Abstract: A supported cobalt-based catalyst, characterized in that the carrier has an average particle diameter, measured by Coulter LS230, ranging from 70 to 250 &mgr;m, a surface area higher than 175 m2/g and a pore volume higher than 0.35 cm3/g, measured by the B.E.T. method. The catalyst is particularly useful in the Fischer-Tropsch reaction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic composition which comprises an ERS-10 zeolite, a metal of group VIII, a metal of group VI and optionally one or more oxides as carrier. According to a preferred aspect, the catalytic composition also contains a metal of group II B and/or III A. The catalytic system of the present invention can be used in the upgrading of hydrocarbon mixtures having boiling ranges within the range of C4 to 250° C., preferably mixtures of hydrocarbons which boil within the naphtha range, containing impurities of sulfur, i.e. in hydrodesulfuration with the contemporaneous skeleton isomerization of olefins contained in these hydrocarbons, the whole process being carried out in a single step.

Abstract: A process is described for determining the stability of asphaltenes in oil fields, which comprises the following steps: a) titrations of stock tank oil are carried out; the values measured are then used, together with physico-chemical analyses of the stock tank oil, to thermodynamically characterize the asphaltenes and the heavy oil fraction; b) using the physico-chemical analyses of live oil, the experimental data relating to its phase behavior are interpolated in order to provide a better representation by means of an equation of state; c) using the equation of state thus calibrated and the characterization of the asphaltenes, the stability of the latter is verified in relation to the temperature and pressure of live oil, using the equation describing the behavior of a sterically stabilized colloid.

Abstract: Composition of water-based drilling fluids characterized in that they comprise an oil in water emulsion.

Abstract: A supported cobalt-based catalyst characterized in that the carrier has an average particle diameter, measured by means of Coulter LS230, ranging from 70 to 250 &mgr;m, a surface area higher than 175 m2/g and a pore volume higher than 0.35 cm3/g, measured with the B.E.T. method. The catalyst is useful in the Fischer-Tropsch reaction.

Abstract: Catalytic system for the oxidative dehydrogenation of alkylaromatics (in particular ethylbenzene) or paraffins to the corresponding alkenylaromatics (in particular styrene) or to the corresponding olefins, consisting of: a vanadium oxide; a bismuth oxide; and a carrier based on magnesium, wherein the vanadium, expressed as V2O5, is in a quantity ranging from 1 to 15% by weight, preferably from 2 to 10%, the bismuth, expressed as Bi2O3, ranges from 2 to 30% by weight, preferably from 5 to 25% by weight, the complement to 100 being the carrier.

Abstract: A catalyst, which can be used in the Fischer-Tropsch process, and contains cobalt oxide having crystals with an average size ranging from 20 to 80 Å supported on an inert carrier of alumina. A preparation process for the catalyst and a Fischer-Tropsch process utilizing the catalyst are also provided.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a middle distillate having good properties at low temperatures, which can be used as fuel, starting from a mixture of substantially linear hidrocarbons, without sulfur and containing at least 20% of a high-boiling fraction having a distillation temperature exceeding 370° C., comprising, as single reactive step, a “hydrocracking” step on said mixture of linear hydrocarbons, at a temperature ranging from 250 to 450° C. and a total pressure of 0.5 to 15 MPa, in the presence of a supported catalyst comprising: (A) a carrier of an acid nature consisting of a calcined gel of silica-alumina amorphous to X-rays having a molar ratio between silica and alumina within the range of 30 and 500, a surface area within the range of 500 and 1000 m2/g, with a porosity within the range of 0.2 and 0.

Abstract: Process for preparing catalytic systems consisting of: a vanadium oxide; a bismuth oxide; and a carrier consisting of magnesium oxide, comprising: preparing of solutions based on derivatives of the components of the catalytic system; mixing the solutions and optional aging; drying the solution; first heating, in the presence of air, of the solid obtained from the drying at a temperature ranging from room value to a temperature of between 290 and 310° C., for a time ranging from 1 to 3 hours; additional heating, in the presence of air, of the solid for a time ranging from 2 to 4 hours at the calcination temperature ranging from 600 to 850° C.; calcination, in the presence of air, of the solid at a constant temperature, ranging from 600 to 850° C., reached in the additional heating, for a time ranging from 8 to 16 hours.

Abstract: Composition of water-based drilling fluids characterized in that they comprise anions with a high hydrodynamic radius.

