Abstract: A method for tagging hydrocarbons and for detecting the presence of tagged hydrocarbons in a hydrocarbon mixture. The method can be utilized to tag gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, lubricating oil or crude petroleum. The hydrocarbon to be tagged is blended with a relatively small amount of a fluorescent dye. The presence of the tagged hydrocarbon is subsequently determined by exciting the dye to fluoresce at wavelengths in the higher portion of the visible spectral region or the lower portion of the near infrared spectral region.

Abstract: Exhaust gas emissions from an internal combustion engine are controlled through the use of a heat exchanger, a sulfur oxide absorbent, and a catalytic converter. The exhaust gas is contacted with the sulfur oxide absorbent before it is passed to the catalytic converter, and the heat exchanger is used to extract heat from the exhaust gas before the exhaust gas is contacted with the sulfur oxide absorbent. The heat extracted from the exhaust gas by the heat exchanger is then used to heat the catalytic converter. In a preferred embodiment, the exhaust gas is also contacted with a hydrocarbon adsorbent which: (1) adsorbs organic compounds, such as hydrocarbons, from the exhaust gas at the low temperatures which are typical of an engine cold-start, and (2) desorbs them at the higher temperatures which are reached after sustained engine operation.

Abstract: An exhaust gas emissions control system lowers cold-start hydrocarbon emissions by using heat exchange structure to lower the temperature of exhaust gas prior to the exhaust gas passing through a hydrocarbon adsorbent and using the extracted heat to heat a catalytic converter to its light-off temperature. In some embodiments, multi-component hydrocarbon adsorbers effective under different operating conditions further reduce cold-start hydrocarbon emissions.

Abstract: A method is described for operating a spark ignition internal combustion engine utilizing an improved composition containing dimethyl ether and propane as fuel. An engine incorporating the invention produces a lesser amount of certain atmospheric pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons, as compared to the amount of pollutants produced when the engine is operated at identical conditions with propane as fuel. Also described is an improved fuel composition which exhibits a lower vapor pressure than, for example, propane and, therefore, is relatively easier to liquefy and transport.

Abstract: A catalytic cracking process is disclosed in which cracking is performed in a riser reactor, catalytically cracked product is substantially separated from the catalyst in a gross-cut separator downstream of the riser reactor, and the cracked product is quenched with an anhydrous quench liquid at a location immediately downstream of the oil outlet of the gross-cut separator.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods useful for degassing a reaction mixture in a petrochemical processing reactor are disclosed. The methods and apparatus employ a novel liquid-gas separator that includes non-linear risers and that discharges the mixture into a vapor space in a manner intended to maximize degassing of the mixture. Resid hydrotreating processes employing these methods also are disclosed.

Abstract: An exhaust gas emissions control system lowers cold-start hydrocarbon emissions by using heat exchange structure to lower the temperature of exhaust gas prior to the exhaust gas passing through a hydrocarbon adsorbent and using the extracted heat to heat a catalytic converter to its light-off temperature. In some embodiments, multi-component hydrocarbon adsorbers effective under different operating conditions further reduce cold-start hydrocarbon emissions.

Abstract: A collapsed composition is described which is substantially composed of microcrystallites collectively of the formula:m.sub.2m.sup.2+ Al.sub.2-p M.sub.p.sup.3+ T.sub.r O.sub.7+r.multidot.swhere M.sup.2+ is a divalent metal, M.sup.3+ is a trivalent metal, and T is vanadium, tungsten, or molybdenum. The microcrystallites are so small as to be undetectable through conventional x-ray diffraction techniques, yet high resolution electron microscopy reveals that a substantial portion of the microcrystallites are composed of a solid solution having aluminum oxide molecularly dispersed in a divalent metal monoxide crystal structure. Another portion of the microcrystallites are constituted by a spinel phase. The collapsed composition is suitable as a sulfur oxide absorbent, having comparatively high capacity and comparatively fast absorption and desorption rates, and is also suitable as a nitrogen oxide reduction catalyst.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods useful for introducing feedstock to a chemical reactor are disclosed. The methods and apparatus employ a novel baffle system to mitigate the effects of unwanted momentum components transferred to the reactor liquid mass from the introduced feedstock. Resid hydrotreating processes employing these methods also are disclosed.

Abstract: A process for hydroshifting dimethyl ether is described which comprises passing a feed stream which includes dimethyl ether and steam to a hydroshifting reaction zone including an essentially alkali metal-free catalytic composition substantially composed of copper or nickel in elemental form. The process produces a hydroshifted product stream which is relatively rich in hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.The feed stream can be transported relatively easily in liquid form at comparatively low pressures. The hydroshifting reaction zone can include a hydrolysis reaction zone and a water-gas shift reaction zone. The hydrolyzed product and the water-gas shift product can be recovered to obtain hydrogen and carbon dioxide, respectively. Additionally, the hydroshifted product stream can be blended with an oxidizing stream and combusted to drive a turbine in order to generate mechanical energy.

