Abstract: The present invention concerns an oleaginous yeast variant of the species Rhodosporidium azoricum characterized by higher biomass yields and intra-cellular lipid accumulation useful for the production of bio-fuels higher, in determined conditions, with respect to the wild type strain of the same species. Furthermore, the invention concerns a method through which said oleaginous yeast variant of the species Rhodosporidium azoricum was obtained. The invention further concerns the lipid production by means of said variant strain of oleaginous yeast of the species Rhodosporidium azoricum.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an oleaginous yeast variant of the species Rhodosporidium azoricum characterized by higher biomass yields and intra-cellular lipid accumulation useful for the production of bio-fuels higher, in determined conditions, with respect to the wild type strain of the same species. Furthermore, the invention concerns a method through which said oleaginous yeast variant of the species Rhodosporidium azoricum was obtained. The invention further concerns the lipid production by means of said variant strain of oleaginous yeast of the species Rhodosporidium azoricum.

Abstract: Simulation method (100) for simulating the thermo-fluid dynamic behavior of multiphase fluids in a hydrocarbons production and transport system, said method comprising the following steps: outlining (110) the hydrocarbons production and transport system as a plurality of interconnected component blocks, thus creating a schematic representation; modeling (120) each component block with a simplified analytical mathematical model selected from the group of models comprising at least one conduit model, a valve model, a reservoir model and a separator model, each simplified analytical mathematical model comprising a plurality of constitutive equations adapted to describe the thermo-fluid dynamic behavior of the corresponding component block; generating (130) an oriented graph on the basis of the schematic representation; determining (140) a plurality of topological equations on the basis of the oriented graph; determining (150) a plurality of output variables adapted to describe the thermo-fluid dynamic behavior o

Abstract: The present invention relates to reaction equipment for the treatment of organic and/or inorganic waste of refineries or petrochemical plants comprising: •—a drying and pyrolysis device (4) which rotates around its longitudinal, tilted rotation axis (A), •—a gasification device (6) which rotates around its longitudinal, horizontal rotation axis (B), •—a combustion device (14) comprising a burner (13) having a longitudinal horizontal axis (C), •—at least one settling chamber (15) for the collection of intermediate solid residues and the accumulation of intermediate gaseous reaction products, •—at least one outlet duct of the gaseous end-products (16), at least one outlet duct of the solid end-products (7), and at least one inlet duct of the feedstock (2) •—said combustion device (14), drying and pyrolysis device (4), gasification device (6) are physically separated and positioned on three different levels, •—the longitudinal rotation axis (A) of the drying and pyrolysis device (4) is tilted with respect to bot

Abstract: A method and system are described for the continuous remote monitoring of the position and advance speed of a pig device inside a pipeline suitable for transporting a pressurized fluid, wherein the pipeline consists of a plurality of pipe sections joined to each other by welding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for revamping a conventional refinery of mineral oils into a biorefinery, characterized by a production scheme which allows the treatment of raw materials of a biological origin (vegetable oils, animal fats, exhausted cooking oils) for the production of biofuels, prevalently high-quality biodiesel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing cyclic acetals having general formula (I) wherein Y and Y?, equal to or different from each other, are selected from H and a group OR, R being a linear or branched alkyl containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, comprising at least the following phases: (i) providing a reaction mixture comprising at least one vicinal diol having formula (II) Z—CH2—CHOH—CH2OH wherein Z is selected from H and a group OR?, R? being a linear or branched alkyl containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, said mixture being substantially free of aldehydes having general formula RI—CHO, wherein RI is a linear or branched alkyl containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, possibly substituted by an alkoxide group OR111, wherein RIII is an alkyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; (ii) thermally treating said reaction mixture at a temperature within the range of 100° C.-300° C. in the presence of at least one acid catalyst, obtaining said compound having formula (I).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of refinery purge streams, containing a hydrocarbon component in slurry phase having a boiling point higher than or equal to 140° C., characterized by the presence of quantities of asphaltenes higher than or equal to 5% by weight and characterized by the presence of a solid content higher than or equal to 5% by weight. The process provides that said purge be mixed with a suitable fluxing agent according to appropriate ratios and under certain conditions, forming a suspension with a content higher than or equal to 10% by weight of compounds having a boiling point TbP lower than or equal to 350° C. After mixing, the suspension is sent to a liquid/solid separation step which operates under suitable conditions, separating a solid phase containing a residual organic component and a solid component, called cake, and a liquid phase containing residual solids. The solid phase obtained is cooled to below 60° C.

Abstract: A method for concentrating, in order to favour the subsequent extraction process of intracellular lipids, a cell suspension containing a biomass of oleaginous yeasts fermented in fermentation broth under conditions that allow the intracellular accumulation of lipids, where the biomass contains significant quantities of mucilaginous material. The method includes: a) cultivating the oleaginous yeasts in a fermentation broth to obtain a cell suspension containing the mucilaginous biomass; b) subjecting the cell suspension obtained from a) to heat treatment, at a temperature between 95° C. and 120° C. and to acid treatment, to obtain a treated cell suspension containing the mucilaginous biomass containing intact oleaginous yeast cells; and c) concentrating the treated cell suspension obtained from b), by removing at least part of the fermentation broth to obtain a concentrated cell suspension.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for facilitating the extraction of hydrocarbons, in particular extraction by RF heating of high-viscosity hydrocarbons in situ by means of an antenna comprising a coaxial array of mode converters.

