Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the retorting of shale and other similar hydrocarbon-containing solids in which the solids to be retorted are mixed with a solid heat-transfer material to provide the necessary heat for retorting. The shale is retorted in a spouted bed of the shale and heat-transfer solids. Preferably, molecular oxygen is excluded from the retorting zone.

Abstract: A process for recovering oil and deoiled solids from a sludge by steps including stirring and heating with a substantial input of mechanical energy, followed by sedimenting the solids by holding the heated mixture in a settling vessel.

Abstract: A catalyst composition, a method for its preparation and a hydrotreating process using same. The catalyst comprises a rigidly interconnected pack of irregularly shaped particles having an average diameter below 0.15 mm. Among the particles and throughout the pack are access channels comprising interconnected macropores having diameters in the 0.1 to 15 micron range which contribute at least 5 percent of the pore volume. The particles comprise materials selected from the group consisting of at least one refractory oxide component and one hydrogenation component. For each 100 parts of the oxide component the composition contains, in parts by weight, an amount of the hydrogenating component, calculated as metal, in the range from 0.1 to 50 parts.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide and sulfur oxides are removed from flue gas produced in a catalyst regenerator in an FCC system and sulfur from the flue gas is shifted to form hydrogen sulfide, which is recovered in the gases removed from the cracking reactor in the system by introducing sufficient molecular oxygen into the catalyst regenerator to provide an atmosphere therein having a molecular oxygen concentration of at least 0.1 volume percent, reacting carbon monoxide in the regenerator flue gas with oxygen in contact with a particulate carbon monoxide combustion promoter physically admixed with the cracking catalyst, reacting sulfur oxides in the regenerator flue gas with silica-free alumina included as a discrete phase in the FCC catalyst to form a sulfur-containing solid in the catalyst, and forming hydrogen sulfide in the cracking reactor by contacting the sulfur-containing solid with the hydrocarbon feed.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide and sulfur oxides are removed from flue gas produced in a catalyst regenerator in an FCC system and sulfur from the flue gas is shifted to form hydrogen sulfide, which is recovered in the gases removed from the cracking reactor in the system by reacting carbon monoxide in the regenerator flue gas with oxygen in contact with a particulate carbon monoxide combustion promoter, reacting sulfur oxides in the regenerator flue gas with particulate alumina physically mixed with the FCC catalyst to form a sulfur-containing solid, and forming hydrogen sulfide in the cracking reactor by contacting the sulfur-containing solid with the hydrocarbon feed.

Abstract: Sulfur oxides are removed from flue gas in a catalyst regenerator in a fluid catalyst cracking system while liquid-hydrocarbon product yield from the system is maintained at a high level by heating a particulate silica-containing cracking catalyst to 800-1500.degree. F; impregnating 0.1 to 25 weight percent aluminum onto the catalyst particles; and cycling the resulting particles through the cracking reactor and catalyst regenerator in the cracking system.

Abstract: A fluids spraying assembly for use with pressure vessels, the assembly being adapted to permit the spraying head to be retracted for inspection and replaced in spraying use without leakages of gases from the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a porous catalyst carrier having a pore volume of at least 0.5 cc/g, a content of micropores in which the pore diameter is between 80 and 150 A. which constitutes at least 70% of the pore volume and a content of macropores which constitutes less than 3% of the pore volume. In the method, a powdered solid comprised of predominantly alpha-alumina monohydrate and sized in the range below 500 microns is treated with a particular amount of a monobasic acid. The acid in the resulting mixture is then at least partially neutralized by admixing with a nitrogen base such as aqueous ammonia. The treated and neutralized feed is converted into a catalyst carrier by shaping as desired, drying, and calcining. Further aspects of the invention are a hydrodesulfurization catalyst prepared using the present carrier and a hydrodesulfurization process for metals-contaminated hydrocarbon feeds using the catalyst.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for upgrading a hydrogenated distillate oil by extracting nitrogen compounds from the oil. In the process, these compounds are selectively extracted from the oil in a liquid-liquid extraction using as the extracting medium a solution of ferric chloride in furfural. Following intimate contacting of the oil with the extracting solution, the resulting mixture is separated into an oily raffinate phase and a solvent-extract phase. The raffinate oil is especially suitable as a feedstock for a catalytic cracking or hydroprocessing stage employing an acidic catalyst. The extraction is carried out under moderate conditions of temperature and pressure.

Abstract: Sulfur-containing impurities are removed from a refined hydrocarbon feed by contact thereof with a porous sulfur-reactive agent having a pore volume of at least 0.15 cc per cc of which at least 5% is in pores having a diameter in the range 0.1 to 15 microns. The agent contains at least one sulfur-reactive material from the group copper, iron, zinc and compounds thereof.

