Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion catalyst useful for hydrocracking hydrocarbons to more valuable products comprises one or more hydrogenation components supported on a base containing (1) a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having activity for cracking hydrocarbons and (2) a dispersion of silica-alumina in an alumina matrix.

Abstract: Y Zeolites are prepared with rare earth cations and Group VIII metal cations exchanged thereinto, such zeolites being especially useful in hydrocracking catalysts. The zeolites of the invention are prepared by exchanging a sodium Y zeolite with cations of one or more rare earth elements followed by a calcination, an ammonium ion exchange, and a Group VIII metal cation exchange. The resultant zeolite is not only highly active for catalytically promoting hydrocracking reactions but is also, after use in hydrocracking environments resulting in coke deposition, essentially completely regenerable by combustion of the coke.

Abstract: A catalyst composition composed of a crystalline aluminosilicate Y zeolite, normally having a silica-to-alumina mole ratio of about 6.2 or above, in combination with a porous, inorganic refractory oxide. The Y zeolite contains ion-exchanged rare earth cations and ion-exchanged Group VIII noble metal cations. The combination of the zeolite and the refractory oxide contains between 4.5 weight percent and about 6.0 weight percent water. Such a catalyst containing the recited amount of water has been found to have consistently high activities when used as a catalyst in a hydrocracking process. The Y zeolites used as part of the catalyst are typically prepared by contacting an ammonium-exchanged Y zeolite with an aqueous solution of ammonium fluorosilicate.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing solids from a solids upflow vessel, preferably an upflow retort, which includes a horizontally reciprocatable carriage containing a vertical feed cylinder that extends downward from a horizontal seal plate. A vertically reciprocatable piston is located inside the feed cylinder. One section of the seal plate contains a hole and a sliding door for opening and closing the hole. During normal operations when the apparatus is used to feed solids from a feed chute to an upflow vessel, the carriage is reciprocated between a first stationary position wherein the feed cylinder is aligned with the outlet of the solids feed chute while at least a portion of the closed hole in the seal plate is aligned with and below the inlet to the upflow vessel, and a second stationary position wherein the feed cylinder is aligned with the inlet to the upflow vessel while another section of the seal plate is aligned with the outlet from the feed chute.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstocks containing relatively high levels of metal contaminants, such as nickel and vanadium, are converted via catalytic cracking into products of lower average molecular weight by contacting the feedstock with a catalyst comprising a (1) porous, inorganic refractory oxide component and (2) a dealuminated Y zeolite having a silica-to-alumina mole ratio above about 6.0. The dealuminated Y zeolite is preferably prepared by contacting an ammonium-exchanged Y zeolite having a silica-to-alumina mole ratio below about 6.0 with an aqueous solution of ammonium hexafluorosilicate. The refractory oxide component will preferably contain alumina and a clay such as kaolin. The catalyst may also contain a nondealuminated Y zeolite, preferably one that has been ion exchanged with rare earth cations. Typically, the hydrocarbon feedstock will contain contaminant metals in sufficient quantities such that their concentration exceeds about 4.0 ppmw Nickel Equivalents.

Abstract: Y Zeolites are prepared with rare earth cations and Group VIII metal cations exchanged thereinto, such zeolites being especially useful in hydrocracking catalysts. The zeolites of the invention are prepared by exchanging a sodium Y zeolite with cations of one or more rare earth elements followed by a calcination, an ammonium ion exchange, and a Group VIII metal cation exchange. The resultant zeolite is not only highly active for catalytically promoting hydrocracking reactions but is also, after use in hydrocracking environments resulting in coke deposition, essentially completely regenerable by combustion of the coke.

Abstract: A process for producing a thermally shock calcined crystalline silica comprising (A) precalcining a crystalline silica at a relatively low temperature, (B) very rapidly increasing the temperature of the crystalline silica to a relatively high temperature for a short period of time, and (C) rapidly cooling the crystalline silica. The resulting crystalline silica is catalytically active for hydrocarbon conversion reactions and is particularly selective for the production of para-xylene from a reaction mix of toluene and a methylating agent.

Abstract: A process for producing a thermally shock calcined aluminosilicate zeolite comprising (A) precalcining an aluminosilicate zeolite at a relatively low temperature, (B) very rapidly increasing the temperature of the aluminosilicate zeolite to a relatively high temperature for a short period of time, and (C) rapidly cooling the aluminosilicate zeolite. The resulting zeolite is catalytically active for hydrocarbon conversion reactions and is particularly selective for the production of para-xylene from a reaction mix of toluene and a methylating agent.

Abstract: A hydrocracking process, of especial use in the production of a relatively high yield of middle distillate products along with a smaller but still significant yield of gasoline from high boiling gas oils and the like, comprises contacting a gas oil or other hydrocarbon feedstock under hydrocracking conditions with a novel catalyst comprising one or more hydrogenation components on a support material comprising, in combination, a dispersion of silica-alumina in alumina and a zeolite of the Y crystalline structure but having a silica-to-alumina ratio above about 6.0.

Abstract: Y Zeolites are prepared with rare earth cations and Group VIII metal cations exchanged thereinto, such zeolites being especially useful in hydrocracking catalysts. The zeolites of the invention are prepared by exchanging a sodium Y zeolite with cations of one or more rare earth elements followed by a calcination, an ammonium ion exchange, and a Group VIII metal cation exchange. The resultant zeolite is not only highly active for catalytically promoting hydrocracking reactions but is also, after use in hydrocracking environments resulting in coke deposition, essentially completely regenerable by combustion of the coke.

