Abstract: A method for decreasing the external energy input to a fractionation system is disclosed. The method utilizes a compression zone communicating with either the overhead fraction or the bottoms fraction from a fractionation zone. The method is directed at regulating the rate of energy addition and/or removal to the fractionation zone by at least one of the fractions returned to the fractionation zone to maintain the separated fractions within the desired limits.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the amount of coke produced during the cracking of hydrocarbon feedstock to lower molecular weight products in a reaction zone is disclosed, where the feedstock contains at least two metal contaminants selected from the class consisting of nickel, vanadium and iron, and where these contaminants become deposited on the catalyst. The method comprises adding a hydrogen donor material to the reaction zone and passing the catalyst from the reaction zone through a reduction zone maintained at an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to at least partially passivate the catalyst.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the amount of coke produced during the cracking of hydrocarbon feedstock to lower molecular weight products in a reaction zone is disclosed, where the feedstock contains at least one metal contaminant selected from the class consisting of nickel, vanadium and iron and where the contaminant becomes deposited on the catalyst such that at least 50 wt. % of the total of the metal contaminants comprises only one of the metal contaminants. The method comprises adding a hydrogen donor material to the reaction zone, monitoring the composition of the metal contaminant on the catalyst, adding an effective passivating amount of at least one of the metal contaminants which is not the major contaminant on the catalyst and passing the catalyst from the reaction zone through a reduction zone maintained at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the amount of hydrogen and coke produced during the cracking of hydrocarbon feedstock to lower molecular weight products in a reaction zone is disclosed, where the feedstock contains at least one metal contaminant selected from the class consisting of nickel, vanadium and iron and where the contaminant becomes deposited on the catalyst such that at least 50 wt. % of the total of the metal contaminants comprises only one of the metal contaminants. The method comprises monitoring the composition of the metal contaminant on the catalyst, adding an effective passivating amount of at least one of the metal contaminants which is not the major contaminant on the catalyst and passing catalyst from the reaction zone through a regeneration zone operated under net reducing conditions and through a reduction zone maintained at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: An improved rotary drum filter is described. The filter includes a liquid collection means communicating with at least a plurality of fluid conduits. The collection means collect and discharge residual liquid remaining in the fluid conduits during each rotation of the filter drum to decrease the erosive effects of the residual liquid on the filter cloth.

Abstract: A method for separating a cyclic urea degradation product from a solution, such as a scrubbing solution comprising n-cyclohexyl-1,3-propane diamine, an alkali metal carbonate and cyclic urea, is disclosed. The solution is passed to a vacuum crystallization zone wherein at least a portion of the cyclic urea is crystallized after which the solution is passed to a filtration zone for separation of the cyclic urea crystals from the solution.

Abstract: A continuous autorefrigerant solvent dewaxing process is disclosed wherein a waxy oil is prediluted with a non-autorefrigerative solvent, such as ketone, preferably a mixture of MEK/MIBK, and then passed, at a temperature above its cloud point, to the top of a chilling zone, which is an autorefrigerant chilling zone operating on a continuous basis, and comprises a vertical, multi-staged tower, operating at constant pressure. In this chilling zone, wax is precipitated from the oil to form a waxy slurry and the so-formed slurry is further chilled down to the wax filtration temperature by stage-wise contact with liquid auto-refrigerating preferably propylene, which is injected into a plurality of said stages and evaporated therein so as to cool the waxy slurry at an average rate of between about 0.1.degree. to 20.degree. F. per minute with an average temperature drop across each stage of between about 2.degree. and 20.degree. F.

Abstract: A liquid-vapor contacting apparatus comprising a vertical, mechanically agitated, elongated tower containing a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed stages therein and means for separating said stages, each of said stages comprising: (a) liquid tray means; (b) a liquid space and a vapor space above said liquid space; (c) weir means capable of maintaining a predetermined amount of liquid on said liquid tray means; (d) a first liquid downcomer means capable of providing a path for liquid from a stage or location immediately above said stage to the liquid space of said stage; (e) a second liquid downcomer means capable of providing a flowpath for the liquid in said stage to the next, lower, successive stage; (f) means capable of removing vapor from said vapor space including vapor downcomer means capable of providing a path for said vapor from said vapor space to the next lower, successive stage in a manner such that said vapor removed from said stage does not pass through liquid presenting any s

Abstract: A method for reducing the concentration of ash-forming compounds in molten sulfur is disclosed. The subject invention is directed at the addition to the molten sulfur of an ash flotation agent selected from the class consisting of sulfur compounds in an oxidation state lower than maximum, phosphorous compounds, and ammonium amide, and amino compounds to cause at least a portion of the ash-forming compounds to float to the surface of the molten sulfur storage facility. The ash-forming compounds which collect at the surface of the molten sulfur facility may then be removed by conventional means.

