Abstract: Process for the extraction of fatty acids from algal biomass comprising: producing an aqueous suspension of algal biomass; subjecting the aqueous suspension of algal biomass to acid hydrolysis and extraction by the addition of at least one non-polar organic solvent and at least one inorganic acid to said aqueous suspension of algal biomass, so as to obtain the following three phases: (i) a semisolid phase comprising a slurry of the algal biomass; (ii) an aqueous phase comprising inorganic compounds and hydrophilic organic compounds; (iii) an organic phase comprising fatty acids and hydrophobic organic compounds other than said fatty acids.

Abstract: A process for purifying an aqueous stream from a Fischer-Tropsch reaction that includes feeding the aqueous stream to a system that includes a distillation column equipped with a partial condenser and a total condenser, at least partially condensing the vaporized stream leaving the head of the distillation column and collecting a first distillate in which in heavier by-products, totally condensing the remaining portion of the vaporized stream leaving the partial condenser and collecting a liquid stream which is returned to the distillation column as a reflux and removing a purified aqueous stream from the bottom of the distillation column.

Abstract: The present invention relates to equipment for the conveying and recovery of hydrocarbons from an underwater well for the extraction of hydrocarbons under uncontrolled release conditions, comprising a chamber (23) for the separation of the hydrocarbon stream leaving the well, into a heavy phase (23a) and a light phase (23b), means (15,16,17,24,25,26) being envisaged, in connection with the separation chamber (23), for conveying the heavy phase (23a) and light phase (23b) towards the surface, characterized in that it comprises a directioning body (18) of the hydrocarbon stream, having a substantially cylindrical shape, or as a truncated paraboloid with both ends open, wherein a first end is an inlet of the hydrocarbon stream leaving the well, and a second end, distal with respect to the inlet of the hydrocarbon stream (20), is in fluid connection with the separation chamber (23) with the interpositioning of a perforated spherical cap (22).

Abstract: Luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) includes at least one disubstituted benzothiadiazole compound having general formula (I): wherein: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7, equal to or different from each other, represent a hydrogen atom; or they are selected from linear or branched C1-C20, preferably C1-C10, alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups optionally substituted, aryl groups optionally substituted, linear or branched C1-C20, preferably C1-C10, alkoxyl groups, optionally substituted; or R1 and R2, or R3 and R4, or R5 and R6, or R6 and R7 can be optionally bound to each other so as to form, together with the carbon atoms to which they are bound, a cycle or a polycyclic system containing from 3 to 14, preferably from 4 to 6 carbon atoms, saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the separation of gases which comprises putting a mixture of gases in contact with a zeolite of the ESV type to obtain the selective adsorption of at least one of the gases forming the gaseous mixture. The present invention also relates to particular zeolitic compositions suitable as adsorbents.

Abstract: Process for the removal/reduction of the hydrogen sulfide contained in natural gas which comprises: a) feeding natural gas and water to a reaction vessel maintained under thermodynamic conditions favorable for the formation of H2S hydrates and substantially at the production pressure of natural gas; b) discharging the H2S hydrates, from the bottom of the reaction vessel; c) optionally melting the hydrates and re-injecting water and/or gas comprising hydrogen sulfide and/or the hydrates as such into the same production field or into a geologically equivalent structure; and d) optionally feeding the remaining natural gas to a conventional softening process.

Abstract: Stabilized photoactive composition comprising at least one photoactive organic polymer; at least one light stabilizer selected from hindered amines; at least one UV absorber selected from triazines, benzoxazinones, benzotriazoles, benzophenones, benzoates, formamidines, cinnamates or propenoates, aromatic propanediones, benzoimidazoles, cycloaliphatic ketones, formanilides including oxamides, cyanoacrylates, benzopyranones, salicylates, or mixtures thereof. Said photoactive composition can be advantageously used in the construction of photovoltaic devices such as, for example, photovoltaic cells, photovoltaic modules, solar cells, solar modules, on both rigid and flexible supports.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photoluminescent composition comprising an acene compound having general formula (I) or (Ia) and a benzothiadiazole compound having general formula (II), and the relative use as photoluminescent composition in a spectrum converter. A spectrum converter comprising the photoluminescent composition defined above, comprising the above compounds having general formula (I) or (Ia) and (II) and a solar device comprising said spectrum converter, are also described.

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: A process for recovering metals from a stream rich in hydrocarbons and carbonaceous residues by means of a treatment section, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: sending said stream to a primary treatment, effected in one or more steps, wherein said stream is treated in the presence of a fluxant agent in a suitable apparatus, at a temperature ranging from 80 to 180° C., preferably from 100 to 160° C., and subjected to liquid/solid separation in order to obtain a clarified product essentially consisting of liquids and a cake (oilcake); possibly subjecting the separated cake to drying, in order to remove the hydrocarbon component having a boiling point lower than a temperature ranging from 300 to 350° C. from the cake; sending the cake, possibly dried, to a secondary thermal treatment comprising: a flameless pyrolysis of the cake effected between 400 and 800° C., preferably between 500 and 670° C.