Abstract: A hydrocracking process, of especial use in the production of a relatively high yield of middle distillate products along with a smaller but still significant yield of gasoline from high boiling gas oils and the like, comprises contacting a gas oil or other hydrocarbon feedstock under hydrocracking conditions with a novel catalyst comprising one or more hydrogenation components on a support material comprising, in combination, a dispersion of silica-alumina in alumina and a zeolite of the Y crystalline structure but having a silica-to-alumina ratio above about 6.0.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for depressurizing, cooling, and, optionally, moisturizing retorted oil shale produced in an oil shale retort operated at superatmospheric pressure. Hot retorted oil shale particles are gravitated from the retort and into an elongated, multichambered vessel. In the upper chambers of the vessel the particles are partially cooled by contact with a controlled flow of liquid water. The water, having been totally vaporized, is removed from the particles at a rate which prevents the substantial flow of gases between the vessel and the retort. In the lower chambers of the vessel, the particles are first stripped of entrained hydrocarbon gas by gravitating through a countercurrently flowing stream of stripping gas and then brought to ambient pressure by gravitating through a long, narrow seal leg. Optionally, the depressurized and partially cooled particles are then further cooled and moisturized by admixing with a controlled flow of liquid water.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing needle coke comprising the steps of heating green needle coke at temperatures between about 935.degree. F. and about 1,100.degree. F. for between about 10 minutes and about 24 hours, cooling the coke to below about 250.degree. F., and calcining the coke at calcination temperatures above about 2,000.degree. F.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon liquids are recovered from oil shale and other solids containing organic matter by passing a liquid organic solvent downwardly through an extraction zone in contact with said solids at an elevated pressure sufficient to maintain said solvent in the liquid phase and at a temperature below about 900.degree. F., preferably between about 650.degree. F. and about 900.degree. F., in order to extract hydrocarbons from the solids into the solvent. The extracted hydrocarbons are then recovered from the solvent by fractionation. Normally, heat is supplied to the extraction zone by passing a hot, nonoxidizing gas, preferably an oxygen-free gas generated within the process, downwardly through the extraction zone in cocurrent flow with the liquid organic solvent.

Abstract: Oil shale solids are pyrolyzed or retorted by contact with a non-oxidizing recycle gas in a first retorting zone to produce an effluent containing pyrolysis products and pyrolyzed oil shale solids. Liquid and gaseous product hydrocarbons are recovered from the effluent of the first retorting zone. The pyrolyzed oil shale solids are contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in a combustion zone under conditions such that at least a portion of the organic material in the pyrolyzed solids is burned to produce hot, decarbonized solids and a hot flue gas. At least a portion of the gases in the effluent from the first retorting zone is contacted in the substantial absence of molecular oxygen with a portion of the hot, decarbonized solids produced in the combustion zone in the presence of added hydrocarbon-containing fines, preferably oil shale fines, in a second retorting zone such that the gases are heated and the fines are pyrolyzed to produce pyrolyzed fines and pyrolysis products containing gases and vapors.

Abstract: Catalysts comprising bismuth and vanadium components are highly active and stable, especially in the presence of water vapor, for oxidizing hydrogen sulfide to sulfur or SO.sub.2. Such catalysts have been found to be especially active for the conversion of hydrogen sulfide to sulfur by reaction with oxygen or SO.sub.2.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing needle coke comprising the steps of heating green needle coke at temperatures between about 875.degree. F. and about 1,200.degree. F. for between about 10 minutes and about 24 hours, and, without first allowing the temperature of the coke to cool below about 250.degree. F., calcining the green needle coke at calcination temperatures above about 2,000.degree. F.

Abstract: Oil shale, coal, inert heat transfer material and other carbon-containing solids of varying sizes are preheated with a gas in a transfer line by first separating the solids into a plurality of size fractions and then separately introducing the size fractions into the transfer line at predetermined distances from the transfer line inlet. The predetermined distances are inversely related to the size of the particles comprising each fraction of solids so that the fraction of solids containing the largest particles is introduced nearest to the gas inlet and the fraction of solids containing the smallest particles is introduced at a point furthest away from the transfer line inlet. Normally, solids withdrawn from the transfer line will have been heated to a temperature below which any liquids or gases evolve and are ready for further processing in downstream conversion units such as oil shale retorts, coal gasifiers and the like.

Abstract: Oil is recovered from oil-bearing rock composed primarily of carbonates by treating the oil-bearing rock with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal silicates, alkali metal phosphates, and alkali metal borates at a temperature above about 150.degree. F. and then contacting the treated oil-bearing rock with hot water or a hot aqueous solution for a sufficient amount of time to extract the oil from the oil-bearing rock. Normally, the concentration of the alkali metal in the aqueous solution will be above about 0.5 molar and an organic solvent such as toluene, xylene or cyclohexane will be present in the treatment step. The oil-bearing rock will normally be an oil-bearing limestone containing a high viscosity oil which cannot be recovered using conventional hot water extraction techniques.

Abstract: Mineral-derived fines are contacted with a polymeric material to agglomerate the fines. The agglomerating polymeric materials are the homopolymers and salts of homopolymers of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, the copolymers and salts of copolymers of acrylic acid with methacrylic acid, and the copolymers and salts of copolymers of one or more monomers of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid together with any one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, styrene, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, vinyl acetate, and monomers having the structural formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 is hydrogen or a methyl group and R.sub.2 is an alkyl radical, alkoxyalkyl radical, hydroxyalkyl radical, or aminoalkyl radical, having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms.