Abstract: A solvent extraction coal conversion process is provided wherein the effluent slurry product is subjected to vacuum distillation to yield distillate and extrudable still bottoms. The latter are removed from the vacuum still by means of an extrusion screw which is operatively associated with the still.

Abstract: In a process for the production of hydrogen-rich gas from a fuel gas containing carbon monoxide and other components, the fuel gas is contacted in a formate synthesis zone with an aqueous solution containing sodium or potassium carbonate and/or bicarbonate under conditions effective to produce an effluent aqueous solution of the corresponding formate and an effluent gas containing the other components of the fuel gas. The aqueous formate solution is thereafter subjected to catalytic decomposition in a formate decomposition zone under conditions effective to produce a hydrogen-righ gas and an aqueous solution which consists essentially of carbonate and/or bicarbonate solution.

Abstract: In a process for the production of hydrogen-rich gas from a gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other components by contacting the gas in a formate synthesis zone with an aqueous solution containing alkali metal carbonate and/or bicarbonate under conditions effective to produce an effluent aqueous solution containing the corresponding formate and an effluent gas containing the other components of the gas, and thereafter catalytically decomposing the formate in a formate decomposition zone under conditions effective to produce a hydrogen-rich gas and an aqueous solution which contains alkali metal carbonate and/or bicarbonate, the improvement comprising further contacting the gas and the aqueous solution in a catalytic formate synthesis zone prior to decomposing the formate.

Abstract: Improved rate of recovery of zinc values from the solids which are carried over by the effluent vapors from the oxidative vapor phase regeneration of spent zinc chloride catalyst is achieved by treatment of the solids with both hydrogen chloride and calcium chloride to selectively and rapidly recover the zinc values as zinc chloride.

Abstract: In a process for hydrocracking heavy polynuclear carbonaceous feedstocks to produce lighter hydrocarbon fuels by contacting the heavy feedstocks with hydrogen in the presence of a molten metal halide catalyst, thereafter separating at least a substantial portion of the carbonaceous material associated with the reaction mixture from the spent molten metal halide and thereafter regenerating the metal halide catalyst, an improvement comprising contacting the spent molten metal halide catalyst after removal of a major portion of the carbonaceous material therefrom with an additional quantity of hydrogen is disclosed.

Abstract: A coal liquefaction process is provided in which a solvent is used to at least partially liquefy the coal. The process is maintained in solvent balance without extraneous addition of make-up solvent. The required balance is effected by selectively recovering from the liquefaction product an oil-containing liquid phase, at least a portion of the liquid phase being thereafter hydrogenated to form coal solvent in sufficient amount to replenish that lost. The selective recovery of the desired liquid phase is effected by means of a deasphalting solvent that preferentially separates asphaltenes and benzene insolubles from the coal extract.

Abstract: An improved method for agglomerating finely divided carbonaceous solids is disclosed. The method comprises mixing the solids with oil having a softening point above about 100.degree. C in an aqueous medium at a temperature above about 120.degree. C and at a pressure greater than about 1000 mm Hg.

Abstract: In a process for hydrocracking heavy carbonaceous materials by contacting such carbonaceous materials with hydrogen in the presence of a molten metal halide catalyst to produce hydrocarbons having lower molecular weights and thereafter recovering the hydrocarbons so produced from the molten metal halide, an improvement comprising injecting into the spent molten metal halide, a liquid low-boiling hydrocarbon stream is disclosed.

Abstract: An improved adiabatic reactor for exothermic catalytic reactions is disclosed. The improvement in the reactor comprises the use of multiple injection devices to inject additional reactant streams into the reactor at a plurality of locations at which the reaction is substantially complete. A method for using the reactor is also disclosed.

Abstract: Liquefaction of coal is effected by extraction of coal by a distillable solvent in the presence of hydrogen under conditions selected to produce a coal liquefaction product, the major portion of which is distillable. The effluent slurry product is vacuum distilled to recover the distillables including the solvent. The bottoms fraction is subjected to solvent treatment or fractionation to selectively recover the lower molecular weight portion, which portion is hydrogenated to yield distillate fuels. The remainder of the bottoms fraction is used as feed to a gasifier to make a hydrogen-rich gas or a methane-rich gas as desired.

Abstract: Improved recovery of spent molten zinc halide hydro-cracking catalyst is achieved in the oxidative vapor phase regeneration thereof by selective treatment of the zinc oxide carried over by the effluent vapors from the regeneration zone with hydrogen halide gas under conditions favoring the reaction of the zinc oxide with the hydrogen halide, whereby regenerated zinc halide is recovered in a solids-free state with little loss of zinc values.

Abstract: Production of a low ash liquid or liquefiable fuel from coal is effected by solvent treatment and separation of the undissolved solids. The latter are removed by first agglomerating the non-settling finely divided solids, and then effecting separation of the agglomerates in a downwardly moving ebullated bed of agglomerates where the upflowing fluidizing liquid is a wash solvent which preferably is a mixture of precipitating solvent and coal liquefaction solvent.