Abstract: Process for the conversion of heavy charge stocks selected from heavy and extra-heavy crude oils, distillation residues, heavy oils from catalytic treatment, thermal tars, bitumens from oil sands, carbons of different origins and other high boiling charges of a hydrocarbon origin known as “black oils”, using at least the following process units: solvent deasphalting (SDA), hydroconversion with slurry phase catalysts (HT), distillation or flash (D), which process includes: solvent deasphalting, thereby forming a deasphthalted oil (DAO), as described; hydrotreating the DAO in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst precursor and hydrogen or hydrogen and H2S, as described; sending the product therefrom to distillation or flash (D) step(s), and separating the most volatile fractions from the distillation residue (tar) or from the liquid coming from the flash unit, as described; recycling at least a portion of the tar or the liquid, to the hydrotreating section, as described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of middle distillates from a paraffinic feedstock produced by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis comprising a limited content of molecules containing at least one oxygen atom in which said feedstock is subjected to at least one hydrocracking/hydroisomerization stage in the presence of a hydrogen stream also containing a limited atomic oxygen content.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a water-in-oil or oil-in-water nanoemulsion wherein the dispersed phase is distributed in the dispersing phase in the form of droplets having a diameter ranging from 1 to 500 nm, comprising: 1) the preparation of a homogeneous water/oil blend (I) characterized by an interface tension lower than 1 mN/m, comprising water in an amount of 30 to 70% by weight, at least two surface-active agents having a different HLB, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, said surface-active agents being present in such a quantity as to make the blend homogeneous; 2) the dilution of the blend (I) in a dispersing phase consisting of oil or water with the addition of a surface-active agent, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, the quantity of the dispersing phase and surface-active agent being such as to obtain a nanoemulsion having a HLB different from that of the blend (I).

Abstract: Equipment for intercepting and diverting liquid circulation flow includes three chambers and a series of valves. The chambers are equipped with a connection device with arrival or supply lines, communicating with each other, of which only a first chamber communicates with second and third chambers. Communication between the first and second chambers and between the first and third chambers each is obtained by at least two valves, one is a flow-rate valve and at least one is an equalizer valve. An upstream or downstream of each equalizer valve is coupled with a fixed or adjustable flow-blocking device. The second and third chambers do not communicate and include a three-way valve in common with each other, or include two one-way valves in counterposition. One one-way valve is open when the other is closed and vice versa, and the three-way valve or the two one-way valves are coupled with a discharge valve.

Abstract: Production tubing for oil wells comprising a plurality of cylindrical elements made of a composite material consisting of continuous carbon fibres impregnated with a thermosetting epoxy resin, joined adjacently to each other by means of a male/female connection system, wherein the male connection is present on one end of the cylindrical element and the female connection is present on the other end of the cylindrical element.

Abstract: A method for predicting the properties of crude oils by the application of neural networks articulated in phases and characterized by determining the T2 NMR relaxation curve of an unknown crude oil and converting it to a logarithmic relaxation curve; selecting the values of the logarithmic relaxation curve lying on a characterization grid; entering the selected values as input data for a multilayer neural network of the back propagation type, trained and optimized by means of genetic algorithms; predicting, by means of the trained and optimized neural network, the physico-chemical factors of the unknown crude oil. The method comprises a training and optimization process of the multilayer neural network of the back propagation type. The method thus defined allows the most representative physico-chemical factors of crude oils to be predicted rapidly and without onerous laboratory structures, or alternatively the distillation curve of crude oils with an acceptable approximation degree.

Abstract: A combined piloting method of remote operated underwater vehicles includes: connecting, to a vertical profile, a constraint device including at least two arms arranged at a reciprocal fixed angular position, each of the at least two docking arms including at a first end a device for the hooking of a remote operated underwater vehicle, the at least two docking arms being constrained at one of their second ends to a device for the sliding and rotating hooking to the vertical profile; connecting at least two remote operated vehicles to the constraint device; detecting the position of the overall structure consisting of the constraint device and remote operated vehicles; detecting the orientation of each of the remote operated vehicles; receiving data relating to the position and orientation to be reached; determining the power required by each remote operated vehicle; and transmitting related commands to each vehicle.

Abstract: A process for producing bio-oil from municipal solid waste, the process including: a) liquifying municipal solid waste, to obtain a mixture containing an oily phase containing bio-oil, a solid phase, and a first aqueous phase; b) treating the first aqueous phase from a) with an adsorbing material, to obtain a second aqueous phase; c) fermenting the second aqueous phase from b), to obtain a biomass; d) subjecting the biomass obtained in c) to the liquification a). The bio-oil obtained is advantageously used in the production of biofuels for motor vehicles or for the generation of electric energy or heat.

Abstract: A method of providing at least one projection (4) on a tubular body (1) of the type required by the oil and gas industry for use in recovery of and transporting of crude oil or gas, namely oil-country-tubular goods (OCTG), said projection (4) having a predetermined form such as a blade, ribbing, or the like stand-off projection, by providing materials capable of being moulded, applying a mould to a tubular (OCTG) body, and moulding said materials using said mould onto said tubular body (1).

Abstract: The cultivation of heterotrophic and phototrophic micro-organisms is integrated for the production of bio-oil for biofuels, wherein the overall algal suspension produced is first thickened, with recirculation of the excess water to cultivation containers, and then thermally treated at a high temperature. After cooling, a bio-oil phase is recovered together with a suspension rich in soluble carbohydrates and proteins which forms a nutritional/energy source for heterotrophic micro-organisms.