Abstract: High energy (e.g., ultrasonic) mixing of a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock and reactants comprised of an oxidation source, catalyst and acid yields a diesel fuel product or additive having substantially increased cetane number. Ultrasonic mixing creates cavitation, which involves the formation and violent collapse of micron-sized bubbles, which greatly increases the reactivity of the reactants. This, in turn, substantially increases the cetane number compared to reactions carried out using conventional mixing processes, such as simple mechanical stirring. Alternatively, an aqueous mixture comprising water and acid can be pretreated with an oxidation source such as ozone and subjected to ultrasonic cavitation prior to reacting the pretreated mixture with a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock.

Abstract: A method of upgrading a heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed by removing heteroatom contaminants is disclosed. The method includes contacting the heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed with an oxidant to oxidize the heteroatoms, contacting the oxidized-heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed with caustic and a selectivity promoter, and removing the heteroatom contaminants from the heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed. The oxidant may be used in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: This application relates to processes for selectively removing anionic phosphate molecules from contaminated hydrocarbon oil using the ion exchange activity of acid activated clay. The methods are particularly applicable to the removal of volatile phosphates from hydrocarbons contaminated during fracturing operations.

Abstract: The invention relates to field of processing hydrocarbon feedstock including crude oil, wherein metals such as calcium are removed. In the face of the rising prices of crude oil, refiners are forced to process opportunity crudes such as DOBA, which pose many problems including fouling of equipment due to certain metallic salts, such as calcium napthenate. Calcium, which cannot be removed from crude oil during normal desalting process, poses very serious problems. The invention provides method for removal of calcium, wherein crude oil is mixed, with effective metal removing amount of aqueous extraction solution of an additive comprising a chemical compound selected from a group consisting of metallic acid, maleic anhydride or fumaric acid or salts or derivatives thereof, enabling separation of hydrocarboneous phase and aqueous phase containing metal ions, in crude desalter. Only hydrocarboneous phase devoid of calcium is processed further, thereby preventing fouling of equipment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering oil from oil-containing sorbents, such as drill cuttings obtained from drilling with an oil-based mud. The method includes peptizing the substrate with an acid reagent and direct thermal desorption with combustion effluent gases at high temperature under turbulent mixing conditions. Another method disclosed includes upgrading the oil in the substrate to improve one or more of the properties of the recovered oil relative to the oil in the substrate, such as, lower aromatics content, lower sulfur content, lower functional group content, higher saturates, higher viscosity, higher viscosity index, and any combination thereof. The apparatus provides for efficient recovery of oil from the substrate with a short residence time, high throughput, low residual oil content in the treated solids and/or high percentage of oil recovery. The apparatus may be transported to a remote location for on-site treatment of drill cuttings or other oil-containing solids.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering oil from oil-containing sorbents, such as drill cuttings obtained from drilling with an oil-based mud. The method includes peptizing the substrate with an acid reagent and direct thermal desorption with combustion effluent gases at high temperature under turbulent mixing conditions. Another method disclosed includes upgrading the oil in the substrate to improve one or more of the properties of the recovered oil relative to the oil in the substrate, such as, lower aromatics content, lower sulfur content, lower functional group content, higher saturates, higher viscosity, higher viscosity index, and any combination thereof. The apparatus provides for efficient recovery of oil from the substrate with a short residence time, high throughput, low residual oil content in the treated solids and/or high percentage of oil recovery. The apparatus may be transported to a remote location for on-site treatment of drill cuttings or other oil-containing solids.

