingly, at least 70% of the filtration members of a bed-grading, bed-topping or guard-bed, by total volume of filtration members (b), may have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of filtration members (b), such as at least 75%, or at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 95%.

[0083]

[0058] At least 70% of the filtration members of the first and second fractions may have external diameters that are within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of the filtration members of the first and second fractions, by total volume of the filtration members of the first and second fractions, such as at least 75%, or at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 95%.

[0084]

[0059] Filtration members (b) may comprise a third fraction of filtration members, wherein the filtration members of the third fraction each comprise a smaller mean average channel diameter than the filtration members of the second fraction.

[0085]

[0060] At least 70% of the filtration members of the first, second and third fractions may have external diameters that are within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of the filtration members of the first, second and third fractions, by total volume of the filtration members of the first, second and third fractions, such as at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 95%.

[0086]

[0061] The external diameter of the filtration member(s) may be within 8% of the respective mean average external diameter, such as within 5%, within 2% or within 1 %.

[0087]

[0062] The plurality of filtration members (b) may be understood to be a plurality of discrete filtration members, each discrete filtration member comprising a plurality of channels as defined.

[0088]

[0063] Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of filtration members according to the first filtration member fraction, a layer of filtration members according to the second filtration member fraction, and optionally a layer of filtration members according to the third filtration member fraction.

[0089]

[0064] Filtration members (b) may comprise one layer of the first, second and / or third fraction and / or comprise multiple layers of the first, second and / or third fraction. Filtration members (b) may comprise multiple layers of the first, second and / or third fraction interposed with a layer of a respective other of the first, second and / or third fraction.

[0090]

[0065] Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the first filtration member fraction arranged upstream of a layer of the second filtration member fraction, which may in turn be arranged upstream of a layer of the third filtration member fraction.

[0091]

[0066] Filtration members (b) may comprise multiple layers ofthe first, second and / orthird fraction, such as at least 3, at least 4, or at least 5 layers of the first, second and / or third fraction. Filtration members (b) may comprise up to 3 layers of each of the first, second and / or third fraction, such as up to 2 layers of each of the first, second and / or third fraction, such as comprise 1 layer of each of the first, second and / or third fraction. For example, filtration members (b) may be formed of a layer of the first fraction arranged most upstream, followed by a layer of the second fraction and then a layer of the third fraction. Such filtration members (b) may then be followed by a layer of filtration members (c) or by the main bed catalyst.

[0092]

[0067] Filtration members according to the first, second and / or third filtration member fractions may form at least 60% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b) , such as at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 95%.

[0093]

[0068] The filtration members of the second and / or third fraction may independently form a larger proportion of the total filtration members (b) by volume than the filtration members of the first fraction, such as at least 50% more, by volume, or at least 250% more, or at least 500% more.

[0094]

[0069] Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the first fraction that is at least 2 inches high, such as at least 4 inches, or at least 6 inches. Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the first fraction that is up to 75 inches high, such as up to 60 inches, or up to 50 inches. Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the first fraction that is up to 40 inches high, such as up to 30 inches, or up to 20 inches.

[0095]

[0070] Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the first fraction that is at least 2% of the total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 3%, or at least 5%. Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the first filtration fraction that is up to 50% of the total volume of filtration members (b), such as up to 25%, or up to 15%.

[0096]

[0071] Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the second fraction that is at least 4 inches high, such as at least 8 inches, or at least 15 inches. Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the second fraction that is up to 75 inches high, such as up to 60 inches, or up to 50 inches.

[0097]

[0072] Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the second fraction that is at least 5% of the total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 15%, or at least 30%. Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the second fraction that is up to 60% of the total volume of filtration members (b), such as up to 55%, or up to 50%.

[0098]

[0073] Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the third fraction that is at 4 inches high, such as at least 8 inches, or at least 15 inches. Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the third fraction that is up to 75 inches high, such as up to 60 inches, or up to 50 inches.

[0099]

[0074] Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the third fraction that is at least 5% of the total volume of filtration members (b) such as at least 15%, or at least 30%. Filtration members (b) may comprise a layer of the third fraction that is up to 60% of the total volume of filtration members (b), such as up to 55%, or up to 50%.

[0100]

[0075] The filtration members of the first fraction may have a larger internal void percentage than the filtration members of the second fraction, such as at least 15% larger, or at least 25% larger, or at least 30% larger. The filtration members of the second fraction may have a larger internal void percentage than the filtration members of the third fraction, such as at least 10% larger, or at least 15% larger, or at least 20% larger.

[0076] The filtration members of the first fraction may have a mean average channel diameter of at least 800um, such as at least 1 ,000um or at least 1 ,300um and / or a mean average channel diameter of up to 2,500um, such as up to 2,200um or up to 1 ,800um.

[0101]

[0077] The filtration members of the first fraction may be 5 to <15 mesh filtration members, such as 7 to 12 mesh filtration members, or 10 mesh filtration members.

[0102]

[0078] The filtration members of the first fraction may have an inner void fraction of at least 30%, such as at least 40% or at least 50%, and / or up to 80%, such as up to 70% or up to 65%.

[0103]

[0079] The filtration members of the first fraction may have a geometric surface area of at least 40cm2, such as at least 75cm2, or at least 100cm2and / or a geometric surface area of up to 1 ,200cm2, such as up to 700cm2, or up to 400cm2.

[0104]

[0080] The filtration members of the second fraction may have a mean average channel diameter of at least 450um, such as at least 500um or at least 550um and / or a mean average channel diameter of up to 750um, such as up to 700um, or up to 650um.

[0105]

[0081] The filtration members of the second fraction may be >15 to 35 mesh filtration members, such as 20 to 30 mesh filtration members or 25 mesh filtration members.

[0106]

[0082] The filtration members of the second fraction may have an inner void fraction of at least 25%, such as at least 35% or at least 40%, and / or up to 70%, such as up to 60% or up to 50%.

[0107]

[0083] The filtration members of the second fraction may have a geometric surface area of at least 75cm2, such as at least 150cm2, or at least 250cm2, and / or up to 1 ,200cm2, such as up to 900cm2, or up to 600cm2.

[0108]

[0084] The filtration members of the third fraction may have a mean average channel diameter of at least 150um, such as at least 200um or at least 250um and / or a mean average channel diameter of up to <450um, or up to 400um or up to 35um.

[0109]

[0085] The filtration members of the third fraction may be >35 to 70 mesh filtration members, such as 40 to 60 mesh filtration members or 50 mesh filtration members.

[0110]

[0086] The filtration members of the third fraction may have an inner void fraction of at least 15%, such as at least 20% or at least 25%, and / or up to 60% or up to 50% or up to 40%.

[0111]

[0087] The filtration members of the third fraction may have a geometric surface area of at least 100cm2, such as at least 200cm2, or at least 300cm2. The filtration members of the third fraction may have a geometric surface area of up to 1 ,200cm2, such as up to 1 ,150cm2, or up to 1 ,100cm2.

[0112]

[0088] The filtration members of the first fraction may have a smaller geometric surface area than the filtration members of the second fraction. The filtration members of the second fraction may have a smaller geometric surface area than the filtration members of the third fraction.

[0089] The vessel may comprise at least 5% of filtration members (b), by total internal volume of the vessel, such as at least 10% or at least 12%, and / or up to 90%, such as up to 80% or up to 75%.

[0113]

[0090] The vessel may comprise at least 5% of filtration members (b), by total internal volume of the vessel, such as at least 10% or at least 12%, and / or up to 40%, such as up to 30% or up to 25%.

[0114]

[0091] The vessel may comprise at least 50% of filtration members (b), by total internal volume of the vessel, such as at least 60% or at least 70%, and / or up to 90%, such as up to 80% or up to 75%.

[0115]

[0092] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided filtration apparatus for reducing contaminants in a feed stream, the apparatus comprising: a (a) vessel; and (b) a plurality of filtration members arranged within the vessel, wherein the filtration members each comprise (i) a plurality of channels extending through the filtration member from a first face of the filtration member to a second face of the filtration member, and (ii) a mean average channel diameter of up to 2,500 urn, wherein at least 60% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of filtration members (b), and wherein filtration members (b) comprise a first fraction of filtration members and a second fraction of filtration members, wherein the filtration members of the first fraction each comprise a larger mean average channel diameter than the filtration members of the second fraction. The filtration apparatus, vessel and filtration members (b) of this aspect of the disclosure may be as further defined by any respect feature relating to a filtration apparatus, vessel and filtration members (b) as further described herein.

