Abstract: The invention relates to a method for desulfurizing naphtha boiling-range hydrocarbons such as cracked naphtha. More particularly, the invention relates to hydrotreating the naphtha under selective hydrotreating conditions, and then removing mercaptans from the hydrotreater effluent using a caustic extractant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating and upgrading a hydrocarbon containing acidic species such as mercaptans, comprising: (a) contacting the hydrocarbon, in the essential absence of oxygen, with a first phase of a treatment composition containing water, dissolved alkali metal hydroxide, cobalt phthalocyanine sulfonate, and dissolved alkylphenylates and having at least two phases, (i) the first phase containing water, alkali metal alkylphenylate, dissolved alkali metal hydroxide, and dissolved sulfonated cobalt phthalocyanine, and (ii) the second phase containing water and dissolved alkali metal hydroxide; and then (b) separating an upgraded hydrocarbon.

Abstract: An indirect heating furnace heats a substance in a reaction tube with a high-temperature combustion gas without contact between the substance and the combustion gas. The reaction tube is a stationary ceramic tube. A combustion device for supplying said heating high-temperature combustion gas into the furnace in comprised of at least one pair of regenerative burners.

Abstract: An alkaline solution containing dissolved sodium sulfides, mercaptides and phenolates is treated with a carbon dioxide-containing solvent in a reaction zone under mass transfer conditions to neutralize effluent alkaline solution and recover processable hydrocarbon values.

Abstract: An improved process is described for removing mercaptan sulfur from sour hydrocarbon distillate streams comprising of treating a sour hydrocarbon distillate stream in two oxidation zones within a reaction vessel. The first treatment occurs in the presence of a fiber bundle and the subsequent treatment over a bed of supported oxidation catalyst. The improvement comprises continuously keeping the bed in contact with an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide to maintain the catalyst in a caustic-wetted state, without interrupting the operation of the process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an indirect-fired, stationary tube, gas/solids or solids/solids, full ceramic pyroprocessing furnace-reactor that uses heat-resistant conveyors to propel solids through the stationary tube.

Abstract: A process for separating and recovering para-ethylphenol from methyl-ethylphenol and other alkyl phenols is described using an X zeolite adsorbent having ion exchangeable sites exchanged with barium ions, potassium ions or a mixture of barium and potassium ions. Selective adsorption of para-ethylphenol occurs possibly for recovery of the para-ethylphenol.

Abstract: A process is described whereby phenolics and other water soluble, organic materials are removed from certain aqueous refinery waste streams by an extraction process whereby the brine is contacted with a hydrocarbon solvent containing at least about 2% by weight of a trialkylamine.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and process for oxidizing industrial spent caustic streams, whereby oxidation of spent caustic occurs in a unitary processing tower with three chambers that cooperate simultaneously to oxidize the caustic in the first chamber; to separate the caustic from the oxidizing gas in the second chamber; and, in the third chamber, to pass gas and cooled caustic through a mass transfer apparatus that cools and cleans the gas and releases the caustic and gas into a gas-liquid separation zone of the upper chamber. An alternative embodiment of the invention involves spatially separating the upper chamber from the other two chambers.

Abstract: An improved process for oxidizing industrial spent caustic streams, whereby oxidation of spent caustic occurs in a unitary processing tower with three chambers that cooperate simultaneously to oxidize the caustic in the first chamber; to separate the caustic from the oxidizing gas in the second chamber; and, in the third chamber, to pass gas and cooled caustic through a mass transfer apparatus that cools and cleans the gas and releases the caustic and gas into a gas-liquid separation zone of the upper chamber. An alternative embodiment of the invention involves spatially separating the upper chamber from the other two chambers.

Abstract: A process is described for the removal of guaiacol and substituted guaiacols from naturally occurring cresylic acid feed by heating the feed with a strong base, particularly sodium hydroxide, to produce a purified cresylic acid product essentially free of guaiacol and other methoxy aromatic compounds without significant loss of cresylic acid product.

Abstract: A process is described for the removal of guaiacol from naturally occurring cresylic acid feed by heating the feed with a strong acid, particularly hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, to produce a purified cresylic acid product essentially free of guaiacol and other methoxy aromatic compounds without significant loss of cresylic acid product.

Abstract: Purification of cresylic acid by guaiacol removal from lignite-based feed as well as other naturally occurring sources of cresylic acid is accomplished by catalytic demethylation in the presence of an alumina catalyst. In the process of this invention, de-pitched, dephenolated creyslic acid is vaporized and passed over a high surface area, alumina catalyst at temperature ranges of between 350.degree. C. to 400.degree. C. and at vapor flow rates measured as liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV), of about 1 hr..sup.-1 to demethylate the guaiacol.

Abstract: A process for removing guaiacols from naturally-occurring cresylic acid mixtures by pyrolysis is described.

Abstract: A process for treating naphthenic fractions with a caustic blend of sodium and potassium hydroxide, preflashing the naphthenic fraction to remove water and then flashing the dewatered fraction to remove the neutral oils and the materials that were not formed into the acid salts. The naphthenic salt mixture is then quenched and acidified so as to recover the naphthenic acids. Naphthenic acids recovered from the process of the present invention have acid numbers which are generally higher than the naphthenic acids heretofore produced from the corresponding feed streams. The process provides for the flashing of the water which otherwise would cause foaming and not permit the recovery of the acid salt for the enhanced separation of the naphthenic acids.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to impregnating a support material with a metal phthalocyanine oxidation catalyst dissolved in monoethanol amine. More specifically, the invention is directed to the method of impregnating a catalyst support such as carbon particles with an aqueous solution of monoethanol amine wherein the monoethanol amine solvent is present in an amount from about 0.25% to about 50% by weight.

Abstract: An improved method of treating streams having mercaptan or mercaptan-based compounds therein particularly adapted for the processes of sweetening sour hydrocarbons and regenerating spent caustic solutions is described. The invention comprises contacting a first stream having the mercaptan or mercaptan-based compounds therein with a second stream in the presence of effective amounts of a nitrogen-based promoter to promote the extraction and/or the catalytic oxidation of the mercaptan compounds therein. The invention herein disclosed and described is applicable in a wide variety of apparatus and processes adapted for sweetening and regeneration operations.

Abstract: An apparatus and process where a sour hydrocarbon distillate stream is treated in two oxidation zones within the same reaction vessel to oxidize mercaptans. The initial treatment is in the presence of a fiber bundle and the subsequent treatment over a bed of supported oxidation catalyst which can be in an annular arrangement surrounding a portion of the fiber bundle.

Abstract: An apparatus and process is described whereby a sour hydrocarbon distillate stream is treated in two oxidation zones within the same reaction vessel to oxidize mercaptans. The initial treatment is in the presence of a fiber bundle and the subsequent treatment over a bed of supported oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: An alkaline solution containing mercaptides is regenerated in an improved process wherein the alkaline solution to be regenerated containing a suitable oxidation catalyst is contacted with an oxygen-containing solvent which is immiscible with said alkaline solution in a reaction zone comprising a plurality of fibers positioned longitudinally within a conduit, whereby the two liquids are in contact while concurrently flowing through said reaction zone during which the mercaptides contained in the alkaline solution are oxidized to disulfides and are simultaneously extracted from the alkaline solution into the solvent solution.