Abstract: Sodium, potassium and ammonium thiosulfates may be converted to a mixture of the corresponding carbonates and sulfides by first partially reducing the thiosulfate with CO to formate in a first reduction zone, and then using the formate so produced to effect further reduction of the thiosulfate in a second reduction zone.

Abstract: In a process for the production of hydrogen-rich gas from a fuel gas containing carbon monoxide and other components, the fuel gas is contacted in a formate synthesis zone with an aqueous solution containing sodium or potassium carbonate and/or bicarbonate under conditions effective to produce an effluent aqueous solution of the corresponding formate and an effluent gas containing the other components of the fuel gas. The aqueous formate solution is thereafter subjected to catalytic decomposition in a formate decomposition zone under conditions effective to produce a hydrogen-rich gas and an aqueous solution which consists essentially of carbonate and/or bicarbonate solution.

Abstract: A rotary drum assembly includes separate agglomerating and hardening drums that are rotated independently of each other. The agglomerating drum has a generally cylindrical configuration with an inner cylindrical wall. A scraper is rotatably positioned within the agglomerating drum in spaced relation to the inner cylindrical wall with its axis spaced from the axis of the drum. The scraper has a tubular body portion with a plurality of parallel rows of blades extending radially therefrom. Each of the rows extends lengthwise along substantially the entire length of the scaper body portion and follow a helical path having a single turn about the axis of the tubular body portion. The rows of blades thus make a single convolution about the scraper body portion. Drive means are provided to synchronously rotate the agglomerating drum and scraper with the scraper arranged to rotate at a preselected and different speed relative to the speed of the drum.

Abstract: Formcoke suitable for use in a blast furnace is made from a non-caking or weakly caking coal by converting the coal to an agglomeratable material consisting essentially of a blend of the entire product (without separation of extract and undissolved solids) obtained by solvent extraction of the coal in the presence of hydrogen and a suitable amount of hydrocarbonaceous solids. The agglomeratable material is agglomerated under low temperature carbonizing conditions and the agglomerates are thereafter calcined to produce strong formcoke.

Abstract: Low-sulfur and low-ash gaseous, liquid and solid fuels are made from coal by a process which first subjects the coal to solvent extraction and hydrotreatment under hydrodesulfurizing conditions in a coal liquefaction zone to reduce the organic sulfur content of the coal. The effluent is divided into a low-solids product which contains most of the extract and a high-solids product which contains most of the remaining inorganic sulfur and other mineral matter. The low-solids product stream which contains extract and solvent is subjected to a forming step to yield low-ash and low-sulfur pellets. The high-solids product stream is subjected to gasification to yield hydrogen for use in the liquefaction step. The process is particularly adapted to supply the energy needs of a steel plant, including the required coke.

Abstract: An aqueous regenerative SO.sub.2 scrubbing system is provided which has a scrubbing loop and a regeneration loop. The scrubbing loop contains a scrubber through which a thiosulfate-rich aqueous solution containing an alkali metal carbonate continuously circulates under sulfite-forming conditions. The sulfute in the spent absorbent solution is converted to thiosulfate in a sulfite conversion zone located in the scrubbing loop but outside the scrubber. The sulfite conversion is effected by means of a reducing agent containing a water soluble alkali metal hydrosulfite as the essential sulfite reducing agent. The regeneration loop serves to convert the incremental portion of thiosulfate formed in the scrubbing loop to H.sub.2 S and an aqueous solution containing the required amounts of alkali metal carbonate and of alkali metal hydrosulfide for the scrubbing loop.

Abstract: The agglomerating drum has a generally cylindrical configuration with an inner cylindrical wall. A scraper is rotatably positioned within the agglomerating drum in spaced relation to the inner cylindrical wall with its axis spaced from the axis of the drum. The scraper has a tubular body portion with a plurality of parallel rows of blades extending radially therefrom. Each of the rows extends lengthwise along substantially the entire length of the scraper body portion and follow a helical path having a single turn about the axis of the tubular body portion. Agglomerative material is introduced into the rotating agglomerating drum and forms a layer of agglomerative material on the drum inner cylindrical wall. The scraper is rotated in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the agglomerating drum and at a preselected synchronous speed with the agglomerating drum.

Abstract: An improvement in regenerative SO.sub.2 scrubbing systems which use sodium, potassium or ammonium carbonate to react with the SO.sub.2 to form sulfite, wherein a thiosulfate-rich aqueous solution of the carbonate is used to prevent oxidation of the sulfite to sulfate; to serve both as a source of the carbonate and as a source of sulfite-reducing agent; and finally to increase the salt concentration in the SO.sub.2 absorbent solution, to thereby permit operation of the scrubbing system at higher temperatures than those normally employed.