Abstract: A process and catalyst are provided for the hydrogenation of a hydrocarbon feedstock consisting essentially of hydrocarbon boiling between about 150.degree. F. and 700.degree. F. at atmospheric pressure. The process comprises reacting the feedstock with hydrogen at hydrogenation conditions in the presence of a catalyst comprising hydrogenation metals and a support comprising beta zeolite. The hydrogenation metals comprise from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 2.0 percent by weight each of palladium and platinum measured as a percentage of the catalyst. The beta zeolite comprises from about 1 ppm by weight to about 3.0 percent by weight sodium calculated as a percentage of said beta zeolite.

Abstract: Hydroconversion processes employing 2,4-heteroatom-substituted-molybdena-3,3-dioxocyclopentane hydro-conversion catalysts are disclosed. In some embodiments, inexpensive bulk catalysts in accordance with the present invention are synthesized from bulk triglyceridic epoxides or fatty acids.

Abstract: A method for disposing of radioactive material in a disposal area, which is accessible from the surface through a wellbore which contains a wellbore fluid. The method comprises the steps of: encapsulating the radioactive material within a container, placing the container in the wellbore, passing the container through the wellbore to the disposal area, and equalizing the differential pressure between the wellbore pressure and internal pressure within the container as the capsule descends within the wellbore, prior to the differential pressure reaching a magnitude which would exceed a design collapse rating of the container.

Abstract: An extraction reaction process is provided for reacting feedstocks comprising alkylene carbonate and alkanol to form reaction products comprising alkyl carbonate. The process comprises reacting the feedstocks comprising alkylene carbonate and alkanol in a reaction zone at reaction conditions for producing the reaction products comprising alkyl carbonate. The feedstocks comprising alkylene carbonate and alkanol and the reaction products comprising alkyl carbonate are, substantially concurrently with the reacting step and within the reaction zone, contacted with a selective solvent selective for extracting alkyl carbonate from the reaction zone. The selective solvent comprises a distribution coefficient with respect to the alkyl carbonate that is substantially different than the distribution coefficient of the selective solvent with respect to the alkanol.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for producing synthesis gas from lower alkanes which utilizes molten baths as reactors. A molten metal oxide bath delivers oxygen to a feed stream containing lower alkanes and enhances oxidation of the lower alkanes to produce carbon dioxide and a molten elemental metal. In a molten metal bath, the metal is regenerated to metal oxide by contact with a regenerant such as air. Heat evolved in the molten baths is transferred to an endothermic reactor where a portion of the carbon dioxide is converted to a mixture of carbon oxides and hydrogen.

Abstract: A process and catalyst are provided for dehydrogenating a hydrocarbon feedstock and producing an olefinic product. The process comprises contacting the feedstock at dehydrogenation conditions with a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising from about 0.01 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of a platinum group metal, from about 0.02 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent of zinc, and a support component comprising L zeolite and an alkali metal.

Abstract: 2,4-Heteroatom-substituted-molybdena-3,3-dioxocyclopentane hydro-conversion catalysts are disclosed. In some embodiments, inexpensive bulk catalysts in accordance with the present invention are synthesized from bulk triglyceridic epoxides or fatty acids.

Abstract: A reactor for refining resid includes an elongated vertical vessel containing a bed of catalyst which is expanded or ebullated by a liquid/gas mixture. The mixture rises in an updraft through the bed and then is recirculated with an increased velocity by an ebullating pump. To reduce gas holdup of the ebullated bed and to promote a more uniform flow, the gas is entrapped by two cascaded stages of baffles which have an internal conical shape to guide, direct, and entrap the gas. One of these two stages has a shape which creates a countercurrent in the flowing liquid to deflect any catalyst particles which might otherwise be elutriated by the increased velocity.

Abstract: A process is provided for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising at least 2 volume percent of a low molecular weight oligomer to hydrocarbon product useful in the manufacture of fuels comprising contacting the hydrocarbon feedstock with a catalytic cracking catalyst at catalytic cracking conditions for converting at least a portion of the low molecular weight oligomer to hydrocarbon suitable for blending into fuels.

Abstract: A method for treating a mixture of gaseous fluids within a solid carbonaceous subterranean formation. In some embodiments, the invention provides for the disposal of a strongly adsorbing gaseous fluid within the formation. In other embodiments, the invention provides a means for fractionating a mixture of gaseous fluids within the formation. In still other embodiments, the invention provides for the recovery of a raffinate from the formation which is enriched in relatively weaker adsorbing gaseous fluids. In still other embodiments, the invention provides for the recovery of methane from the formation.