[0116]

[0093] The vessel of the filtration apparatus of the present disclosure may comprise further components, such as further filtration members, flow redistribution members and / or a main reaction catalyst bed and / or main reaction catalyst bed packing members.

[0117]

[0094] The vessel may comprise a plurality of filtration members (c), wherein the filtration members each comprise from 1 to <10 channels extending through the filtration member from a first face of the filtration member to a second face of the filtration member, such as from 1 to 5 channels, or 1 to 3 channels.

[0118]

[0095] Filtration members (c) may each have a mean average channel diameter of at least 1 ,5mm, such as at least 2mm, or at least 2.5mm, or at least 2.7mm, and / or up to 10mm, such as up to 7mm or up to 6mm.

[0119]

[0096] Filtration members (c) may comprise a first, second, and optionally third fraction, wherein the filtration members of each fraction has a different mean average channel diameter compared to filtration members of the other fractions.

[0097] Filtration members (c) may comprise a first, second, and optionally third fraction, wherein the filtration members of each fraction have a different external diameter to the filtration members of the other fractions.

[0120]

[0098] Filtration members (c) may be in the form of a cylinder and may comprise a cylindrical flow channel.

[0121]

[0099] The main bed- catalyst and / or packing member may comprise a catalyst / packaging member with a macrostructure selected from multi-lobe, for example a trilobe, quadralobe or pentalobe; a ring; a sphere; an ellipsoid, a cube; a cuboid; a cylinder; or a cog.

[0122]

[0100] The vessel may comprise a main bed catalyst and / or packing member.

[0123]

[0101] The main bed catalyst / packing member may comprises ceramic material and wherein the packing member has a geometric surface area per volume of >0.7cm2 / cm3and a side crush strength of >250kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of >1 .5cm2 / cm3and a side crush strength of >150kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of >3cm2 / cm3and a side crush strength of >60kgf, and wherein the packing member optionally has a porosity of at least 6%, such as at least 15% or at least 20%.

[0124]

[0102] The main bed catalyst / packing member may have a substantially spherical and / or ellipsoidal macrostructure.

[0125]

[0103] The macrostructure may comprise at least one linear groove on the outer face of the macrostructure, such as at least two, at least three or at least four linear grooves. The macrostructure comprises at least two linear parallel grooves, such as at least three or at least four. The grooves may be substantially hemispherical in a lateral cross-section. The outer face of the macrostructure may be free of linear grooves.

[0126]

[0104] The main bed catalyst / packing member may comprise a fluid communication intra-particle channel extending through the support from a first aperture on a first side of the support to a second aperture on a substantially opposing second side of the support.

[0127]

[0105] The main bed catalyst / packing member may not comprise a fluid communication intra- particle channel extending through the main bed catalyst / packing member from a first aperture on a first side of the main bed catalyst / packing member to a second aperture on a substantially opposing second side of the main bed catalyst / packing member.

[0128]

[0106] When the main bed catalyst / packing member does not comprise a fluid communication intra-particle channel, fluid may substantially not be able to flow through the main bed catalyst / packing member in use from a first side of the main bed catalyst / packing member to a substantially opposite second side of the main bed catalyst / packing member. Accordingly, to pass the main bed catalyst / packing member fluid may be forced to flow around the outer surface of the main bed catalyst / packing member. As such, in the context of the present disclosure, the phrase “does not comprise a fluid communication intra-particle channel extending through the main bed catalyst / packing member from a first aperture on a first side of the main bed catalyst / packing member to a second aperture on a substantially opposing second side of the main bed catalyst / packing member” may be interpreted to mean that substantially no fluid flow is achieved through the body of the main bed catalyst / packing member in use from a first side of the main bed catalyst / packing member to a substantially opposite second side of the main bed catalyst / packing member. Typically, the “fluid communication intra-particle channels” refers to channels formed by the shape of the mould, or by a post-moulding process. It will be understood that such “fluid communication intra-particle channels” in the context of the present disclosure do not include microscopic porosity (such as of <500um in diameter, or <250um) that may be present in the material of the main bed catalyst / packing member.

[0129]

[0107] The main bed catalyst / packing member may comprise no fluid communication intra-particle channels in the main bed catalyst / packing member extending from a first aperture to a second aperture.

[0130]

[0108] Advantageously, it has surprisingly been found that the combination of surface structures with the absence of a flow channel through the body of the main bed catalyst / packing member leads to increased strength while also increasing flow speed, directing flow over the surface and providing a more uniform flow.

[0131]

[0109] The main bed catalyst / packing member may have a largest dimension of at least 6 mm, such as at least 9, at least 11 mm. The support may have a largest dimension of up to 35mm, such as up to 25mm, up to 20mm.

[0132]

[0110] The main bed catalyst / packing member may comprise surface structures on the outer face of the macrostructure.

[0133]

[0111] The height, suitably the mean average height, of the surface structures of the main bed catalyst / packing member may be up to 30% of the largest dimension of the main bed catalyst / packing member, such as up to 20%, preferably up to 15%.

[0134]

[0112] By “surface structures” it is meant structures that represent a deviation of the shape of the outer surface of the main bed catalyst / packing member from the shape that would be expected based on the macrostructure of the main bed catalyst / packing member. Such surface structures may be significantly smaller than the size of the features of the macrostructure of the main bed catalyst / packing member. The surface structures may be considered to be surface texturing on the macrostructure of the main bed catalyst / packing member. It will be understood that such “surface structures” in the context of the present disclosure do not include microscopic surface roughness.

[0135]

[0113] For example, the main bed catalyst / packing member may have a spherical macrostructure with a diameter of 10 mm. The outer surface of the said main bed catalyst / packing member is partially consistently curved as would be expected for a spherical macrostructure, but the outer surface of the main bed catalyst / packing member also comprises a plurality of surface structures that deviate from the expected curved shape of the outer surface in the form of 12 discrete mounds wherein each mound has a height of 2mm.

[0136]

[0114] It will be appreciated that normal features of macrostructures such as the castellations of a cog or the lobes of multilobe are considered to be part of the macrostructure and are not considered to be surface structures according to the present disclosure.

[0137]

[0115] The main bed catalyst / packing member may comprise surface structures on at least two sides of the main bed catalyst / packing member.

[0138]

[0116] The main bed catalyst / packing member may comprise surface structures extending over >20% of the outer surface of the main bed catalyst / packing member, such as over >30%, >40%, >60% or >80% of the outer surface.

[0139]

[0117] By “comprise surface structures extending over”, it is meant that at least the specified percentage of the outer surface of the main bed catalyst / packing member deviates from the expected shape of the outer surface of the main bed catalyst / packing member based on the macrostructure. It will be appreciated that the amount of the surface that deviates is calculated based on the surface area of the expected shape of the outer surface, and missing portions thereof, rather than on the surface area of the surface structures. For example, the main bed catalyst / packing member may have a spherical macrostructure with an expected outer surface area of 314 cm2, of which 200 cm2deviates from the expected consistent curvature of a spherical macrostructure, and as such the main bed catalyst / packing member comprises surface structures extending over 63% of the outer surface. For the purposes of this calculation, the expected outer surface area that is occupied by any apertures connecting a fluid communication channel is added to the sum of the remaining expected outer surface area.

[0140]

[0118] The height, suitably the mean average height, of the surface structures of the main bed catalyst / packing member may be <10mm, preferably <7mm, more preferably <6mm, most preferably <5mm. The height, suitably the mean average height, of the surface structures of the main bed catalyst / packing member may be >0.1 mm, such as >0.3mm, preferably >0.5mm, more preferably >0.7mm, most preferably >0.8mm. The height of the surface structures herein is measured using callipers with a depth measurement function. It will be appreciated that “height” in this context refers to the distance from the lowest point of the surface structure to the highest point of the surface structure.

[0141]

[0119] The main bed catalyst / packing member may comprise a plurality of repeating surface structures having substantially the same shape. Preferably, the main bed catalyst / packing member comprises at least 5 repeating surface structures, more preferably at least 10, such as at least 15, or at least 20, most preferably at least 25.

[0142]

[0120] A surface structure may be in the form of a ridge, trough, mound and / or depression.

[0121] A surface structure in the form of a ridge or trough is typically elongate and may be in the form of an annular ridge / trough, wherein said annular ridge / trough is not restricted to a circular ring shape. The annular ridge / trough may be in the form of a substantially circular shape or a regular convex polygon, such as a triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, or decagon. Preferably the annular ridge / trough is in the form of a regular convex polygon, more preferably pentagon, hexagon or heptagon, most preferably hexagon. The portion of the outer surface that is contained within an annular ridge / trough may be according to the expected shape of the outer surface of the main bed catalyst / packing member or may be flat, sloped and / or curved. For example, the portion of the outer surface contained within an annular ridge may be in the form of an inverted pyramid. The surface structures may comprise a plurality of connected annular ridge / trough structures, suitably interconnected annular ridge / trough structures such that a ridge of at least a first annular surface structure forms part of a second annular surface structure.

