Abstract: This invention relates to a process for determining the suitability of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, for upgrading using hydroprocessing without excessive fouling of the hydroprocessing reactor. The invention includes establishing a reference activity for the thermally treating the pyrolysis tar to produce a treated tar having a lesser reactivity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for co-processing of pyrolysis tar with pre-pyrolysis flash bottoms. In some aspects, the co-processing can correspond to solvent-assisted hydroprocessing. By combining pyrolysis tar and flash bottoms with a solvent, various difficulties associated with hydroprocessing of the fractions can be reduced or minimized, such as difficulties associated with hydroprocessing of high viscosity feeds and/or high sulfur feeds. Optionally, separate solvents and/or fluxes can be used for the pyrolysis tar and the flash bottoms. The resulting upgraded products can be suitable, for example, for inclusion in low sulfur fuel oils (LSFO).

Abstract: This invention relates to thermally-treating and hydroprocessing pyrolysis tar to produce a hydroprocessed pyrolysis tar, but without excessive foulant accumulation during the hydroprocessing. The invention also relates to upgrading the hydroprocessed tar by additional hydroprocessing; to products of such processing; to blends comprising one or more of such products; and to the use of such products and blends, e.g., as lubricants, fuels, and/or constituents thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for increasing the portion of a pyrolysis tar fraction that can be hydroprocessed by using a physical particle size reduction process on at least a portion of the pyrolysis tar fraction. The physical particle size reduction process can reduce the percentage of particles in the pyrolysis tar fraction that have a particle size of 75 ?m or greater, or 50 ?m or greater. It has been unexpectedly discovered that at least a portion of the particles having a size of 75 ?m or less, or 50 ?m or less, can be effectively hydroprocessed to form products of greater value while still reducing or minimizing the amount of fouling or plugging in a hydroprocessing catalyst bed. By increasing the number of particles having a size of 75 ?m or less, or 50 ?m or less, while selectively removing larger particles from the SCT fraction, a higher yield of hydrocarbon products can be achieved for a feed containing an SCT fraction.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermally-treating and hydroprocessing pyrolysis tar to produce a hydroprocessed pyrolysis tar, but without excessive foulant accumulation during the hydroprocessing. The invention also relates to upgrading the hydroprocessed tar by additional hydroprocessing; to products of such processing; to blends comprising one or more of such products; and to the use of such products and blends, e.g., as lubricants, fuels, and/or constituents thereof.

Abstract: A process id disclosed for upgrading tars, typically those resulting from hydrocarbon refining processes, to products suitable for other uses, such as blending with other hydrocarbons to provide low-sulfur fuel oils or Emission Control Area-acceptable fuels. A low-sulfur hydrocarbon product obtained from the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-stage process is described for upgrading pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, by hydroprocessing in at least two stages. Hydroprocessing in a first stage is performed in the presence of a utility fluid. The utility fluid has a boiling point distribution from about 120° C. to about 480° C. and is separated from the first stage product.

Abstract: A multi-stage process for upgrading tars is provided. A predominantly hydrotreating stage can be applied before a cracking stage, which can be a hydrocracking or a thermal cracking stage. Alternatively, a predominantly cracking stage, which can be a hydrocracking or a thermal cracking stage, can be applied before a hydrotreating stage. Apparatus suitable for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A 5,5?-Di-(protected)-2,2?-bifuran: wherein each R1 is independently an unsubstituted or substituted 5- or 6-member 1,3-dioxo-2-yl ring radical. Processes for making the bifuran include coupling 2-(protected)-furfural. Processes for using the bifuran include deprotection, functionalization, and/or polymerization to form a polyester.

Abstract: A process is described for upgrading pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, by hydroprocessing in the presence of a utility fluid. The hydroprocessing conditions comprise a pressure >8 MPa and a weight hourly space velocity of combined pyrolysis tar and utility fluid >0.3 hr?1 and are selected so that the hydrogen consumption rate is in the range of 270 to 445 standard cubic meters/cubic meter (S m3/m3) of pyrolysis tar.