Abstract: The invention relates to the conversion of fuel (solid and/or liquid) to reducing and/or synthesis gas by contacting the fuel in a fluidized conversion bed (13) with a solid oxygen donor (e.g. CaSO.sub.4) at a fuel conversion temperature (e.g. 850.degree. to 1150.degree. C.) in the presence of at least one gas/vapor phase substance such as H.sub.2 and/or H.sub.2 O and/or CO and/or CO.sub.2 which serves to promote and or mediate the transfer of oxygen from the donor to the fuel and preferably in the absence of non-reactive gases (e.g. N.sub.2) whereby the fuel is converted to a reducing and/or synthesis gas product by (inter alia) partial oxidation employing the oxygen of the solid oxygen donor, the latter being reduced (e.g. CaS). The reduced donor is exothermically oxidized in a fluidized oxidation bed (35) by contact with an oxygen-containing gas (e.g. air) and re-used for converting further quantities of fuel. Moieties (e.g.

Abstract: A cracking catalyst comprising discrete particles of ultra-stable Y-type zeolite and discrete particles of alumina, which particles are dispersed in a porous oxide matrix to produce a catalyst containing 5-40 wt. % ultra-stable Y-type zeolite, 5-40 wt. % alumina and 40-90 wt. % of porous oxide matrix. The cracking catalyst has unusually high activity and selectivity for the production of high octane gasoline fractions from higher boiling point feedstocks.

Abstract: A method for reducing the hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen polysulfides and/or ash content of molten sulfur is disclosed. The subject invention is directed at the addition of an effective amount of a degassing agent selected from the class consisting of inorganic phosphorous compounds, urea and urea derivatives without the necessity for also adding sulfur dioxide to the molten sulfur.

Abstract: A method for the removal of CO from flue gas which comprises contacting a spent noble metal reforming catalyst with flue gas from a cat cracker regenerator at 1000.degree.-1350.degree. F. to effectively oxidize CO to CO.sub.2. The spent catalyst while no longer efficient in a reforming process is found to be effective in reducing the CO level to a concentration range of 5000 parts per million and less.

Abstract: A cyclic urea reaction product forms as a by-product of a hindered amine acid gas scrubbing process and results in an ultimate buildup of the material in the circulating amine scrubbing solution. The buildup of this material has a deleterious effect on acid gas removal rates and accordingly, results in inefficient acid gas removal. In the process of the present invention, the cyclic urea degradation product is removed from the circulating solution by employing a selective precipitation of the cyclic urea followed by filtration. The selective precipitation is carried out by cooling the circulating solution to a particular temperature level such that the cyclic urea comes out of solution while the other components remain in solution.

Abstract: Nonstoichiometric carbon-sulfur compounds have been found to be effective adsorbents for separating organic vapors from a gaseous mixture. Separation of aromatic compounds from gaseous mixtures is particularly effective using such compounds. The spent adsorbent may then be regenerated.

Abstract: Acidic gases such as carbon dioxide are removed from a gaseous mixture including the acidic component by contacting the gaseous mixture in a scrubbing system with an acid absorbing solution comprising a basic alkali metal compound and an activator, during which process at least a portion of the activator is converted to cyclic urea. At least a portion of the scrubbing solution is transferred to a thermal conversion zone wherein at least a portion of the cyclic urea is converted back to the activator afterwhich the scrubbing solution is returned to the scrubbing system from the thermal conversion zone.

Abstract: Acidic gases such as carbon dioxide are removed from a normally gaseous mixture including the acidic component by contacting the gaseous mixture in an absorption zone with an acid absorbing scrubbing solution comprising a basic alkali metal compound and an activator for the compound, during which process at least a portion of the activator is converted to a cyclic urea. The solution is then transferred to the desorption zone to remove at least a portion of the absorbed acidic component. At least a portion of the partially desorbed scrubbing solution containing the cyclic urea is transferred from the desorption zone to a thermal conversion zone maintained at an elevated temperature wherein at least a portion of the cyclic urea is converted back to the activator.

Abstract: A method for passivating a catalyst used to crack hydrocarbon feedstock to lower molecular weight products in a reaction zone is disclosed where the feedstock contains at least one metal contaminant selected from the class consisting of nickel, vanadium and iron and where the contaminant becomes deposited on the catalyst such that at least a major portion of the total of said metal contaminant deposited on the catalyst comprises only one of the metal contaminants. The method comprises monitoring the composition of said metal contaminant on the catalyst, adding a predetermined amount of at least one of said metal contaminants not present as the major contaminant on the catalyst, and passing the catalyst from the reaction zone through a reduction zone maintained at an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to at least partially passivate said metal contaminant.CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSThis application is related to U.S. Patent Application, Ser. No. 108,395 filed on even date herewith.

Abstract: A method for passivating a catalyst utilized to crack hydrocarbon feedstock to lower molecular weight products in a reation zone is disclosed, where the feedstock contains at least two metal contaminants selected from the class consisting of nickel, vanadium and iron and where these contaminants become deposited on the catalyst. The method comprises passing the catalyst from the reaction zone through a reduction zone maintained at an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to at least partially passivate the catalyst.

Abstract: A method for removing an acidic component from a gaseous mixture by contacting the gaseous mixture in an absorber with an absorbing solution which removes substantial quantities of the acidic component. The gaseous mixture is then passed through an adsorption zone containing an adsorbent which removes additional quantities of the acidic component. The adsorbent is regenerated by passing regenerating solution through the adsorption zone. In a preferred embodiment, the composition of the regenerating and absorbing solutions are substantially the same and include an amine. This solution may be passed through the adsorption zone to regenerate the adsorbent and then into the absorber to remove acidic components from the gaseous mixture therein.