[0143]

[0122] A surface structure in the form of a mound or depression may be a curved, pyramidal and / or stepped mound / depression. A stepped mound / depression may comprise between 2 to 10 steps, such as between 3 and 8 steps. The mound or depression may interconnect such that adjacent mounds / depressions abut or are merged together.

[0144]

[0123] The main bed catalyst / packing member may comprise surface structures extending over <20% of the outer surface of the main bed catalyst / packing member, such as over <10%, or <5%. The main bed catalyst / packing member may be substantially free of surface structures on the outer surface of the main bed catalyst / packing member.

[0145]

[0124] The main bed catalyst / packing member may comprise a substantially uniform outer face according to the macrostructure of the main bed catalyst / packing member. As used herein “uniform outer face” may mean <10% deviation by area from an equivalent uniform surface of an identically sized macrostructure body, such as <5% or <2%. For example, a 16mm spherical macrostructure may have an equivalent uniform outer face surface area of 804 mm2, wherein the main bed catalyst / packing member of the present disclosure has an outer face wherein <10% of the outer face of the support deviates from the equivalent uniform outer face, such that the main bed catalyst / packing member has a uniform outer face surface area of 723 mm2.

[0146]

[0125] The main bed catalyst / packing member, such as a main bed catalyst / packing member having a diameter or largest dimension of >8mm, or >9mm, such as <17mm to >8mm, or packed bed, may have a geometric surface area per volume (GSA) of >0.7cm2 / cm3, such as a GSA of >1 cm2 / cm3, preferably a GSA of >1.2cm2 / cm3, more preferably a GSA of >1.3cm2 / cm3, most preferably a GSA of >1 .4cm2 / cm3.

[0147]

[0126] The main bed catalyst / packing member, such as a main bed catalyst / packing member having a diameter or largest dimension of <10mm to >5mm, or packed bed, may have a GSA of >1 .2cm2 / cm3, such as >1 .5cm2 / cm3, preferably a GSA of >1 .7cm2 / cm3, more preferably a GSA of >1 .9cm2 / cm3, most preferably a GSA of >2.1 cm2 / cm3.

[0148]

[0127] The main bed catalyst / packing member, such as a main bed catalyst / packing member having a diameter or largest dimension of <9mm, such as <9mm to >7mm, or packed bed, may have a GSA of >1 .3cm2 / cm3, such as >1 .4cm2 / cm3, preferably a GSA of >1 .5cm2 / cm3, more preferably a GSA of >1 .6cm2 / cm3, most preferably a GSA of >1 .7cm2 / cm3.

[0149]

[0128] The main bed catalyst / packing member, such as a main bed catalyst / packing member having a diameter or largest dimension of <7mm, such as <7mm to >5mm, or packed bed, may have a GSA of >1 .7cm2 / cm3, such as >1 .8cm2 / cm3, preferably a GSA of >1 .9cm2 / cm3, more preferably a GSA of >2.0cm2 / cm3, most preferably a GSA of >2.1 cm2 / cm3.

[0150]

[0129] GSA per volume herein is calculated by measuring the external dimensions of the main bed catalyst / packing member, including all macrostructure and surface structure features and calculating the surface area. The calculated surface area is then divided by the calculated volume of the support / supported catalyst. Suitable 3D modelling software can be used to provide these calculations.

[0151]

[0130] The main bed catalyst / packing member, such as a main bed catalyst / packing member having a diameter or largest dimension of >9 mm may have a side crush strength of > 3 kg / mm, such as > 5 kg / mm or > 7 kg / mm.

[0152]

[0131] The main bed catalyst / packing member, such as a main bed catalyst / packing member having a diameter or largest dimension of > 11 mm, may have a side crush strength of >3kg / mm, such as > 5 kg / mm, > 7 kg / mm or > 9 kg / m.

[0153]

[0132] The main bed catalyst / packing member, such as a main bed catalyst / packing member having a diameter or largest dimension of > 15 mm, may have a side crush strength of >3kg / mm, such as > 5 kg / mm, > 7 kg / mm or > 9 kg / m.

[0154]

[0133] Side crush strength as used herein was measured by ASTM D4179.

[0155]

[0134] The main bed catalyst / packing member of the present disclosure may be a cast support, such as a gel cast main bed catalyst / packing member, suitably by slip casting. The main bed catalyst / packing member may be obtainable by cast moulding, such as a by gel cast moulding.

[0156]

[0135] The surface structures of the main bed catalyst / packing member, when present, may be formed during the moulding step of the main bed catalyst / packing member, i.e. the step in which the green body of the support is formed, suitably by appropriate formations provided in the shape of the mould. As such, the surface structures may not be post-fabricated after the moulding of the green body of the support.

[0136] The main bed catalyst / packing member may be obtainable by gel casting a composition comprising a ceramic material, an organic binder component and optionally a pore forming material.

[0157]

[0137] The main bed catalyst / packing member may be formed from a cast moulding composition, preferably a gel cast moulding composition. The main bed catalyst / packing member may be formed from a moulding composition comprising an organic binder component, a ceramic material, and optionally a pore forming material.

[0158]

[0138] The organic binder component may be operable to be substantially removed from the main bed catalyst / packing member after moulding of the main bed catalyst / packing member, such as with heat treatment. The organic binder may be removed by calcination of the main bed catalyst / packing member.

[0159]

[0139] The organic binder component may comprise a polymerisable component, suitably including a polymerisable monomer and a crosslinking member, wherein the binder component is operable to polymerise to form a (co)polymer.

[0160]

[0140] The polymerisable monomer may comprise one or more type of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, such as an acrylic monomer or derivative thereof such as an acrylamide monomer, and / or a vinyl monomer, such as a monomer selected from one or more of methacrylamide (MAM), N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide (hMAM), hydroxyethyl acrylamide (hEAM) and / or N-vinyl- 2-pyrrolidinone (NVP). Preferably, the polymerisable monomer comprises one or more acrylamide monomers, more preferably a monomer selected from one or more of methacrylamide (MAM), N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide (hMAM) and hydroxyethyl acrylamide (hEAM). Most preferably, the polymerisable monomer comprises MAM.

[0161]

[0141] The crosslinking member may be selected from one or more of a diethylenically unsaturated monomer, such as a diacrylic monomer or derivative thereof such as a diacrylamide monomer; an acrylic salt and / or a polyethylene glycol substituted acrylic monomer. The crosslinking member may be selected from one or more of polyethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA), N,N’-methylenebis(acrylamide) (BIS), ammonium acrylate and PEG methylethylmethacrylate (PEGMEM), preferably one more of polyethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA), and N,N’-methylenebis(acrylamide) (BIS).

[0162]

[0142] The organic binder component may be formed from 40 to 95wt% of polymerisable monomer and from 60 to 5wt% of crosslinking member, such as from 50 to 90wt% of polymerisable monomer and from 50 to 10wt% of crosslinking member, or from 55 to 85wt% of polymerisable monomer and from 45 to 15wt% of crosslinking member, or from 60 to 80wt% of polymerisable monomer and from 40 to 20wt% of crosslinking member, such as from 65 to 75wt% of polymerisable monomer and from 35 to 25wt% of crosslinking member.

[0143] The composition may further comprise a polymerisation accelerator, operable to accelerate the polymerisation of the binder component. The polymerisation accelerator may be any suitable accelerator. For example, the accelerator may be tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED).

[0163]

[0144] The composition may further comprise an initiator operable to initiate polymerisation of the binder component. The initiator may be any suitable initiator. The initiator may be a free radical initiator. For example, the initiator may be ammonium persulphate and / or potassium persulphate.

[0164]

[0145] The pore forming material may be operable to be removed from the main bed catalyst / packing member after moulding of the main bed catalyst / packing member, such as with heat treatment. The pore forming material may be operable to be removed by calcination of the main bed catalyst / packing member. The pore forming material may be any suitable pore forming material known in the art. The pore forming material may be selected from one or more of microbeads, starch, seeds and / or cellulose. The pore forming material may comprise olive stone.

