Abstract: A process for removing ash and heavy hydrocarbon compounds from coal is described. The coal feed, the coal tar stream, or a coal tar fraction is contacted with a solvent to dissolve a soluble portion of the coal tar stream, the ash and heavy hydrocarbons being insoluble in the solvent, the solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sulfoxide, sulfolane, dimethyl formamide, glyme, diglyme, ionic liquids, and combinations thereof, with the proviso that an anion of the ionic liquid is not a dialkylphosphate.

Abstract: A process for gasifying and pyrolyzing coal is described. A first coal feed is pyrolyzed into a coal tar stream and a coke stream in a pyrolysis zone. A second coal feed is gasified in a gasification zone to produce an effluent stream. Contaminants are removed from the effluent stream to provide a purified effluent stream. The purified effluent stream is introduced to the pyrolysis zone.

Abstract: A multifunction hydrotreater includes a particulate removal zone having a particulate trap to remove particulate contaminants from a coal tar stream and a demetallizing zone including a demetallizing catalyst to remove organically bound metals from the departiculated stream. The demetallizing zone is positioned after the particulate removal zone. The hydrotreater also includes a hydrodesulfurization, hydrodenitrogenation, and hydrodeoxygenation zone positioned after the demetallization zone, which includes at least one hydrodesulfurization, hydrodenitrogenation, and hydrodeoxygenation catalyst to provide a hydrotreated coal tar stream.

Abstract: A process for providing aromatics from a coal tar stream. A coal tar stream is provided, and the coal tar stream is fractionated into at least a naphtha range stream. The naphtha range stream is hydrotreated, and the hydrotreated naphtha range stream is separated to provide at least a naphthene rich stream. The naphthene rich stream is reformed or dehydrogenated to convert the naphthene. The dehydrogenated naphthene rich stream may be combined with a portion of a reformed crude oil hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: A process for hydrotreating a coal tar stream is described. A coal tar stream is provided, and the coal tar stream is expanded with an inert gas stream to provide an expanded liquid coal tar stream. The expanded liquid coal tar stream is hydrotreated. The coal tar stream can be reacted with a hydrocarbon solvent before it is expanded.

Abstract: A process for producing alkylated aromatic compounds includes pyrolyzing a coal feed to produce a coke stream and a coal tar stream. The coal tar stream is hydrotreated and the resulting hydrotreated coal tar stream is cracked. A portion of the cracked coal tar stream is separated to obtain a fraction having an initial boiling point in the range of about 60° C. to about 180° C., and an aromatics-rich hydrocarbon stream is extracted by contacting the fraction with one or more solvents. The aromatics-rich hydrocarbon stream is contacted with an alkylating agent to produce an alkylated aromatic stream, or the aromatics-rich hydrocarbon stream is reacted with an aliphatic compound or methanol in the presence of a catalyst to produce a methylated aromatic stream. The alkylated aromatic stream, the methylated aromatic stream, or both are separated into at least a benzene stream, a toluene stream, and a xylenes stream.

Abstract: A solid terephthalic acid composition and a process for producing terephthalic acid from para-xylene. The process comprises forming a mixture comprising the para-xylene, a solvent, a bromine source, and a catalyst; and oxidizing the para-xylene by contacting the mixture with an oxidizing agent at oxidizing conditions to produce a solid oxidation product comprising terephthalic acid, para-toluic acid, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde. The solvent comprises a carboxylic acid having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms and an dialkyl imidazolium ionic liquid; and the catalyst comprises at least one of cobalt, titanium, manganese, chromium, copper, nickel, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, tin, cerium, and zirconium. The solid terephthalic acid composition comprises, less than about 4,000 ppm-wt 4-carboxybenzaldehyde content, and more than about 2,000 ppm-wt a para-toluic acid.

Abstract: A process and a mixture for oxidizing an alkyl-aromatic compound comprises forming a mixture comprising the alkyl-aromatic compound, a solvent, a bromine source, and a catalyst; and contacting the mixture with an oxidizing agent at oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidation product comprising at least one of an aromatic aldehyde, an aromatic alcohol, an aromatic ketone, and an aromatic carboxylic acid. The solvent comprises a carboxylic acid having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms and an ionic liquid selected from the group consisting of an imidazolium ionic liquid, a pyridinium ionic liquid, a phosphonium ionic liquid, a tetra alkyl ammonium ionic liquid, and combinations thereof. The catalyst comprises at least one of cobalt, titanium, manganese, chromium, copper, nickel, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, tin, cerium, and zirconium.

Abstract: A solid terephthalic acid composition and a process for producing terephthalic acid from para-xylene. The process comprises forming a mixture comprising the para-xylene, a solvent, a bromine source, and a catalyst; and oxidizing the para-xylene by contacting the mixture with an oxidizing agent at oxidizing conditions to produce a solid oxidation product comprising terephthalic acid, para-toluic acid, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde. The solvent comprises a carboxylic acid having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms and an dialkyl imidazolium ionic liquid; and the catalyst comprises at least one of cobalt, titanium, manganese, chromium, copper, nickel, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, tin, cerium, and zirconium. The solid terephthalic acid composition comprises, less than about 4,000 ppm-wt 4-carboxybenzaldehyde content, and more than about 2,000 ppm-wt a para-toluic acid.