Abstract: A superacid catalyst comprising: zirconium oxide on whose surface sulfate groups are present, in a quality corresponding to total coverage of the surface of the zirconium oxide by means of a monolayer of these sulfate groups, optionally containing a noble metal in a quantity ranging from 0.1 to 3% by weight, with a porosity ranging from 0.1 to 0.30 cm3/g, consisting of at least 70% of pores with a diameter ranging from 1 to 4 nm, prepared by a process which comprises: (a) hydrolyzing derivate of zirconium in a basic medium in the presence of a tetra-alkylammonium hydroxide (TAA), sulfuric acid and acetylacetone (AcAc); (b) drying the product of step (a) and calcining the dried material at a temperature ranging from 250 to 650° C. (c) optionally treating the product resulting from step (b) with an aqueous solution of a compound of a noble metal, and drying and calcining the treated product.

Abstract: A photodegradative process is described for the purification of water contaminated by ether-based compounds, especially methylterbutyl ether (MTBE) or its analogous products, which comprises the following steps: (a) treatment of the contaminated water with an inorganic acid up to a pH ranging from 4.0 to 4.5 with the elimination of the carbon dioxide thus formed; (b) dispersion in the water of solid particles of a metal oxide of the semiconductor type or dissolution of a stream consisting of ozone in pure oxygen or air; (c) irradiation of the dispersion or solution obtained in step (b) with ultraviolet light to degrade the ether-based contaminants.

Abstract: Process for measuring the effects on the mechanical proper-ties of shales due to interaction with drilling fluids, which comprises: (a) preparation of a shale sample; (b) measurement of the transmission velocity of ultrasonic waves through the sample (a), (c) preparation of a mixture of water-or oil-based drilling fluid and the sample (a); (d) removal of the shale sample (a) from the mixture (c) and measurement of the ultrasonic wave transmission velocity; (e) comparison between the measurements of step (d) and those of step (b).

Abstract: Process for the continuous determination of the interaction between drilling fluids and shale formations, which comprises: (a) preparation of a water- or oil-based drilling fluid; (b) preparation of a shale sample having at least two flat, parallel opposite surfaces; (c) preparation of the mixture of (b) and (a); (d) continuous measurement of the ultrasonic wave transmission velocity through the sample (c), and variations in thickness (swelling and shrinking) of the shale sample, due to interaction with the drilling fluid (a).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic composition which comprises an ERS-10 zeolite, a metal of group VIII, a metal of group VI and optionally one or more oxides as carrier. According to a preferred aspect, the catalytic composition also contains a metal of group II B and/or III A. The catalytic system of the present invention can be used in the upgrading of hydrocarbon mixtures having boiling ranges within the range of C4 to 250° C., preferably mixtures of hydrocarbons which boil within the naphtha range, containing impurities of sulfur, i.e. in hydrodesulfuration with the contemporaneous skeleton isomerization of olefins contained in these hydrocarbons, the whole process being carried out in a single step.

Abstract: Process for the production of diaminodiphenylmethane and its higher homologues products, which comprises reacting aniline, or one of its derivatives, and formaldehyde, or a compound capable of producing formaldehyde under the reaction conditions, in the presence of a zeolite in acid form having a spaciousness index ranging from 2.5 to 19.

Abstract: Optimized process for effecting the production of heavy hydrocarbons according to the Fischer-Tropsch method which comprises: (a) feeding the reagent gases into a reactor; (b) at least partially recovering the heavy hydrocarbons formed in step (a) by their external or internal separation from the catalytic particles; the above process being characterized in that in step (a) the reaction takes place: (1) in t he presence of solid particles which have a particle Reynolds number (Rep) greater than 0.1, (2) keeping the solid particles suspended at a height H, with Us, Ul, and Ug value s which are such as to have a Bodenstein number Bos≦1, preferably ≦0.4.

Abstract: Toxic components in a gaseous effluent containing toxic organic, chlorinated and non-chlorinated compounds are degraded by a process, comprising: contacting the gaseous effluent containing toxic components with a semiconductor metal oxide; and heating the gaseous effluent in contact with the semiconductor metal oxide to a temperature ranging from 300 to 600° C. while irradiating the gaseous effluent with ultraviolet light having a wave-length ranging from 180 to 400 nm.

Abstract: Process for the photocatalytic purification of waste water contaminated by odorant compounds containing sulfur, which can be applied to the purification of condensed water collected along the gas distribution network for domestic and industrial use.

Abstract: Process for the photocatalytic purification of waste water contaminated by tetrahydrothiophene, applicable to the purification of condensation water collected along gas distribution lines for household and industrial use.