[0165]

[0146] The pore forming material may comprise a particle size distribution wherein Dw is from 80 to 200pm, such as from 100 to 180pm, or from 130 to 160pm. The pore forming material may comprise a particle size distribution wherein the Dso is from 180 to 320pm, such as from 200 to 300pm, or from 230 to 280pm. The pore forming material may comprise a particle size distribution wherein the D90 is from 300 to 550pm, such as from 330 to 500pm, or from 360 to 450pm.

[0166]

[0147] The ceramic material of the main bed catalyst / packing member or composition may comprise a refractory ceramic material. The ceramic material may comprise aluminium oxide, aluminium silicate, magnesium aluminate, calcium aluminate, zirconia, silica, titanate, carbon and / or magnesium oxide, or precursors thereof. The ceramic material may comprise aluminium oxide, calcium aluminate or precursors thereof. The ceramic material may comprise aluminium oxide, such as a-aluminium oxide, or precursors or derivatives thereof.

[0167]

[0148] The ceramic material may be obtained from at least two ceramic material fractions, for example, the ceramic material may be a product of the combination or two or more commercially available ceramic material products which may each be considered to represent a ceramic material fraction and which may be combined to obtain the ceramic material of the support. The ceramic material may comprise a (first) ceramic material fraction having a particle size distribution wherein Dw is from 0.1 to 10pm, such as from 0.3 to 5pm, or from 0.3 to 3pm. The ceramic material may comprise a (first) ceramic material fraction having a particle size distribution wherein the D50 is from 0.5 to 30pm, such as from 1 to 20pm, or from 1 .5 to 10pm. The ceramic material may comprise a (first) ceramic material fraction having a particle size distribution wherein the D90 is from 2 to 70pm, such as from 5 to 50pm, or from 8 to 40pm.

[0168]

[0149] At least 30% of the fractions of the ceramic material by total weight of the ceramic material may have a Dw of from 0.1 to 10pm, such as from 0.3 to 5pm, or from 0.3 to 3pm; a D50 of from 0.5 to 30pm, such as from 1 to 20pm, or from 1 .5 to 10pm; and / or a D90 of from 2 to 70pm, such as from 5 to 50pm, or from 8 to 40pm, such as at least 50wt% or at least 60wt%.

[0150] Particle size including D10 particle size, D50 particle size, D90 particle size and particle size distributions as used herein were measured by laser diffraction, using the Particle Size Analyser “Malvern Mastersizer 3000” with an EV cell attachment according to ASTM B822-20.

[0169]

[0151] The ceramic material may be obtained from a ceramic material fraction comprising a primary crystal size of <3 pm, such as <2 pm or <1.5 pm, such as at least 15% of the ceramic material by total weight of the ceramic material, or at least 20wt% or at least 25wt%.

[0170]

[0152] The ceramic material may be obtained from a ceramic material fraction comprising a BET surface area of >3 m2 / g, such as >5 m2 / g or >8 m2 / g, such as at least 15% of the ceramic material by total weight of the ceramic material, or at least 20wt% or at least 25wt%.

[0171]

[0153] The ceramic material may comprise a ceramic powder. The ceramic powder may be ball milled or spray dried. Advantageously, it has been found that ball milled or spray dried ceramic powder provides easier casting behaviour.

[0172]

[0154] The composition or support may comprise a promoter, operable to increase the reactivity of the main reaction, and / or decrease undesirable side reactions. The promoter may be selected from one or more of oxides of lanthanum, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium, zirconium, barium, cerium, sodium, lithium, molybdenum, yttrium, cobalt, and chromium. The promoter may be selected from one or more of oxides of lanthanum, copper, magnesium, calcium, zirconium, rhenium, tungsten and molybdenum.

[0173]

[0155] The composition may further comprise a liquid carrier, such as an aqueous carrier. The composition may be an aqueous ceramic slurry.

[0174]

[0156] The composition may comprise further additives. For example, the composition may comprise a dispersant, such as a polymeric salt, for example a salt of a polyacrylic, preferably an ammonium salt of a polyacrylic. A suitable dispersant may be selected from one or more of Ecodis P90, Narlex LD42 and Dispex A40.

[0175]

[0157] The composition may comprise from 0.1 to 10% of polymerisable monomer by dry weight of the composition, preferably from 0.5 to 8wt%, more preferably from 1 to 6wt%, such as from 1 .5 to 5wt%, most preferably from 2 to 4 wt%.

[0176]

[0158] The composition may comprise from 0.1 to 10% of crosslinking member by dry weight of the composition, preferably from 0.5 to 8wt%, more preferably from 0.75 to 6wt%, such as from 1 to 5wt%, most preferably from 1 to 4 wt%.

[0177]

[0159] The composition may comprise from 50 to 95% of ceramic material by dry weight of the composition, preferably from 50 to 90wt%, more preferably from 55 to 85wt%, most preferably from 60 to 80wt%.

[0160] The main bed catalyst / packing member may comprise at least 75% of ceramic material by total weight of the main bed catalyst / packing member, such as at least 85wt%, or at least 90wt%, or at least 95wt%, or at least 97wt% ceramic material.

[0178]

[0161] The ceramic material of the main bed catalyst / packing member or composition may comprise >50% aluminium oxide or derivative thereof, by total weight of the ceramic material, such as >75 wt% aluminium oxide or derivative thereof, or > 90 wt% aluminium oxide or derivative thereof, >95 wt% aluminium oxide or derivative thereof, or >99 wt% aluminium oxide or derivative thereof.

[0179]

[0162] The main bed catalyst / packing member may comprise >50% aluminium oxide or derivative thereof, by weight of the main bed catalyst / packing member, such as >75 wt% aluminium oxide or derivative thereof, or > 80 wt% aluminium oxide or derivative thereof, >85 wt% aluminium oxide or derivative thereof, or >90 wt% aluminium oxide or derivative thereof.

[0180]

[0163] The composition may comprise >5 wt% of pore forming material by dry weight of the composition, such as >8 wt%, >12 wt%.

[0181]

[0164] The composition may comprise <40 wt% of pore forming material by dry weight of the composition, such as <30 wt%, <20 wt%.

[0182]

[0165] The composition may comprise from 5 to 40% of pore forming member by dry weight of the composition, such as from 8 to 30wt%, or from 12 to 20wt%.

[0183]

[0166] The composition may comprise from 0.1 to 5% of initiator by dry weight of the composition, preferably from 0.5 to 4wt%, more preferably from 0.75 to 3.5wt%, most preferably from 1 to 3wt%.

[0184]

[0167] The composition may comprise up to 5% of accelerator by dry weight of the composition, preferably up to 3wt%, more preferably up to 2wt%, most preferably up to 1 ,5wt%.

[0185]

[0168] The composition may comprise from 0.1 to 10% of dispersant by dry weight of the composition, preferably from 0. 5 to 8wt%, more preferably 0.75 to 6wt%, most preferably from 1 to 5wt%.

[0186]

[0169] The composition (or slip) may have a solids content of from 45 to 99% by total weight of the composition, such as from 50 to 95wt%, preferably from 55 to 90wt%, most preferably from 60 to 85wt%.

[0187]

[0170] The composition may be formed by combining a pre-formed aqueous binder component with the ceramic material. The aqueous binder component may comprise a polymerisable monomer, a crosslinking member and water.

[0188]

[0171] The main bed catalyst of the present disclosure comprises catalytic material. The catalytic material is operable to provide catalytic activity in the desired reaction, such as in a hydroprocessing, pre-reforming, steam reforming and / or shift conversion reaction.

[0172] The catalytic material may comprise a metal, such as a Group 6, Group 8, Group 9, Group 10, Group 11 and / or Group 12 metal or compound thereof, for example chromium, iron, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, platinum; copper, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and / or lanthanum. The catalytic material may comprise chromium, iron, nickel, palladium, platinum; copper, zinc and / or lanthanum. The catalytic material, such as for a hydrotreating, pre-forming or steam reforming may comprise nickel. The catalytic material, such as for shift conversion may comprise iron, chromium, copper and / or zinc, such as an iron-chromium compound for high- temperature shift conversion and / or a copper-zinc compound for a low temperature shift conversion.

[0189]

[0173] The main bed catalyst may comprise catalytic material in an amount of >5% by total weight of the main bed catalyst, such as >7wt% or >10wt%. The main bed catalyst may comprise catalytic material in an amount of <50% by total weight of the main bed catalyst, such as <40wt% or <35wt%. The main bed catalyst may comprise catalytic material in an amount of from 5 to 50% by total weight of the main bed catalyst, such as from 7 to 40wt% or from 10 to 35wt%.