Abstract: A process id disclosed for upgrading tars, typically those resulting from hydrocarbon refining processes, to products suitable for other uses, such as blending with other hydrocarbons to provide low-sulfur fuel oils or Emission Control Area-acceptable fuels. A low-sulfur hydrocarbon product obtained from the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: Processes for improving hydrocarbon feedstock compatibility are provided. More specifically, a process for preparing a liquid hydrocarbon product includes heat soaking a tar stream to produce a reduced reactivity tar and blending the reduced reactivity tar with a utility fluid comprising recycle solvent to produce a lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar. The process also includes hydroprocessing the lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar at a temperature of greater than 350° C. to produce a total liquids product containing the liquid hydrocarbon product and the recycle solvent. The process further includes separating the recycle solvent from the total liquids product, where the recycle solvent has the SBN of greater than 110, and flowing the recycle solvent to the reduced reactivity tar for blending to produce the lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for hydroprocessing of heavy oils, such as pyrolysis tars. For example, a process for preparing a liquid hydrocarbon product includes providing a first process stream comprising a reduced reactivity tar, and blending the first process stream with a utility fluid to produce a second process stream comprising solids and a reduced reactivity, lower viscosity tar. The method can includes introducing the second process stream into a guard reactor without sulfiding the guard reactor catalyst(s) prior to introducing the second process stream into the guard reactor. The method includes hydroprocessing the second process stream in the guard reactor under mild hydroprocessing conditions to produce a third process stream. The method includes hydroprocessing the third process stream to produce a fourth process stream having a bromine number (BN) lower than 12 and comprising the liquid hydrocarbon product and the utility fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermally-treating and hydroprocessing pyrolysis tar to produce a hydroprocessed pyrolysis tar, but without excessive foulant accumulation during the hydroprocessing. The invention also relates to upgrading the hydroprocessed tar by additional hydroprocessing; to products of such processing; to blends comprising one or more of such products; and to the use of such products and blends, e.g., as lubricants, fuels, and/or constituents thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for determining the suitability of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, for upgrading using hydroprocessing without excessive fouling of the hydroprocessing reactor. A pyrolysis tar is sampled, the sample is analyzed to determine one or more characteristics of the tar related to tar reactivity, and the analysis is used to determine conditions under which the tar can be blended, pre-treated, and/or hydroprocessed.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermally-treating and hydroprocessing pyrolysis tar to produce a hydroprocessed pyrolysis tar, but without excessive foulant accumulation during the hydroprocessing. The invention also relates to upgrading the hydroprocessed tar by additional hydroprocessing; to products of such processing; to blends comprising one or more of such products; and to the use of such products and blends, e.g., as lubricants, fuels, and/or constituents thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for determining the suitability of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, for upgrading using hydroprocessing without excessive fouling of the hydroprocessing reactor. The invention includes establishing a reference activity for the thermally treating the pyrolysis tar to produce a treated tar having a lesser reactivity.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process comprises providing a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising an effluent fraction from a pyrolysis process, wherein the effluent fraction has an initial boiling point at atmospheric pressure of at least 177° C. and a final boiling point at atmospheric pressure of no more than 343° C. and comprises at least 0.5 wt. % of olefinic hydrogen atoms based on the total weight of hydrogen atoms in the effluent fraction. The hydrocarbon feedstock is hydroprocessed in at least one hydroprocessing zone in the presence of treatment gas comprising molecular hydrogen under catalytic hydroprocessing conditions to produce a hydroprocessed product comprising less than 0.5 wt. % of olefinic hydrogen atoms based on the total weight of hydrogen atoms in the hydroprocessed product. The hydroprocessing conditions comprise a temperature from 150 to 350° C. and a pressure from 500 to 1500 psig (3550 to 10445 kPa-a).

Abstract: A multi-stage process is described for upgrading pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, by hydroprocessing in at least two stages. Hydroprocessing in a first stage is performed in the presence of a utility fluid. The utility fluid has a boiling point distribution from about 120° C. to about 480° C. and is separated from the first stage product.

Abstract: A multi-stage process for upgrading tars is provided. A predominantly hydrotreating stage can be applied before a cracking stage, which can be a hydrocracking or a thermal cracking stage. Alternatively, a predominantly cracking stage, which can be a hydrocracking or a thermal cracking stage, can be applied before a hydrotreating stage. Apparatus suitable for performing the method is also provided.