Abstract: A process for the conversion of heavy feedstocks using hydrotreatment, distillation or flash, and deasphalting that includes mixing a heavy feedstock with a hydrogenation catalyst and subjecting the thus-formed mixture to a hydrotreatment reactor for reaction with one or more of hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide to form a first product stream; subjecting the first product stream to a distillation or flash to form a plurality of distillate fractions; and recycling heavies from the distillation residue and/or tar by deasphalting in the presence of a solvent; where the hydrotreatment reaction product is pre-separated under high pressure to form light and heavy fractions and sending the heavy fraction to the distillation and/or flash.

Abstract: The present application relates to a process for removing hydrogen sulfide H2S from a gas (1) by contacting said gas with a liquid solution (2) containing ferric sulfate in an absorption column (RC). Ferric sulfate and H2S react at room temperature and at a pressure ranging from 1 to 1.2 atm. Ferric ions being reduced to two-valent iron and sulfide oxidised to elemental sulfur. The liquid (4) coming out of the absorption column is filtered in two steps, the retentate (6, 8) comprising elemental sulfur, the filtrate (5, 7) containing the iron ions. The filtrate is sent to a bioreactor (RB) for regeneration, i.e. oxidation of iron to Fe3+ by means of thiobacillus ferroxidans and air injection (10). The regenerated solution is reused in the absorption column (RC). The process faces the problems relating to the alignment between the chemical step and the biological step in order to obtain a process which can stably run continuously.

Abstract: A process is described for the treatment of water contaminated by apolar organic compounds and/or by heavy metals, which consists in circulating the water through a system comprising at least two types of zeolites having a silica/alumina ratio >50, placed in succession, wherein the first zeolite through which the water is passed is characterized by a high absorption capacity and structural channel dimensions ranging from 7 to 50 ?, whereas the second is characterized by a high removal capacity of molecules with a molecular diameter comparable with structural channel dimensions ranging from 5 to 7 ?.

Abstract: A highly selective process is described for preparing 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene which comprises reacting a naphthalene hydrocarbon selected from naphthalene, methylnaphthalenes, dimethylnaphthalenes, trimethylnaphthalenes, polymethylnaphthalenes, and/or their mixtures with one or more benzene hydrocarbons selected from benzene, toluene, xylenes, trimethylbenzenes, tetramethylbenzenes, pentamethylbenzene and/or hexamethylbenzene, under at least partially liquid phase conditions and in the presence of a catalytic composition comprising a zeolite belonging to the MTW structural type and at least one element selected from P, B and Si. The process is preferably carried out in the presence of a methylating agent.

Abstract: The present invention deals with a method which allows to determine the wall friction profile along pipes transporting liquids, particularly petroleum industry liquids, by measuring the pressure transients induced by fast changes in the flow rate. This method is applicable to pipes in which the discharge pressure is greater then the bubble point of the transported liquid and, in any case, when free gas is absent in the pipe.

Abstract: Integrated process for the conversion of feedstocks containing coal into liquid products by the joint use of at least the following seven process units: coal liquefaction (CL), flash or distillation of the product obtained from the liquefaction (F), extraction with a solvent to remove the ashes (SDAsh), distillation to separate the solvent (RS), hydroconversion with catalysts in slurry phase (HT), distillation or flash of the product obtained from the hydroconversion (D), deasphalting with a solvent (SDA).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a catalytic system comprising a metal of group VIII, a metal of group VI, a metal oxide as carrier and suitable quantities of a component selected from a zeolite of the FER type, phosphorous, and a mixture thereof, in upgrading of hydrocarbons boiling in the naphtha range containing sulfur impurities, namely in hydrodesulfurization with contemporaneous skeleton isomerization of olefins contained in said hydrocarbons and/or with reduction of olefins hydrogenation, carried out in a single step.

Abstract: Process for the charging of a catalyst and for the running of a reactor in which reactions take place in multiphase systems, wherein a gaseous phase prevalently consisting of CO and H2 is bubbled into a suspension of a solid in the form of particles (catalyst) in a liquid (prevalently reaction product), according to the Fischer-Tropsch technology.

Abstract: A process is described for reducing the production of water in oil wells which comprises the injection into the formation around the well of an aqueous solution of one or more polymers selected from those having general formula (I), wherein: n ranges from 0.70 to 0.98; m ranges from 0.30 to 0.02; n+m=1; X1 and X2, the same or different, are selected from H and CH3; R1, R2, R3, the same or different, are selected from C1–C10 monofunctional hydrocarbyl groups; and x ranges from 2 to 5.

Abstract: Process for the disposal of sulfur in the liquid state which comprises: a) transforming elemental sulfur into sulfanes having the general formula H2Sn+1, wherein n is a number from 1 to 7; b) optionally mixing elemental sulfur in powder form with the liquid sulfanes, up to such a concentration as to guarantee the pumpability of the mixture; c) injecting the sulfanes liquid at room temperature into geological formations having a temperature lower than 150° C.