[0190]

[0174] The main bed catalyst may comprise catalytic material in an amount of <30% by total weight of the catalyst, such as <25wt% or <20wt%. The main bed catalyst may comprise catalytic material in an amount of from 5 to 30% by total weight of the main bed catalyst, such as from 7 to 25wt% or from 10 to 20wt%.

[0191]

[0175] Filtration members (b) / a filtration member of filtration members (b), such as at least 50% by total volume of filtration members (b), or at least 75% or at least 90%, may comprise alumina, silica, calcium aluminate, lanthanum aluminate, magnesium aluminate; zeolite, and / or activated carbon.

[0192]

[0176] Filtration members (b) / a filtration member of filtration members (b), such as at least 50% by total volume of filtration members (b), or at least 75% or at least 90%, may be formed from an extruded ceramic material, such as alumina and / or silica.

[0193]

[0177] The filtration member may have a zeolite structure for improved removal of water, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen chloride, and / or other contaminants.

[0194]

[0178] Filtration members (b) / a filtration member of filtration members (b) may have a porosity of at least 3%, such as at least 5%, such as at least 8%, and / or up to 30%, such as up to 20% or up to 15%. Advantageously, such as a porosity may provide improve silica uptake capacity. Porosity was used herein was measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry, using ASTM D4284 - 12(2017)e1 , Standard Test Method for Determining Pore Volume Distribution of Catalysts and Catalyst Carriers by Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry.

[0195]

[0179] The contaminants operable to be retained by the filtration apparatus of the present disclosure may include polymers, oligomers, scales, flakes, carbon / coke, iron sulfide fines, and / or solid silica. The size of the contaminant may range from 5 to >1 ,500um.

[0180] Filtration members (b) may be used under a wide range of operating conditions. Filtration member (b) may operate at a gas space velocity of about 10-12000 scfh-1, such as at 500-2000 scfh-1. Filtration members (b) may operate at a liquid space velocity of 0.1 to 50 hr1, such as 0.5- 5 hr1. Depending on the material of the filtration member, the member may be used over a broad range of temperatures and pH values. Alumina-based filtration members (b) may be operable up to about 900°F and / or over a pH range of 3 to 10. High purity alumina filtration members (b) may operate up to about 2000°F and / or a pH range of from about 2 to about 12.

[0196]

[0181] Filtration members (b) and / or (c) may comprise a filtration member comprising catalytic material.

[0197]

[0182] The catalytic material may comprise a transition metal oxide, a transition metal sulfide, a transition metal organometallic compound, a rare-earth metal oxide, a rare-earth metal sulfide, or combination thereof, and / or a catalyst material comprising one or more metallic elements such as iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, osmium, iridium, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, gold, copper, zinc, calcium, potassium, or combination thereof.

[0198]

[0183] The catalytic material may be present in an amount of at least 2% by weight of the filtration member, such as at least 3wt% or at least 5wt%, and / or up to 20wt%, such as up to 15wt% or up to 10wt%.

[0199]

[0184] The catalytic material may comprise nickel.

[0200]

[0185] Advantageously, the presence of catalytic material on the filtration member may improve the removal of some contaminants from the feed stream.

[0201]

[0186] Filtration members (b) and / or (c) may comprise filtration members that comprise up to 2% catalytic material, by weight of the filtration member, such as up to 1wt% or up to 0.5wt%. Filtration members (b) and / or (c) may comprise filtration members that are substantially free of catalytic material, such that the filtration member may be considered to be inert and not substantially operable to function as a catalyst in the reaction. At least 50wt% of the filtration members of filtration members (b), by total volume of the filtration members (b), may comprise up to 2% catalytic material, by weight of the filtration member, such as up to 1wt% or up to 0.5wt%, or may be substantially free of catalytic material, such that the filtration member may be considered to be inert and not substantially operable to function as a catalyst in the reaction, such as at least 75% or at least 90% or at least 99%. At least 50wt% of the filtration members of filtration members (c), by total volume of the filtration members (c), may comprise up to 2% catalytic material, by weight of the filtration member, such as up to 1wt% or up to 0.5wt%, or may be substantially free of catalytic material, such that the filtration member may be considered to be inert and not substantially operable to function as a catalyst in the reaction, such as at least 75% or at least 90% or at least 99%.

[0187] Filtration members (b) and / or (c) may comprise filtration members formed by extrusion, such as by extrusion of a ceramic material, typically in a past form through a fixed-shape die, followed by calcining of the extrudate to fix and harden the shape, as will be understood by one of skill in the art.

[0202]

[0188] Filtration members (b) may comprise reticulated filtration members. Reticulated filtration members may be in the form of a multi-cellular sponge-like solid material. Reticulated filtration members may comprise a plurality of feed flow channels extending from a first face of the filtration members to a second face of the filtration member wherein a plurality of the channels are interconnected, such as at least 25%, or at least 50% or at least 75% of the channels are interconnected. As used herein, ‘interconnected’ with respect to the channels of the reticulated filtration member may mean that a channel is fluidly connected to at least one other channel at a part of the channel that is between the first and second faces of the filtration member. Reticulated filtration members may be formed by blowing air through a molten material, such as alumina, to produce a foam, then instantaneously cooling the foam to preserve the spongy texture, as will be understood by one of skill in the art.

[0203]

[0189] As used herein, references to “dry weight” refer to the weight of the respective components / composition in the absence of any carrier liquid, such as water.

[0204]

[0190] As used herein, ’10 mesh’ may refer to a filtration member having a mean average channel diameter of 1 ,700um. As used herein, ’25 mesh’ may refer to a filtration member having a mean average channel diameter of 600um. As used herein, ’50 mesh’ may refer to a filtration member having a mean average channel diameter of 300um.

[0205]

[0191] As used herein, ‘diameter’, in particular with respect to measurement of the external diameter or channel diameter of the filtration member, may, in addition to its normal meaning of a straight line distance extending between endpoints of a circle and passing through the centre, additionally mean a straight line distance extending between the largest width endpoints where the relevant section to be measured is not of circular cross section.

[0206]

[0192] As used herein, unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers such as those expressing values, ranges, amounts or percentages may be read as if prefaced by the word "about", even if the term does not expressly appear. The term “about” when used herein means + / - 10% of the stated value. Also, the recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all integer numbers and, where appropriate, fractions subsumed within that range (e.g. 1 to 5 can include 1 , 2, 3, 4 when referring to, for example, a number of elements, and can also include 1.5, 2, 2.75 and 3.80, when referring to, for example, measurements). The recitation of end points also includes the end point values themselves (e.g. from 1.0 to 5.0 includes both 1.0 and 5.0). Also, any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein.

[0207]

[0193] Singular encompasses plural and vice versa. For example, although reference is made herein to “an” organic binder component, “a” ceramic material, “a” pore forming material, and the like, one or more of each of these and any other components can be used. As used herein, the term "polymer" refers to oligomers and both homopolymers and copolymers, and the prefix "poly" refers to two or more. Including, for example and like terms means including for example but not limited to. The terms "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised of’ as used herein are synonymous with "including", "includes" or "containing", "contains", and are inclusive or open- ended and do not exclude additional, non-recited members, elements or method steps. Additionally, although the present disclosure has been described in terms of “comprising”, the processes, materials, and coating compositions detailed herein may also be described as “consisting essentially of’ or “consisting of’.

[0208]

[0194] As used herein, the term "and / or," when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a list is described as comprising group A, B, and / or C, the list can comprise A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination, B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.

[0209]

[0195] Where ranges are provided in relation to a genus, each range may also apply additionally and independently to any one or more of the listed species of that genus.

[0210]

[0196] All of the features contained herein may be combined with any of the above aspects in any combination.

[0211]

[0197] For a better understanding of the present disclosure, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the following experimental data and figures.

[0212] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0213]

[0198] Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of a typical grading arrangement in a hydrotreating reactor.

[0214]

[0199] Figure 2 shows perspective view of an extruded-type filtration member.

[0215]

[0200] Figure 3 shows grading not according to the present disclosure using an extruded-type filtration member.

[0216]

[0201] Figures 4a-b show grading according to the present disclosure using extruded-type filtration members.

[0217]

[0202] Figures 5a-b shows foulant distribution profiles for the grading of Figures 3 and 4a, respectfully.

[0218]

[0203] Figures 6 and 7 are charts showing test data from the examples.