Abstract: A hydrotreating catalyst that exhibits excellent levels of both desulfurization activity and denitrification activity. The hydrotreating catalyst is prepared by supporting molybdenum, cobalt and nickel on a carrier comprising aluminum, silicon, phosphorus and boron, and then performing a presulfiding treatment, and has an average stacking number for molybdenum sulfide slab that is greater than 1.0 but not more than 1.9. Also, a process for producing a hydrotreating catalyst that enables a hydrotreating catalyst having excellent levels of both desulfurization activity and denitrification activity to be produced with comparative ease. The process includes a first step of mixing an acidic aluminum salt aqueous solution and a basic aluminum salt aqueous solution in the presence of phosphate ions and silicate ions to achieve a pH of 6.5 to 9.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a multi-stage system and a process utilizing said system with the design of reducing the sulfur-content in a liquid comprising hydrocarbons and organosulfur compounds. The process comprising at least one of the following states: (1) an oxidation stage; (2) an extraction state; (3) a raffinate washing stage; (4) a raffinate polishing stage; (5) a solvent recovery stage; (6) a solvent purification stage; and (7) a hydrocarbon recovery stage. The process for removing sulfur-containing hydrocarbons from gas oil, which comprises oxidizing gas oil comprising hydrocarbons and organosulfur compounds to obtain a product gas oil.

Abstract: Reactive phosphorus species can be removed or transferred from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase in an emulsion breaking process by using a composition that contains water-soluble hydroxyacids. Suitable water-soluble hydroxyacids include, but are not necessarily limited to glycolic acid, gluconic acid, C2-C4 alpha-hydroxy acids, poly-hydroxy carboxylic acids, thioglycolic acid, chloroacetic acid, polymeric forms of the above hydroxyacids, poly-glycolic esters, glycolate ethers, and ammonium salt and alkali metal salts of these hydroxyacids, and mixtures thereof. The composition may optionally include a mineral acid to reduce the pH of the desalter wash water. A solvent may be optionally included in the composition. The invention permits transfer of reactive phosphorus species into the aqueous phase with little or no hydrocarbon phase undercarry into the aqueous phase. The composition is particularly useful in treating crude oil emulsions, and in removing calcium and other metals therefrom.

Abstract: A diesel desulfurization method has various steps including: implementing a modified oxidative desulfurization (UAOD) process. The UAOD has the steps of: mixing diesel fuel with room temperature ionic liquid, oxidant, phase transfer catalyst, and acid catalyst in a tank in a mix; recycling the ionic liquid and recycling the acid catalyst in aqueous phase. A step is to move the sulfur from the diesel fuel in a fluidized bed reactor (FBR) having bed reactor material. The process can be improved with ultrasound during mixing, or a high shear mixer. The bed reactor is preferably acidic alumina for adsorbing oxidized sulfur. The oxidant is preferably hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The acid catalyst is preferably a mixture of Acetic acid and Tri-fluoro acetic acid.

Abstract: A process for denitrogenating diesel fuel includes contacting diesel fuel containing one or more nitrogen compounds with an acid ionic liquid in an extraction zone to selectively remove the nitrogen compound(s) and produce a denitrogenated diesel fuel effluent containing denitrogenated diesel fuel and acid ionic liquid containing nitrogen species; and separating denitrogenated diesel fuel from the denitrogenated diesel fuel effluent.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process to produce low sulfur diesel products through the hydrodesulfurization of low nitrogen diesel boiling range feedstreams in the presence of solid acidic materials.

Abstract: A method is provided for purifying a hydrocarbon oil comprising a quantity of impurities. A Lewis acid solution comprising a Lewis acid and an aprotic solvent is added to the hydrocarbon oil having the plurality of impurities, e.g. sulfur, vanadium, and nickel impurities, to form a mixture. Complexes are formed between the Lewis acid of the Lewis acid solution and a respective one of the impurities in the mixture. The mixture is separated into a first layer that comprises a purified fraction of the hydrocarbon oil and a second layer comprising the complexes dissolved in the aprotic solvent.

Abstract: The use of water-soluble aromatic polysulfonic acid salts for inhibiting fouling in process equipment used in the thermal treatment of heavy oils.