Abstract: The present invention regards a catalytic composition comprising gallium, at least one element chosen in the group of the lanthanides, and a zeolite belonging to the MFI, MEL or MFI/MEL families, the crystal lattice of which is made up of silicon oxide and at least one metal oxide chosen from among aluminum oxide, boron oxide and gallium oxide. Preferably, in the catalytic compositions of the present invention a zeolite is used belonging to the MFI family characterized by crystallites which for at least 90% have diameters smaller than 500 ? and which can form agglomerates of submicron dimensions characterized by possessing at least 30% of the extrazeolitic porosity in the region of the mesopores. The catalytic compositions of the present invention can, in addition, contain rhenium. These catalytic compositions are useful in processes of aromatization of hydrocarbons containing from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably, hydrocarbon mixtures containing olefins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic composition which comprises a beta zeolite, a metal of group VIII, a metal of group VI B and optionally one or more oxides as carrier. The catalytic system of the present invention can be used for the hydrotreating of hydrocarbon mixtures and more specifically in the upgrading of hydrocarbon mixtures having boiling ranges within the range of 35° to 250° C., containing sulfur impurities, i.e. in hydrodesulfuration with contemporaneous skeleton isomerization and a reduced hydrogenation degree of olefins contained in said hydrocarbon mixtures, the whole process being carried out in a single step.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons are prepared, liquid at the reaction temperature, by feeding synthesis gas into three-phase turbulent reactors in which the solid phase, consisting of the catalyst in the form of particles, is kept in suspension in the liquid phase by the rising synthesis gas. The reaction product is separated/filtered in continuous from the catalyst dispersed therein by means of at least one filtration device consisting of a hydrocyclone over which there is a first hollow metal element in which a second hollow element is situated, coaxial with the first, made of a material having a porous structure, with an average pore diameter ranging from 0.002 to 0.1 micrometers, suitable for micro/ultrafiltration.

Abstract: A process is described for the upgrading of hydrocarbon mixtures which boil within the naphtha range containing sulfur impurities, i.e. a hydrodesulfuration process with contemporaneous skeleton isomerization and reduced hydrogenation degree of the olefins contained in said hydrocarbon mixtures, the whole process being carried out in a single step. The process is carried out in the presence of a catalytic system comprising a metal of group VIB, a metal of group VIII and a carrier of acid nature consisting of a mesoporous silico-alumina.

Abstract: The present invention regards a catalytic composition comprising gallium, at least one element chosen in the group of the lanthanides, and a zeolite belonging to the MFI, MEL or MFI/MEL families, the crystal lattice of which is made up of silicon oxide and at least one metal oxide chosen from among aluminium oxide, boron oxide and gallium oxide. Preferably, in the catalytic compositions of the present invention a zeolite is used belonging to the MFI family characterized by crystallites which for at least 90% have diameters smaller than 500 Å and which can form agglomerates of submicron dimensions characterized by possessing at least 30% of the extrazeolitic porosity in the region of the mesopores.

Abstract: A process is described for the upgrading of hydrocarbon mixtures which boil within the naphtha range containing sulfur impurities, i.e. a hydrodesulfuration process with contemporaneous skeleton isomerization and reduced hydrogenation degree of the olefins contained in said hydrocarbon mixtures, the whole process being carried out in a single step. The process is carried out in the presence of a catalytic system comprising a metal of group VI B, a metal of group VIII and a carrier of acid nature consisting of a mesoporous silico-alumina.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a catalytic system comprising a metal of group VIII, a metal of group VI, a metal oxide as carrier and suitable quantities of a component selected from a zeolite of the FER type, phosphorous, and a mixture thereof, in upgrading of hydrocarbons boiling in the naphtha range containing sulfur impurities, namely in hydrodesulfurization with contemporaneous skeleton isomerization of olefins contained in said hydrocarbons and/or with reduction of olefins hydrogenation, carried out in a single step.

Abstract: Oil drill cuttings, containing an oil-based mud, may be treated by mixing the cuttings with an organic solvent. The oil drill cuttings are then separated from the organic solvent and extracted oil. The organic solvent is then separated from the oil, and mixed with the extracted oil drill cuttings to extract additional oil therefrom. The oil drill cuttings are again separated from the organic solvent and oil, the oil separated from the solvent, and recombined with the oil from the first extraction step. The oil base and other mud components are recycled, depending on the treatment procedure, for subsequent use in drilling.

Abstract: Process for reducing the adsorption of hydrosoluble polymers onto rock matrix, which comprises putting the rock matrix in contact with an aqueous solution of polymers containing sacrificial agents, preferably selected from ionic and non-ionic oligomeric surface-active agents. In the preferred embodiment the surface-active agents are non-ionic.

Abstract: Water-based drilling fluid comprising: (a) water, (b) at least one biopolymer of the polysaccharide type, (c) at least one filtrate reducer selected from starches with different cross-linking degrees in presence of cellulose microfibers, (d) optionally a hydrosoluble polymeric surface-active agent having an HLB from 10 to 16, preferably from 11 to 14.