[0219] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0204] Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of a typical grading arrangement in a hydrotreating reactor. Grading is provided adjacent to the feed input aperture. Below the grading is a layer of filter rings, and below the filter rings is the main hydrotreating catalyst bed. These components are arranged in the reactor such that the feed contacts the grading first, followed by the filter rings and then the main catalyst bed. The effect of the grading is to reduce the number of contaminants in the feed prior to contacting of the feed with the main catalyst bed. The main function of the filter rings is to provide additional particulate removal capacity and to provide a more gradual pressure drop rise between the grading layer and the main catalyst bed. When used in a guard-bed vessel, that rings may help provide back-pressure for good flow distribution. The rings used in such reactors typically have a single linear cylindrical aperture extending from upper face to an opposed lower face. The ring aperture will typically be around 3mm in diameter.

[0220]

[0205] Figure 2 shows a type of filtration member used as grading in such reactors. Filtration member 2 is in the form of a circular disc shape formed by extrusion of a ceramic-based composition and contains a plurality of parallel linear feed fluid flow channels each having a triangular lateral cross section and extending from a planar upper face to an opposed planar lower face.

[0221]

[0206] Figure 3 shows grading formed of different filtration members of the filtration member 2- type, as detailed for Comparative Example 1 in Tables 1 and 2 below.

[0222]

[0207] Figures 4a and b show two different configurations of grading formed of different filtration members of the filtration member 2a-type, as detailed for Examples 1 and 2 in Tables 1 and 2 below.

[0223]

[0208] Figures 5a and b show the mass and distribution of retained contaminants down the grading layers of grading according to Comparative Examples 1 and Example 1. While significant localised build up at the boundaries between different filtration member size layers can be seen for the grading of Comparative Example 1 , a better distribution of the trapped contaminants is shown for the grading according to Example 1 of the present disclosure with reduced crusting between the layers of filtration members. The grading of Example 1 also retains a higher mass of contaminants than the grading of Comparative Example 1 , meaning that the reduced crusting is especially surprising.

[0224]

[0209] Figure 6 is a chart showing pressure drop against flow velocity for Examples 2 and 3, and for Comparative Example 1 . Improved pressure drop is shown for Examples 2 and 3 compared to Comparative Example 1 , with Example 2 giving the biggest improvement.

[0225]

[0210] Figure 7 is a chart showing the capture volume improve achieved by grading according to Example 1 .

[0226] EXAMPLES

[0211] The following types of filtration members, as shown in Table 1 , were used in the examples:

[0227] Table 1 - Filtration members

[0228]

[0212] The filtration apparatus according to the present disclosure (Examples 1 and 2) and the filtration apparatus of Comparative Example 1 were formed of a 2m internal diameter chemical reactor vessel containing a fixed bed formed of filtration members as detailed in Table 2.

[0229] Table 2 - Grading

[0213] A two-part packing model was used to test the above-mentioned examples. A CFD was applied to simulate fluid movement within the generated packing structures.

[0230]

[0214] Within the packing model, both the packing space and objects to be packed were represented as collections of 3D pixels (voxels). The objects could move independently of each other, and collisions between different objects, and objects and the wall were modelled. The structures created provide the basis for fluid flow modelling through the beds, using the Lattice- Boltzmann Method (LBM) of simulation.

[0231]

[0215] The reported simulations were performed at a resolution of 0.2mm / pixel. Reactors were loaded to simulate sock loading. A range of flow rates were modelled for diesel oil (@250C), with feed rate ranging between 12K-27k BPD (80m3 / hr-179m3 / hr). Solid contaminants were assumed to be present at 5mg / m3and ranged from 10-1000um.

[0232]

[0216] The results are shown in Table 3 and in Figures 6 and 7.

[0233] Table 3 - Results

[0234]

[0217] As shown by the results, a significant improvement in capture volume can surprisingly be produced by the filtration apparatus of the present invention in combination with improved pressure drop. An improvement in the amount of contaminant retained may also be achieved. In addition, these advantageous results may be achieved with the use of significantly fewer filtration members, providing a substantial cost reduction.

[0235]

[0218] It has also been found that grouping of like-sized channel filtration members in larger and fewer layers may surprisingly reduce the levels of crusting while maintaining a significant improvement in capture volume in combination with improved pressure drop.

[0236]

[0219] Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0237]

[0220] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and / or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0238]

[0221] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0239]

[0222] The present disclosure is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The present disclosure extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Filtration apparatus for reducing contaminants in a feed stream, the apparatus comprising:(a) a vessel; and(b) a plurality of filtration members arranged within the vessel, wherein the filtration members each comprise;(i) at least 10 channels extending through the filtration member from a first face of the filtration member to a second face of the filtration member, and(ii) a mean average channel diameter of up to 2,500 urn, wherein at least 60% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of filtration members (b), and wherein filtration members (b) comprise a first fraction of filtration members and a second fraction of filtration members, wherein the filtration members of the first fraction each comprise a larger mean average channel diameter than the filtration members of the second fraction.

2. Filtration apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a chemical reactor.

3. Filtration apparatus according to claiml or 2, wherein the vessel comprises a chrome steel vessel and / or a carbon steel vessel.

4. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the vessel is a fixed bed reactor.

5. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) are a bed-grading, bed-topping or guard-bed.

6. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) are a fixed bed.

7. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise an extruded filtration member.

8. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of extruded filtration members.

9. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) have a mean average channel diameter of at least 100um, such as at least 200um, or at least 250um10. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) have mean average diameter of up to 2,000um, such as up to 1 ,900um or up to 1 ,800um.11 . Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) are 5 to 70 mesh filtration members, such as 10 to 50 mesh filtration members.

12. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise discrete fluid flow channels, such as at least 25%, or at least 50% or at least 75% of the channels of each filtration member are discrete channels.

13. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprises at least 50%, by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 70%, or at least 80% or at least 90%, of filtration members comprising discrete channels, such as at least 25%, or at least 50% or at least 75% of the channels of each the filtration member are discrete channels.

14. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise at least 20 channels extending through the filtration member from a first face of the filtration member to a second face of the filtration member, such as at least 50 channels or at least 100 channels.

15. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise at least 10 substantially parallel channels, such as at least 20, at least 50 or at least 100 channels.

16. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise at least 10 of substantially linear channels, such as at least 20, at least 50 or at least 100 channels.

17. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise at least 10 channels having a polygonal lateral cross-section, such as an acuteangle polygonal lateral cross-section, such as a triangular lateral cross-section, such as such as at least 20, at least 50 or at least 100 channels.

18. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) have an external diameter that is at least 150% of the thickness of the filtration member, such as at least 200% or at least 250%.

19. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) have an external diameter of at least 10mm, such as at least 20mm or at least 30mm, and / or an external diameter of up to 80mm, such as up to 65mm or up to 50mm.

20. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) have an inner void fraction of at least 20%, such as at least 25% or at least 30%, and / or an inner void fraction of up to 80%, such as up to 75% or up to 70%.21 . Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) have a geometric surface area of at least 150cm2, such as at least 250cm2, or at least 400cm2, and / or a geometric surface area of up to 1 ,200cm2, such as up to 1 ,000cm2, or up to 800cm2.

22. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) have a thickness of at least 6mm, such as at least 8mm or at least 10mm, and / or a thickness of up to 50mm, such as up to 30mm or up to 20mm.

23. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least 70% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of the filtration members.

24. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least 75% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of the filtration members.

25. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least 80% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of the filtration members.

26. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least 90% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of the filtration members.

27. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least 75% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), have an external diameter that is within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of the filtration members.

28. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least 70% of the filtration members of the first and second fractions have external diameters that are within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of the filtration members of the first and second fractions, by total volume of the filtration members of the first and second fractions, such as at least 75%, or at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 95%.

29. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise a third fraction of filtration members, wherein the filtration members of the third fraction each comprise a smaller mean average channel diameter than the filtration members of the second fraction.

30. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least 70% of the filtration members of the first, second and third fractions have external diameters that are within 10% of the combined mean average external diameter of the filtration members of the first, second and third fractions, by total volume of the filtration members of the first, second and third fractions, such as at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 95%.31 . Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the external diameter of the given portion of respective filtration members is within 8% of the respective mean average external diameter, by volume of the respective filtration members.

32. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the external diameter of the given portion of respective filtration members is within 5% of the respective mean average external diameter, by volume of the respective filtration members.

33. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the external diameter of the given portion of respective filtration members is within 2% of the respective mean average external diameter, by volume of the respective filtration members, or within 1 %.

34. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprises a layer of filtration members according to the first filtration member fraction, a layer of filtration members according to the second filtration member fraction, and optionally a layer of filtration members according to the third filtration member fraction.

35. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise a layer of the first filtration member fraction arranged upstream of a layer of the second filtration member fraction, wherein the layer of the second fraction is optionally arranged upstream of a layer of the third filtration member fraction, when present.

36. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprises multiple layers of the first, second and / or third fraction, such as at least 3, at least 4, or at least 5 layers of the first, second and / or third fraction.

37. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprises up to 3 layers of each of the first, second and / or third fraction, such as up to 2 layers of each of the first, second and / or third fraction,38. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprises a single layer of each of the first, second and / or third fractions.

39. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise a layer of the first fraction arranged most upstream, followed by a layer of the second fraction and then a layer of the third fraction.

40. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members according to the first, second, and optionally third, filtration member fractions form at least 60% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 80%.41 . Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members according to the first, second, and optionally third, filtration member fractions form at least 90% of filtration members (b), by total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 95%.

42. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filtration members of the second and / or third fraction form a larger proportion of the total filtration members (b) by volume than the filtration members of the first fraction, such as at least 50% more, by volume, or at least 250% more, or at least 500% more.

43. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprises one layer of the first fraction that is at least 2% of the total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 3%, or at least 5%.

44. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprises one layer of the first fraction that is up to 50% of the total volume of filtration members (b).

45. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprises one layer of the first fraction that is up to 25%, or up to 15%, of the total volume of filtration members (b).

46. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise one layer of the second fraction that is at least 5% of the total volume of filtration members (b), such as at least 15%.

47. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise one layer of the second fraction that is at least 30% of the total volume of filtration members (b).

48. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise one layer of the second fraction that is up to 60% of the total volume of filtration members (b), such as up to 55%, or up to 50%.

49. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprises one layer of the third fraction that is at least 5% of the total volume of filtration members (b) such as at least 15%.

50. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprises one layer of the third fraction that is at least 30% of the total volume of filtration members (b).

51. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprises one layer of the third fraction that is up to 60% of the total volume of filtration members (b), such as up to 55%, or up to 50%.

52. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filtration members of the first fraction have a larger internal void percentage than the filtration members of the second fraction, such as at least 15% larger, or at least 25% larger, or at least 30% larger.

53. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filtration members of the second fraction have a larger internal void percentage than the filtration members of the third fraction, such as at least 10% larger, or at least 15% larger, or at least 20% larger.

54. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filtration members of the first fraction have a mean average channel diameter of at least 800um, such as at least 1 ,000um or at least 1 ,300um and / or a mean average channel diameter of up to 2,500um, such as up to 2,200um or up to 1 ,800um.

55. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filtration members of the first fraction have an inner void fraction of at least 30%, such as at least 40% or at least 50%, and / or up to 80%, such as up to 70% or up to 65%.

56. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filtration members of the second fraction have a mean average channel diameter of at least 450um, such as at least 500um or at least 550um and / or a mean average channel diameter of up to 750um, such as up to 700um, or up to 650um.

57. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filtration members of the second fraction have an inner void fraction of at least 25%, such as at least 35% or at least 40%, and / or up to 70%, such as up to 60% or up to 50%.

58. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filtration members of the third fraction have a mean average channel diameter of at least 150um, such as at least 200um or at least 250um and / or a mean average channel diameter of up to <450um, or up to 400um or up to 35um.

59. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filtration members of the third fraction have an inner void fraction of at least 15%, such as at least 20% or at least 25%, and / or up to 60% or up to 50% or up to 40%.

60. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filtration members of the first fraction have a smaller geometric surface area than the filtration members of the second fraction, and / or the filtration members of the second fraction have a smaller geometric surface area than the filtration members of the third fraction.

61. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the vessel comprises at least 5% of filtration members (b), by total internal volume of the vessel, such as at least 10% or at least 12%.

62. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the vessel comprises up to90% of filtration members (b), by total internal volume of the vessel, such as up to 80% or up to 75%.

63. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the vessel comprises up to40% of filtration members (b), by total internal volume of the vessel, such as up to 30% or up to 25%.

64. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus further comprises further filtration members, flow redistribution members and / or a main reaction catalyst bed and / or main reaction catalyst bed packing members.

65. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus, and optionally the vessel, further comprises a plurality of filtration members (c), wherein the filtration members each comprise from 1 to <10 channels extending through the filtration member from a first face of the filtration member to a second face of the filtration member, such as from 1 to 5 channels, or 1 to 3 channels.

66. Filtration apparatus according to claim 65, wherein filtration members (c) each have a mean average channel diameter of at least 1 ,5mm, such as at least 2mm, or at least >2.5mm, or at least 2.7mm, and / or up to 10mm, such as up to 7mm or up to 6mm.

67. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) comprise a ceramic material, such as a refractory ceramic material.

68. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filtration members (b) / a filtration member of filtration members (b), such as at least 50% by total volume of filtration members (b), or at least 75% or at least 90%, comprise alumina, silica, calcium aluminate, lanthanum aluminate, magnesium aluminate; zeolite, and / or activated carbon.

69. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filtration members (b) / a filtration member of filtration members (b), such as at least 50% by total volume of filtration members (b), or at least 75% or at least 90%, have a porosity of at least 3%, such as at least 5%, such as at least 8%, and / or up to 30%, such as up to 20% or up to 15%.

70. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein filtration members (b) and / or (c) comprise catalytic material.

71. Filtration apparatus according to claim 70, wherein the catalytic material comprises a transition metal oxide, a transition metal sulfide, a transition metal organometallic compound, a rare-earth metal oxide, a rare-earth metal sulfide, or combination thereof, and / or a catalyst material comprising one or more metallic elements such as iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, osmium, iridium, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, gold, copper, zinc, calcium, potassium, or combination thereof.

72. Filtration apparatus according to claim 70, wherein the catalytic material comprises nickel.

73. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 70 to 72, wherein the catalytic material is present in an amount of at least 2% by weight of the filtration member, such as at least 3wt% or at least 5wt%, and / or up to 20wt%, such as up to 15wt% or up to 10wt%.

74. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein apparatus, such as the vessel, comprises a main bed catalyst and / or packing member.

75. Filtration apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the vessel comprising filtration members (b) is a guard-bed vessel and the filtration apparatus comprises a further vessel that comprises a main bed catalyst and / or packing member.

76. Filtration apparatus according to claim 74 or 75, wherein the main bed catalyst / packing member comprises ceramic material and wherein the main bed catalyst / packing member has a geometric surface area per volume of >0.7cm2 / cm3and a side crush strength of >250kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of >1 .5cm2 / cm3and a side crush strength of >150kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of>3cm2 / cm3and a side crush strength of >60kgf, and wherein the main bed catalyst / packing member optionally has a porosity of at least 6%, such as at least 15% or at least 20%.

77. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 76, wherein the main bed catalyst / packing member is a cast main bed catalyst / packing member, preferably a gel cast main bed catalyst / packing member, more preferably a gel cast main bed catalyst / packing member formed from a moulding composition comprising an organic binder component, a ceramic material, optionally a pore forming component, optionally a polymerisation initiator, and optionally a polymerisation accelerator.

78. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 77, wherein the main bed catalyst / packing member is obtainable by gel casting a composition comprising a ceramic material, an organic binder component, optionally a pore forming component, optionally a polymerisation initiator, and optionally a polymerisation accelerator.

79. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 78, wherein the main bed catalyst / packing member has a GSA of >1 cm2 / cm3, preferably a GSA of >1 .2cm2 / cm3, more preferably a GSA of >1 .3cm2 / cm3, most preferably a GSA of >1 .4cm2 / cm3, with a side crush strength of >275kgf, preferably >300kgf, more preferably >325kgf, most preferably >350kgf.

80. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 79, wherein the main bed catalyst / packing member has a GSA of >1 .7cm2 / cm3, preferably a GSA of >1 .9cm2 / cm3, more preferably a GSA of >2.1 cm2 / cm3, most preferably a GSA of >2.3cm2 / cm3with a side crush strength of >170kgf, preferably >185kgf, more preferably >200kgf, most preferably >215kgf.

81. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 80, wherein the main bed catalyst / packing member has a GSA of >3.3cm2 / cm3, preferably a GSA of >3.6cm2 / cm3, more preferably a GSA of >3.9cm2 / cm3, most preferably a GSA of >4.2cm2 / cm3, with a side crush strength of >70kgf, preferably >80kgf, more preferably >90kgf, most preferably >100kgf.

82. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 81 , wherein the main bed catalyst / packing member has a porosity of >15%, more preferably >20%, most preferably >25%.

83. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 82, wherein the main bed catalyst / packing member has a macrostructure and surface structures on the outer face of the macrostructure.

84. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 83, wherein the macrostructure of the main bed catalyst / packing member is in the form of a cog and at least some, and preferably all, of the castellations of the cog are tapered along the depth and / or the width of the castellations, preferably each castellation is tapered in the same direction as the other castellations of the cog, suitably the widest and deepest points of the castellation are toward the same end of the castellation, and / or the macrostructure has a depressed upper and / or lower face, suitably at least 30% of the upper and / or lower face is depressed, such as at least 40% or at least 50%.

85. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 84 wherein the surface structures are in the form of ridges and / or mounds, preferably the ridges are in the form of annular ridges, more preferably a plurality of attached annular ridge structures, suitably interconnectedannular ridge structures such that a ridge of at least a first annular surface structure forms part of a second annular surface structure.

86. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 85, wherein the organic binder component comprises a polymerisable monomer and a crosslinking member, optionally, wherein the polymerisable monomer comprises one or more type of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, such as an acrylic monomer or derivative thereof such as an acrylamide monomer, and / or a vinyl monomer, such as a monomer selected from one or more of methacrylamide (MAM), N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide (hMAM), hydroxyethyl acrylamide (hEAM) and / or N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NVP), optionally, wherein the polymerisable monomer comprises one or more acrylamide monomers, preferably a monomer selected from one or more of methacrylamide (MAM), N- (hydroxymethyl)acrylamide (hMAM) and hydroxyethyl acrylamide (hEAM), more preferably, MAM, optionally, wherein the crosslinking member is selected from one or more of a diethylenically unsaturated monomer, such as a diacrylic monomer or a derivative thereof such as a diacrylamide monomer; an acrylic salt and / or a polyethylene glycol substituted acrylic monomer, optionally, wherein the crosslinking member is selected from one or more of polyethylene glycol) di meth acrylate (PEGDMA), N,N’- methylenebis(acrylamide) (BIS), ammonium acrylate and PEG methylethylmethacrylate (PEGMEM), preferably one or more of polyethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA), and N,N’-methylenebis(acrylamide) (BIS), optionally, wherein the organic binder component comprises from 40 to 95wt% of a polymerisable monomer and from 60 to 5wt% of a crosslinking member, such as from 50 to 90wt% of polymerisable monomer and from 50 to 10wt% of crosslinking member, or from 55 to 85wt% of polymerisable monomer and from 45 to 15wt% of crosslinking member, or from 60 to 80wt% of polymerisable monomer and from 40 to 20wt% of crosslinking member, such as from 65 to 75wt% of polymerisable monomer and from 35 to 25wt% of crosslinking member .

87. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 86, wherein the pore forming material has a particle size distribution wherein D10 is from 5 to 100pm, preferably from 10 to 75pm, more preferably from 15 to 50pm, most preferably from 20 to 40pm., and / or the D50 of the pore forming material is from 50 to 200pm, preferably from 75 to 175pm, more preferably from 90 to 160pm, most preferably from 100 to 150pm, and / or the D90 of the pore forming material is from 120 to 300pm, preferably from 150 to 270pm, more preferably from 170 to 250pm, most preferably from 185 to 235pm, and / or wherein the ceramic material comprises aluminium oxide, aluminium silicate, magnesium aluminate, calcium aluminate, zirconia, silica, titanate, carbon and / or magnesium oxide, and / or wherein the ceramic material has a particle size distribution wherein D10 is from 0.1 to 20pm, preferably from 0.5 to 10pm, more preferably from 1 to 5pm, most preferably from 1 .5 to 3pm, and / or the D50 of the poreforming material is from 0.5 to 30|jm, preferably from 1 to 25pm, more preferably from 1 .5 to 20pm, most preferably from 2 to 15pm, and / or the D90 of the pore forming material is from 10 to 100pm, preferably from 15 to 80pm, more preferably from 20 to 70pm, most preferably from 25 to 60pm.

88. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 87, wherein the composition and / or main bed catalyst / packing member comprises a promoter selected from one or more oxides of lanthanum, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium, zirconium, barium, cerium, sodium, lithium, molybdenum, yttrium, cobalt, and chromium, and / or wherein the composition and / or packing member comprises a dispersant, such as a polymeric salt, for example a salt of a polyacrylic, preferably an ammonium salt of a polyacrylic, and / or wherein the composition comprises from 0.1 to 10% of polymerisable monomer by dry weight of the composition, preferably from 0.5 to 8wt%, more preferably from 1 to 6wt%, such as from 1 .5 to 5wt%, most preferably from 2 to 4 wt%, and / or wherein the composition comprises from 0.1 to 10% of crosslinking member by dry weight of the composition, preferably from 0.5 to 8wt%, more preferably from 0.75 to 6wt%, such as from 1 to 5wt%, most preferably from 1 to 4 wt%, and / or wherein the composition comprises from 50 to 95% of ceramic material by dry weight of the composition, preferably from 50 to 90wt%, more preferably from 55 to 85wt%, most preferably from 60 to 80wt%.

89. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 88, wherein the composition comprises from >0 to 40% of pore forming member by dry weight of the composition, preferably from 0.5 to 30wt%, more preferably 2 to 25wt%, such as from 3 to 20wt%, most preferably from 4 to 15wt%, and / or wherein the composition comprises from 0.1 to 5% of polymerisation initiator by dry weight of the composition, preferably from 0.5 to 4wt%, more preferably from 0.75 to 3.5wt%, most preferably from 1 to 3wt%, and / orwherein the composition comprises up to 5% of polymerisation accelerator by dry weight of the composition, preferably up to 3wt%, more preferably up to 2wt%, most preferably up to 1.5wt%, and / or wherein the composition comprises from 0.1 to 10% of dispersant by dry weight of the composition, preferably from 0. 5 to 8wt%, more preferably 0.75 to 6wt%, most preferably from 1 to 5wt%.

90. Filtration apparatus according to any of claims 74 to 89, wherein the main bed catalyst comprises catalytic material selected from one or more of a transition metal, suitably a transition metal oxide, and / or a noble metal, suitably an alloy thereof, preferably the catalytic material comprises a metal selected from one or more of iron, nickel, silver, gold, platinum, ruthenium, vanadium, molybdenum, and cobalt.91 . A kit of parts for a filtration apparatus for reducing contaminants in a feed stream, the kit of parts comprising;(a) a vessel according to any one of claims 1 to 90; and(b) filtration members according to any one of claims 1 to 90 operable to be arranged in the vessel.

92. A chemical reactor apparatus operable to chemically alter a component of a feed stream toward a desired product, wherein the chemical reactor apparatus comprises a filtration apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 90, and further comprises a main bed catalyst operable to chemically alter a component of a feed stream toward the desired product.

93. A method for reducing contaminants in a feed stream, the method comprising use of a filtration apparatus, kit of parts or chemical reactor apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 92, the method comprising arranging filtration members (b) in the vessel, and contacting a feed stream with filtration members (b) to reduce contaminants in the feed stream.

94. A process for performing a chemical reaction wherein a component of a feed stream is chemically altered toward a desired product, the process comprising use of a chemical reactor apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 92, wherein the process comprises: arranging filtration members (b) and the main bed catalyst in a vessel, which may be the same vessel or a different vessel; and contacting the feed stream with filtration members (b) and with the main bed catalyst to chemically alter the component of the feed stream toward the desired product.

95. Use of filtration members (b) according to any one of claims 1 to 90 to reduce contaminants in a feed stream.

96. A filtration apparatus, chemical reactor, method, process or used according to any preceding claim wherein the reactor / reaction is a hydrotreating reactor, hydrocracker, hydrocracker pre-treat, FCC pre-treat, unifiner units, kerosene hydrotreater, high temperature shift, low temperature shift, sulfur guard units, chloride guard units, semi-regen reformer, isom guard units, gas oil hydrotreater, VGO hydrotreater / gas oil, axens prime G unit, naphtha hydrotreater (Coker / SRU), diesel hydrotreater, Exxon NHT, GOHT, coker gas oil hydrotreater, lube oil hydrotreater, sulfur guard units, chloride guard units, Claus unit - first reactor, and / or clay treater.

97. A filtration apparatus, chemical reactor, method, process or used according to any preceding claim wherein the reactor / reaction is a hydrotreating reactor.

98. A filtration apparatus, chemical reactor, method, process or used according to any preceding claim wherein the feed stream comprises vacuum residuum, atmospheric residuum, kerosene, fluidized catalytic cracker feed, jet fuel, diesel oil, and / or hydro cracker feed.

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