Abstract: A particle pack composition comprising alumina having improved attrition resistance is produced by dry steaming a dough-like mixture of water, a hydrocolloid-forming compound and particles comprising alumina prior to calcining the mixture.

Abstract: A catalyst composition, a method for its preparation and a hydrotreating process using same. The catalyst comprises a rigidly interconnected pack of irregularly shaped particles having an average diameter below 0.15 mm. Among the particles and throughout the pack are access channels comprising interconnected macropores having diameters in the 0.1 to 15 micron range which contribute at least 5 percent of the pore volume. The particles comprise materials selected from the group consisting of at least one refractory oxide component and one hydrogenation component. For each 100 parts of the oxide component the composition contains, in parts by weight, an amount of the hydrogenating component, calculated as metal, in the range from 0.1 to 50 parts.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for hydrocracking high-boiling hydrocarbons to lower-boiling hydrocarbons under hydrocracking conditions including high concentrations of water and water precursors and a low partial pressure of hydrogen. Also disclosed is a combination process for the production of synthetic hydrocarbons from CO and H.sub.2, wherein the CO and H.sub.2 are contacted in a reaction zone containing both a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst and a hydrocracking catalyst to produce a reaction product essentially free of oxygenated components. The synthetic hydrocarbons produced by the process of this invention are particularly useful as transportation fuels.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing unfilterable suspended solids from an oil wherein these solids are agglomerated to separable conglomerated solids by adding to the oil an agglomerating agent comprising a mixture of acetone and 2-butanone.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated process for the generation of base-load and peak-load power, particularly electrical power, from a solid carbonaceous material. A solid carbonaceous material is gasified to produce a combustible synthesis gas. A portion of this synthesis gas is contacted with a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to produce condensable hydrocarbons. Preferably, a second portion of the synthesis gas is combusted and utilized to generate a base-load power output and the condensable hydrocarbons are utilized as a fuel as needed for peak-load power production.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the removal of solids and the fluid catalytic cracking of a synthetic hydrocarbon stream having a 90% boiling point above 800.degree. F. and containing finely divided solids. The stream is cracked under low-severity cracking conditions, and a first portion of the solids is removed along with the spent catalyst and separated from the spent catalyst in a catalyst regeneration zone. A second portion of the solids is removed by conventional means from the catalytically cracked product to form a product synthetic crude essentially free of solids.

Abstract: Apparatus and a process for mixing and horizontally distributing vertically flowing fluids are disclosed, the apparatus being adapted to be self-supporting in a vertically elongated shell or to support a bed of particulate solids within a shell. The process and apparatus are particularly useful for supporting an upper catalyst bed and for mixing and distributing liquid hydrocarbons and a hydrogen-containing gas across the cross-section of a downstream catalyst bed in a reactor system. The apparatus is preferably adapted for introducing a cooling gas into a reaction stream between upstream and downstream catalyst beds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the retorting of shale and other similar hydrocarbon-containing solids in which the solids to be retorted are mixed with a solid heat transfer material to rapidly heat the hydrocarbon-containing solids to a high temperature. The shale and heat-transfer material are entrained in a high-velocity gaseous stream and conveyed upward in a vertical dilute phase lift pipe retorting vessel whereby the hydrocarbon-containing solids are rapidly heated to an elevated temperature vaporizing a minor portion of the hydrocarbons in the solid. The hydrocarbon-containing solids then pass into a disengaging zone wherein the gas and solids are separated. The partially retorted solids then pass into a gravitating bed retort and flow downward countercurrent to the flow of a stripping gas. The process is characterized by a high liquid yield and a minimum gas yield along with minimal amounts of volatile components being left in the retorted solids.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a porous catalyst carrier having a pore volume of at least 0.5 cc/g, a content of micropores in which the pore diameter is between 80 and 150 A. which constitutes at least 70% of the pore volume and a content of macropores which constitutes less than 3% of the pore volume. In the method, a powdered solid comprised of predominantly alpha-alumina monohydrate and sized in the range below 500 microns is treated with a particular amount of a monobasic acid. The acid in the resulting mixture is then at least partially neutralized by admixing with a nitrogen base such as aqueous ammonia. The treated and neutralized feed is converted into a novel catalyst carrier by shaping as desired, drying, and calcining. Further aspects of the invention are a catalytic reforming catalyst containing the present carrier.

Abstract: Sulfur oxides are removed from a gas and the sulfur is converted to hydrogen sulfide by the steps of: (1) reacting sulfur oxides in the gas with alumina to form a solid sulfur-containing compound and remove sulfur oxides from the gas; and (2) contacting the solid compound resulting from step (1) with a hydrocarbon at a temperature of about 800.degree.-1300.degree. F and reacting the solid sulfur-containing compound with components of the hydrocarbon to form hydrogen sulfide.