Abstract: A solid terephthalic acid composition and a process for producing terephthalic acid from para-xylene. The process comprises forming a mixture comprising the para-xylene, a solvent, a bromine source, and a catalyst; and oxidizing the para-xylene by contacting the mixture with an oxidizing agent at oxidizing conditions to produce a solid oxidation product comprising terephthalic acid, para-toluic acid, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde. The solvent comprises a carboxylic acid having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms and an dialkyl imidazolium ionic liquid; and the catalyst comprises at least one of cobalt, titanium, manganese, chromium, copper, nickel, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, tin, cerium, and zirconium. The solid terephthalic acid composition comprises, less than about 4,000 ppm-wt 4-carboxybenzaldehyde content, and more than about 2,000 ppm-wt a para-toluic acid.

Abstract: A process has been developed for producing aviation fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils and animal fats and oils. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide n-paraffins having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms. At least some of the n-paraffins are isomerized to improve cold flow properties. At least a portion of the paraffins are selectively cracked to provide paraffins meeting specifications for different aviation fuels such as JP-8.

Abstract: A process for removing a metal from a vacuum gas oil feed includes contacting the vacuum gas oil feed comprising the metal with a VGO-immiscible ionic liquid to produce a vacuum gas oil and VGO-immiscible ionic liquid mixture, and separating the mixture to produce a vacuum gas oil effluent having a reduced metal content relative to the vacuum gas oil feed.

Abstract: A process for removing a nitrogen compound from a vacuum gas oil feed includes contacting the vacuum gas oil feed comprising the nitrogen compound with a VGO-immiscible phosphonium ionic liquid to produce a vacuum gas oil and VGO-immiscible phosphonium ionic liquid mixture, and separating the mixture to produce a vacuum gas oil effluent having a reduced nitrogen content relative to the vacuum gas oil feed.

Abstract: A process for removing a sulfur compound from a vacuum gas oil feed includes contacting the vacuum gas oil feed comprising the sulfur compound with a VGO-immiscible ionic liquid to produce a vacuum gas oil and VGO-immiscible ionic liquid mixture, and separating the mixture to produce a vacuum gas oil effluent having a reduced sulfur content relative to the vacuum gas oil feed.

Abstract: Low oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oils and methods for producing them from carbonaceous biomass feedstock are provided. The carbonaceous biomass feedstock is pyrolyzed in the presence of a catalyst comprising base metal-based catalysts, noble metal-based catalysts, treated zeolitic catalysts, or combinations thereof to produce pyrolysis gases. During pyrolysis, the catalyst catalyzes a deoxygenation reaction whereby at least a portion of the oxygenated hydrocarbons in the pyrolysis gases are converted into hydrocarbons. The oxygen is removed as carbon oxides and water. A condensable portion (the vapors) of the pyrolysis gases is condensed to low oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil.

Abstract: A catalytic process for generating at least one polyol from a feedstock comprising cellulose is performed in a continuous manner. The process involves, contacting, continuously, hydrogen, water, and a feedstock comprising cellulose, with a catalyst to generate an effluent stream comprising at least one polyol, water, hydrogen, and at least one co-product. The water, hydrogen, and at least one co-product are separated from the effluent stream and recycled to the reaction zone. The polyol is recovered from the effluent stream.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing low oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil from carbonaceous biomass feedstock. The carbonaceous biomass feedstock is pyrolyzed in the presence of a steam reforming catalyst to produce char and pyrolysis gases. During pyrolysis, a portion of the oxygenated hydrocarbons in the pyrolysis gases is converted into hydrocarbons by steam reforming also yielding carbon oxides and hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas at least partially deoxygenates a residual portion of the oxygenated hydrocarbons. Additional hydrogen gas may also be produced by water-gas shift reactions to deoxygenate the residual portion of the oxygenated hydrocarbons in the pyrolysis gases. Deoxygenation may occur in the presence of a hydroprocessing catalyst. A condensable portion of the pyrolysis gases is condensed to form low oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil.

Abstract: A catalytic process for generating at least one polyol from a feedstock comprising cellulose is performed in a continuous manner using a catalyst comprising nickel tungsten carbide. The process involves, contacting, continuously, hydrogen, water, and a feedstock comprising cellulose, with the catalyst to generate an effluent stream comprising at least one polyol and recovering the polyol from the effluent stream.

Abstract: A catalytic process for generating at least one polyol from a feedstock comprising cellulose is performed in a continuous manner. The process involves, contacting, continuously, hydrogen, water, and a feedstock comprising cellulose, with a catalyst to generate an effluent stream comprising at least one polyol, water, hydrogen, and at least one co-product. The water, hydrogen, and at least one co-product are separated from the effluent stream and recycled to the reaction zone. The polyol is recovered from the effluent stream.

Abstract: A process for generating at least one polyol from a feedstock comprising saccharide is performed in a continuous or batch manner. The process involves, contacting hydrogen, water, and a feedstock comprising saccharide, with a catalyst system to generate an effluent stream comprising at least one polyol and recovering the polyol from the effluent stream. The catalyst system comprises at least one metal component with an oxidation state greater than or equal to 2+.