Abstract: A multi-structured tubular element for producing a reactor for effecting exothermic/endothermic chemical reactions, comprises two or more monolithic thermoconductive bodies, assembled together so that each has a part of the side surface interfaced with the side surface of one or more monolithic thermoconductive bodies adjacent thereto, so as to form as a whole, a honeycomb structure containing a plurality of longitudinal channels extending from one end to the other of said tubular element, suitable for being filled with a granular catalytic solid.

Abstract: Process for preventing the formation of hydrates in fluids containing gas or gas condensate, which comprises subjecting said fluids to electromagnetic waves operating in the visible and infrared spectrum region, comprised in the ? band from equal to greater than 500 nm to less than 1 mm (from greater than 300 GHz to less than or equal to 600 THz), reducing or preventing the formation of hydrates.

Abstract: A method and system are described for measuring displacements and vibrations of an object/structure. The method includes transmission of at least one radar wave by a single radar device positioned at a predefined distance from a receiver device applied on the object/structure, reception, by the radar device, of a complex signal consisting of the sum of the signal reflected from said receiver device and of one or more interfering signals generated by one or more corresponding targets substantially stationary and substantially positioned at the same distance from the radar device, separation of the interfering signals from the reflected signal. The separation includes calibration by induction, for a pre-determined period of time, of a vibrational motion having a known frequency and duration in the receiver device, which consequently operates as a calibration device, for obtaining an estimated value of the interfering signals.

Abstract: New sulfide metal catalysts are described, containing Ni, Mo and W, an element Z selected from Si, Al and mixtures thereof, and possibly an organic residue, obtained by sulfidation of mixed oxide precursors, also new, characterized in that they comprise an amorphous phase and a wolframite iso structural crystalline phase, the crystallinity degree of said mixed oxides being higher than 0 and lower than 100%, preferably higher than 0 and lower than 70%. The catalysts of the invention are useful as hydrotreatment catalysts, and in particular as hydrodesulfurization, hydrodenitrogenation and/or hydrodearomatization catalysts.

Abstract: Process for the production of bio-oil from biomass comprising the following steps: (a) feeding a biomass to a liquefaction reactor, said biomass having a protein content higher than or equal to 1% by weight, preferably ranging from 5% by weight to 50% by weight, with respect to the weight (dry weight) of said biomass, a lipid content higher than or equal to 1% by weight, preferably ranging from 5% by weight to 60% by weight, with respect to the weight (dry weight) of said biomass, a pH higher than or equal to 4, preferably ranging from 4.5 to 10; (b) subjecting said biomass to liquefaction operating at a temperature ranging from 220° C. to 350° C., preferably ranging from 230° C. to 310° C., even more preferably ranging from 240° C. to 300° C.

Abstract: Organic dye for a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) comprising at least one electron-acceptor unit and at least one ?-conjugated unit. Said organic dye is particularly useful in a dye-sensitized photoelectric transformation element which, in its turn, can be used in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC).

Abstract: Method for hindering the non-authorized withdrawal of a liquid from at least one offtake conduit connected to a main conduit for the transport of the aforementioned liquid, in particular a mixture of hydrocarbons and water, the main conduit having an inlet port and at least one outlet port between which the liquid flows, the method comprising the step of: introducing a plurality of solid objects into the main conduit through the at least one inlet port, the plurality of introduced solid objects having weight, dimensions and density such as to be transportable towards the at least one outlet port by the main flow of the liquid and such as to be able to be possibly captured by the offtake flow of the liquid directed towards the offtake conduit, and such as to be able to possibly at least partially obstruct such an offtake conduit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing an ester having formula R—COO—R? (I), wherein R represents a group selected from: (i) a linear or branched alkyl, containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, (ii) an aryl containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, (iii) a heterocycle with 4 to 12 carbon atoms containing at least one heteroatom selected from O, N, P and S, R? represents a linear or branched alkyl containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, said process comprising at least a phase of reacting a reaction mixture comprising at least one aldehyde having formula R—CHO (II), wherein R has the meanings defined above, and at least one alcohol having general formula R?—OH (III), wherein R? has the meanings defined above, in the presence of at least one solid basic catalyst, at a temperature within the range of 120° C.-300° C., obtaining said ester having formula (I).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic system comprising at least two catalytic zones of which at least one zone exclusively contains one or more noble metals selected from the group consisting of Rhodium, Ruthenium, Iridium, Palladium and Platinum and at least another zone contains Nickel, said catalytic system characterized in that at least one zone exclusively containing noble metals selected from the group consisting of Rhodium, Ruthenium, Iridium, Palladium and Platinum is always distinct but in contact with at least one zone containing Nickel. One or more metals selected from the group consisting of Rhodium, Ruthenium, Iridium, Palladium and Platinum are possibly added to the catalytic zone or zones comprising Nickel.

Abstract: New sulfided metal catalysts are described, containing a metal X selected from Ni, Co and mixtures thereof, a metal Y selected from Mo, W and mixtures thereof, an element Z selected from Si, Al and mixtures thereof, and possibly an organic residue, obtained by the sulfidation of mixed oxide precursors, also new, having general formula (A) XaYbZcOd.