Abstract: A method for upgrading heavy oils by contacting the heavy oil with a water-soluble aromatic polysulfonic acid salt and then thermally treating the contacted heavy oil. The polysulfonic acid salt can be recovered and recycled from contacting the heavy oil. The polysulfonic acid salt is recovered and recycled. The invention also relates to the upgraded product from the enhanced thermal treatment process.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for decreasing the viscosity of crude oils and residuum utilizing a combination of thermal and acidic treatment. Further, the invention describes a method for making a water-in-oil emulsion, or a solids-stabilized water-in-oil emulsion with a reduced viscosity. The emulsion can be used in enhanced oil recovery methods, including using the emulsion as a drive fluid to displace hydrocarbons in a subterranean formation, and using the emulsion as a barrier fluid for diverting flow of fluids in the formation.

Abstract: Method to determine the viscosity of a water-in-oil emulsion that will be formed by an oil comprising organic acids when mixed with water comprising: determining the value of the expression: ? ( emul ) = K ? ? ? ( oil ) ? TAN - r ( 1 - ? ) 2.5 wherein ?(oil) is the viscosity the oil, TAN is the total acid number of the oil, ? is a number in the range of 0.1 to 0.8, r is a number in the range of about 0.5 to 2, and K is a number from about 1 to 20, said determined value, ?(emul) being the viscosity of the water-in-oil emulsion. The method is used to prepare water-in-oil emulsions of predetermined viscosity and to improve desalting of oils.

Abstract: A method of reducing hydrolysis in a hydrocarbon stream comprising adding to a hydrocarbon stream containing a chloride compound which undergoes hydrolysis at elevated temperatures in the presence of water to form hydrochloric acid, an effective amount of a treating agent that is at least one overbased complex of a metal salt and an organic acid complexing agent, the treating agent being added to hydrocarbon stream when the stream is at a temperature below which any substantial hydrolysis of the chloride containing compound occurs.

Abstract: The invention is a low viscosity oil composition derived from crude oils and crude oil residuum comprising dispersed asphaltene salts in a hydrocarbon continuous phase.

Abstract: Metal hydride compounds, which are prepared by mixing together from about 1 to about 10 parts by molecular weight of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum, tin, and zinc; from about 1 to about 3 parts by molecular weight of an alkali metal hydroxide; and from about 5 to about 10 parts by molecular weight of water and allowing this mixture to stand for a time sufficient to form a metal hydride, can be used for making fuel additives, treating sour gas, enhancing oil refining, extracting oil from tar sands and shale, increasing production of hydrogen from a hydrogen plant, treating oil and gas wells to enhance production, eliminate PCBs, cleaning soil contaminated by hydrocarbons and/or heavy metals, controlling odors, cleaning polluting stack emissions, extracting edible and essential oils, and eliminating bacteria, fungicides, and parasites from vegetation.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for decreasing the viscosity of crude oils and residuum utilizing a combination of thermal and acidic treatment. Further, the invention describes a method for making a water-in-oil emulsion, or a solids-stabilized water-in-oil emulsion with a reduced viscosity. The emulsion can be used in enhanced oil recovery methods, including using the emulsion as a drive fluid to displace hydrocarbons in a subterranean formation, and using the emulsion as a barrier fluid for diverting flow of fluids in the formation.

Abstract: Drilling waste resulting from drilling processes of oil and gas wells using hydrocarbons based drilling fluids contains not only hydrocarbons but also the separated cuttings, and other organic and inorganic additives. This kind of waste contains a considerable amount of hydrocarbons and is classified as a hazardous waste. The present invention claims a method for remediation of said drilling waste, where the drilling waste is converted to a solid fuel that is environmentally friendly for storage, transportation and incineration. The said solid fuel no longer presents danger to the surrounding area and groundwater and has an economical energy value. Using several treatment stages, the residual emulsifiers in the drilling waste are chemically in an acidic milieu destabilized and the soil is turned accessible to the hydrocarbons. By using a polyelectrolyte in aqueous slurry, the hydrocarbon molecules are coagulated and, under normal conditions, irreversibly homogenously adsorbed on the soil particles.

Abstract: A method of reducing hydrolysis in a hydrocarbon stream comprising adding to a hydrocarbon stream containing a chloride compound which undergoes hydrolysis at elevated temperatures in the presence of water to form hydrochloric acid, an effective amount of a treating agent that is at least one overbased complex of a metal salt and an organic acid complexing agent, the treating agent being added to hydrocarbon stream when the stream is at a temperature below which any substantial hydrolysis of the chloride containing compound occurs.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for decreasing the viscosity of crude oils and residuum utilizing a combination of acid and sonic treatment.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for decreasing the viscosity of crude oils and residuum utilizing a combination of acid and sonic treatment.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for decreasing the viscosity of crude oils and residuum utilizing a combination of acid and sonic treatment.

Abstract: In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing or converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms from used oil distillate, phase transfer catalysts are employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganic or organic bases to the substrate of the oil distillate. An inorganic or organic base, a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation.

Abstract: The present invention is an asphaltene dispersant containing an aromatic, a sulfonic acid head, and an alkyl tail containing 16 carbons or more and at least one branch of a methyl or longer alkyl. Preferably, the aromatic is a fused two ring aromatic and the tail is a two, branched alkyl tail of 30 carbons or longer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of secondary alkanesulphonic acids as asphaltene dispersing agent in crude oils and products derived therefrom, wherein a chain length of 8 to 22 C atoms is present. The secondary alkanesulfonic acids are employed in an amount of from 1 to 10,000 ppm by volume. The alkanesulfonic acid is preferably formulated as a solution or microemulsion, and can further contain optional alkyl-formaldehyde resin, oxyalkylated amines, or wax-dispersing agents. The alkanesulfonic acids provide reduced precipitate amounts, slow the rate of precipitate formation, form a more finely divided precipitate and reduce the tendency of the precipitate to be deposited on surfaces.

Abstract: A process for reducing asphaltene content of crude oil and oil-containing materials to improve rheological properties of crude oils enhancing the water-extractabilities of sulphur and metals contained in them. The process employs the cold cracking effect of a binary acid solution containing, preferably, hydrochloric acid and oleic acid. The process is particularly applicable to the exploitation of heavy and ultra-heavy oil deposits, to oil recovery from oil-containing tar sand, shale or clay and to the cleaning of oil tanks, garments and clogged oil-pipelines.

Abstract: According to the invention, the oil is passed through a pulverulent material, such as an earth or clay, in the presence of an acid. The pulverulent material can be placed beforehand on a filter or can be mixed with the oil before filtration. If necessary, the oil is recycled through the filter up to complete decontamination.Application to the radioactive decontamination of oils used in the nuclear industry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reprocessing, particularly the dehalogenation, of oil products which involves a) treating the oil product at temperatures up to about 150.degree. C. with an effective amount of an aqueous solution of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a strong acid, a salt of a weak base and a strong acid and precursors thereof; b) treating the oil product of step (a) at increased temperatures with at least one halogen binding agent; and c) separating water and/or the solids from the treated oil product of step (b).

Abstract: A method of neutralizing chloride ions present in a hydrocarbon medium during processing in a petroleum refinery. Nitrilotriacetic acid or its salt form is injected into the crude charge upstream of the preheat unit. Chloride levels are reduced in this way without the deleterious effects which result from treatment with the conventionally used NaOH.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the removal of basic heterocyclic nitrogen compounds from a petroleum crude oil or fraction thereof which comprises first treating the petroleum crude oil or fraction thereof rich in basic heterocyclic nitrogen compounds in a two-phase extraction zone with an extractant consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of a lower carboxylic acid, preferably having between 1 and 15 carbon atoms. The extractant complexes the basic heterocyclic nitrogen compounds to produce a stream of petroleum crude oil or fraction thereof having a smaller content of heterocyclic nitrogen compounds and a stream comprising the lower carboxylic acid extractant with an increased quantity of basic heterocyclic nitrogen compounds. The petroleum crude oil or fraction thereof possessing a reduced quantity of heterocyclic nitrogen compounds is hydrotreated in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrotreating catalyst to further remove the basic heterocyclic nitrogen compounds.

