Abstract: In a process for cracking a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon an improved oxidation promoter for converting SO.sub.2 to SO.sub.3 comprising an intimate association of palladium and at least one other metal selected from the group comprising platinum, osmium, iridium, rhenium, and rhodium.

Abstract: In a process for pyrolyzing a particulate hydrocarbon-containing solid an improvement comprising removing entrained fines from the product vapors leaving the principal pyrolysis zone and pyrolyzing any remaining hydrocarbons in the fines in a supplemental pyrolysis zone.

Abstract: A method for extracting bitumen from bituminous sand is disclosed, in which the bituminous sand is contacted with previously recovered bitumen at a temperature sufficient to maintain the previously recovered bitumen as a liquid, and the resulting liquids are separated from the resulting solids.

Abstract: A process for retorting a carbon containing solid, especially oil shale, comprises passing heat transfer particles and raw particles of carbon containing solid downwardly through a fluidized retort zone containing a plurality of baffles to prevent gross vertical backmixing. The heated solid particles and heat transfer particles are then passed to a moving packed bed retort to pyrolyze the carbon containing solid particles.

Abstract: Combustor and process for burning particularized oil shale by preburning separate fine and coarse particle feedstreams prior to mixing in the main combustion zone.

Abstract: A method for solvent extracting extractable materials from solids is disclosed, which includes (a) maintaining a vertically extending bed comprising said solids in a vertically extending extraction zone and introducing said mixture into an upper portion of said bed; (b) providing a substantially continuous gaseous phase in contact with a lower portion of said bed; (c) maintaining a substantially continuous liquid phase comprising a vaporizable primary liquid solvent and at least one secondary liquid solvent in contact with at least a lower part of said upper portion of said bed above said gaseous phase, said liquid phase and said gaseous phase having an interface at a vertically intermediate level of said bed; (d) introducing said primary liquid solvent into an intermediate liquid level in said liquid phase spaced from the top of said liquid phase; (e) introducing at least one secondary liquid solvent into said liquid phase above said intermediate liquid level; (f) passing said primary and secondary solvents

Abstract: The volume ratio of CO.sub.2 /CO in cracking catalyst regenerator flue gas is increased without adverse effect on cracking conversion and selectivity by employing a chromium oxidation catalyst at a high concentration in a small proportion of particles circulating in a cracking system.

Abstract: Staged combustion of a retorted carbon containing solid comprising partially burning residual carbonaceous material in a dilute vertical combustion zone and completing the combustion in a second combustion zone where a second fraction of retorted carbon containing solids is introduced and fines are also removed.

Abstract: Oil shale particles separated into coarse- and fine-particle streams prior to retorting in a downward moving bed, wherein the fine particles enter the retort below the top of the fluidized bed to minimize entrainment before pyrolysis occurs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gravity settler for separating finely divided solids such as coal fines from a liquid such as a mixture of coal oil and agglomerating agent by agglomeration. A feed slurry comprising finely divided solids and a liquid mixture of product oil and an agglomerating agent is discharged into a specially shaped duct which promotes formation of agglomerated solids while minimizing turbulence in the remainder of the vessel. The agglomerated solids separate from the liquid by gravity and are washed as they leave the settler while the clarified liquid is discharged from the top of the settler. A method for separating suspended solids from a liquid by agglomeration is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a preferred baffle system for a staged turbulent bed retort. The system preferably comprises a plurality of at least 4 vertically spaced, horizontally disposed perforated baffles, each of said baffles having an open area in the range of 30-70% of the baffle cross-sectional area.

Abstract: Combustor and process for burning particularized oil shale by preburning separate fine and coarse particle feedstreams prior to mixing in the main combustion zone.

Abstract: Process for burning a pyrolyzed carbon containing solid in a staged turbulent bed to provide hot heat transfer material for use in pyrolyzing additional carbon containing solids.

Abstract: Residual carbon in pyrolyzed solids burned by combusting a fine fraction separating in a first dilute phase combustion zone and mixing the fine fraction and the bulk of the pyrolyzed solids in a second dilute phase combustion zone.

Abstract: A process for removing coke from particulate catalyst is disclosed, in which nitrogen oxides are formed during combustion of nitrogen-containing coke in an oxidizing atmosphere in the presence of a carbon monoxide combustion promoter in a lower portion of a fluidized bed, and the nitrogen oxides are reacted to form free nitrogen by introducing a vaporizable fuel into an upper part of the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A feed-effluent heat exchanger in a sour water stripping system having sour water stripping means, sour water storage means, and a stripper feed-effluent heat exchanger, is cleaned when the stripped water pathway in the heat exchanger becomes fouled, by passing sour water having a pH of greater than 8 from the storage means through the stripped water pathway in the exchanger at a temperature of at least 70.degree. F., and returning the sour water to the sour water storage means.

Abstract: In regeneration of a cracking catalyst using platinum to catalyze combustion of CO, the amount of nitrogen oxides formed is decreased by empolying a combustion promoter containing, for each part of platinum, from 0.01 to 1 part of iridium or rhodium.

Abstract: Method of removing organic contaminants from aqueous hydrochloric acid comprising countercurrently contacting the aqueous acid containing the contaminants and steam at superatmospheric pressures, and recovering said aqueous acid substantially free from organic contaminants. The invention is particularly adapted for the removal of chloral from aqueous hydrochloric acid.

Abstract: A method for destroying chloropicrin in an aqueous medium contaminated with chloropicrin which comprises contacting the aqueous medium with a sufficient amount of an alkali metal sulfite for a sufficient period of time to convert the chloropicrin to an alkali metal chloride and to nitromethane disulfonic acid or a salt thereof, whereby the aqueous medium is rendered substantially free of chloropicrin.

Abstract: Symmetrical tetrachloropyridine, pentachloropyridine and poly-chloro derivatives of 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)pyridine are prepared by reacting a chloro-substituted (trichloromethyl)pyridine in the liquid state with chlorine at temperatures of from at least about 160.degree. C. and in the presence of an amount of a catalyst effective to catalyze the reaction.