Abstract: Arsenic is removed from shale oil by the addition of acidic chloride compounds.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstocks containing relatively high levels of nitrogen contaminants are converted by catalytic cracking to products of lower average molecular weight by contacting the feedstock with a mixture of a cracking catalyst and separate particles of a nitrogen scavenger comprising microporous solids selected from the group consisting of acid clays; hydrogen or ammonium exchanged mordenite, clinoptilolite, chabazite and erionite; mineral acids or mineral acid precursors supported on an inorganic, refractory oxide; and Catapal alumina.

Abstract: A process for upgrading diesel oil comprising the steps of:(1) reacting the diesel oil with a nitrogenous treating agent;(2) contacting the diesel oil from step (1) above with(a) a primary solvent selected from the group consisting of organic solvents having a dipole moment of about 1.

Abstract: A process for removing the basic nitrogen compounds from gas oils comprises treating the gas oils with a homogeneous solvent mixture comprising a diluted aqueous acid solution and an alcohol having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, the volume ratio of alcohol to diluted aqueous acid solution being between 90/10 and 10/90, the volume ratio of solvent mixture to gas oils being between 0.5 and 5.

Abstract: A process for enhancement of the cetane number of a diesel fuel which in one embodiment comprises:(1) treating a diesel oil with a nitrogenous treating agent in a nitrogen amount, equivalent on a 100% nitric acid basis, to about 10 weight percent or less of the diesel oil feed;(2) separating unreacted nitrogenous treating agent from the diesel oil of step (1);(3) treating the diesel oil of step (2) with an inorganic alkali to produce a treated diesel oil; and(4) blending the treated diesel oil of step (3) with an untreated diesel oil to produce a blended diesel fuel such that the added nitrogen content in the blended diesel fuel is(a) about 300 ppm or less of nitrogen added when the diesel oil treated in step (1) is obtained from virgin diesel oil stock; or(b) about 450 ppm or less of nitrogen added when the diesel oil treated in step (1) is obtained from hydrotreated diesel oil stock.

Abstract: A catalyst suited for use in the sweetening of petroleum distillates (by oxidizing mercaptans to disulfides) which is formed of a metal complex of a polyaminoalkylpolycarboxylic acid deposited directly on a basic anion exchange resin. The method of making the source by exchanging a metal cation on an acidic resin; forming a complex by the action of a polyaminoalkylpolycarboxylic acid upon said resin; and exchanging the complex so formed on a basic anion exchange resin.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the nitrogen content of shale oil by removing nitrogen-containing compounds from the shale oil. The shale oil containing nitrogen-containing compounds is extracted with a sufficient amount of selective solvent which is selective toward the nitrogen-containing compounds present in the shale oil. The selective solvent comprises an active solvent for nitrogen-containing compounds and water in an amount sufficient to provide phase separation. The active solvent component of the selective solvent is selected from the group consisting of organic acids, and substituted organic acids, particularly acetic, formic and trichloroacetic acids and mixtures thereof. The selective solvent containing the nitrogen-containing compounds is separated from the reduced nitrogen content shale oil raffinate by phase disengagement.

Abstract: An improvement in the separation of suspended solids from coal-derived liquids by a separations process in which solids size is a separations parameter is achieved by contacting the coal-derived liquid containing suspended solids with an effective amount of an additive selected from the group of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, phosphoric anhydride and salts of sulfuric and phosphoric acid, and maintaining the contacted liquid at a temperature within the range of about 150.degree.-400.degree. C and for a time sufficient to achieve the desired separation rate.