Abstract: A four stage process for producing high quality white oils, particularly food or medicinal grade mineral oils from mineral oil distillates. The first reaction stage employs a sulfur resistant hydrotreating catalyst and produces a product suitable for use as a high quality lubricating oil base stock. The second reaction stage employs a hydrogenation/hydrodesulfurization catalyst. The third stage employs a reduced metal sulfur sorbent producing a product stream which is low in aromatics and which has substantially “nil” sulfur. The final reaction stage employs a selective hydrogenation catalyst that produces a product suitable as a food or medicinal grade white oil.

Abstract: A process to regenerate iron-based hydrogen sulfide sorbents using steam. The steam is preferably mixed with hydrogen-containing gas and/or an inert gas, such as nitrogen. In a preferred embodiment, the sorbent is first exposed to the steam and then exposed to a hydrogen-containing gas at regeneration conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is a method to determine the effectiveness of an asphaltene dispersant comprising extracting the asphaltenes from an oil and determining the rate of precipitation of the extracted asphaltene in an alkane-aromatic solvent mixture in the presence and absence of the asphaltene dispersant.

Abstract: A functionalized porous crystalline material is disclosed exhibiting an X-ray diffraction pattern with at least one peak at a position greater than about 1.8 nm d-spacing with a relative intensity of 100. The crystalline material comprises a framework including metal atoms, oxygen atoms and at least one organic group bonded between at least two of said metal atoms so as to be integral with said framework, and wherein said organic group has at least one sulfonate moiety bonded thereto.

Abstract: Method and system for removing accumulated sediment at the bottom of a waste pond or lagoon of a wastewater treatment plant for a petroleum refinery. The system comprises a primary oil separation stage for separating hydrocarbons from the wastewater stream by gravity, a secondary oil removal stage and a biological treatment stage downstream of the secondary oil removal stage. A portion of the sediment from the bottom of the waste pond or lagoon is passed to the secondary oil removal stage and/or the biological treatment stage for processing with the refinery wastewater being treated in these stages.

Abstract: This invention relates to a diesel fuel composition comprising a major amount of a base fuel and a relatively minor amount of at least one chemical component other than that generated in a refinery process stream which component is miscible with the base fuel in such proportions that the T30 temperature of the resultant composition is in the range from 205-240° C. The control of the T30 temperature within the specified range by blending with the minor component results in a significant reduction in particulate emissions.

Abstract: A slurry Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis process for synthesizing liquid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas in a synthesis reactor also hydroisomerizes the synthesized hydrocarbon liquid, which comprises the slurry liquid, in one or more lift reactors immersed in the slurry body in the synthesis reactor. A monolithic catalyst is preferably used for the hydroisomerization, and slurry circulation up through the lift reactors from the surrounding slurry body, is achieved at least in part by the lift action of the hydroisomerization treat gas. Preferably, catalyst particles are also removed before the slurry contacts the catalyst. Hydroisomerization occurs while the synthesis reactor is producing hydrocarbons, without interfering with the synthesis reaction. A gas bubble reducing downcomer may be used to produce and feed the gas bubble reduced slurry into the lift reactor, thereby providing a hydraulic head assist in the slurry circulation up through and out of the lift reactor.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for demulsification of water-in-oil emulsions.

Abstract: A process of enhancing both the activity and the methane selectivity of a Dispersed Active Metal (“DAM”) hydrogenation catalyst is disclosed wherein the DAM undergoes low temperature oxidation in a slurry phase to form a stable, unique oxidized catalyst precursor that is subsequently reduced to form an enhanced catalyst by treatment with hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperature, wherein reducible promoter metals comprising one or more of rhenium, ruthenium, palladium, iron and cobalt are added to the DAM. The promoter metals are mixed with the oxidized catalyst precursor as a solution of their reducible salts. The oxidized catalyst precursors are again recovered from the mixture and treated with hydrogen-containing gas to simultaneously form the metals and reactivate the DAM catalyst.

Abstract: A slurry hydroprocessing process for upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock containing nitrogen and sulfur using bulk multimetallic catalyst comprised of at least one Group VIII non-noble metal and at least two Group VIB metals wherein the ratio of Group VIB metal to Group VIII metal is about 10:1 to about 1:10.

Abstract: A catalytic cracking process for selectively producing C2 to C4 olefins is described in which a feedstock containing hydrocarbons having at least 5 carbon atoms is contacted, under catalytic cracking conditions, with a catalyst composition comprising the synthetic porous crystalline material ITQ-13 and, optionally, a large pore molecular sieve, such as zeolite Y.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inhibiting high temperature of corrosion-prone metal surfaces by organic acid-containing petroleum streams by providing an effective corrosion-inhibiting amount of phosphorous acid, typically up to 1000 wppm, to the metal surface.

Abstract: A process of enhancing both the activity and the methane selectivity of a Dispersed Active Metal (“DAM”) hydrogenation catalyst is disclosed wherein the DAM undergoes low temperature oxidation in a slurry phase to form a stable, unique oxidized catalyst precursor that is subsequently reduced to form an enhanced catalyst by treatment with hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperature, wherein reducible promoter metals comprising one or more of rhenium, ruthenium, palladium, iron and cobalt are added to the DAM. The promoter metals are mixed with the oxidized catalyst precursor as a solution of their reducible salts. The oxidized catalyst precursors are again recovered from the mixture and treated with hydrogen-containing gas to simultaneously form the metals and reactivate the DAM catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for polymerizing an olefin to produce poly-olefins using a crystalline catalyst. The resulting poly-olefins have low viscosity and low volatility and may be used in various functional fluids.

Abstract: A process for rejuvenating reversibly deactivated catalyst particles in a three-phase slurry body of gas bubbles and catalyst particles in a slurry liquid, includes passing slurry from the top down to the bottom of the body through a slurry catalyst rejuvenating means. The slurry is sequentially passed through a first gas bubble reducing zone, a catalyst rejuvenating gas contacting zone, a second gas bubble reducing zone and then a downcomer transfer zone. The gas bubble reducing, contacting and at least a portion of transfer occur in slurry body. At least part of the means is in the slurry body.

Abstract: Methods for the separation of sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon mixture using an ionic membrane are provided. Preferred ionic membranes are Nafion®-type (polymers of perfluorosulfonic acid) membranes and derivatives thereof. Preferred applications include the removal of sulfur contaminants from light cracked naphthas.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for operating a hydraulic system at pressures of about 4000 psi or higher, preferably about 5000 psi or higher by using as the lubricant a phosphate ester hydraulic oil comprising a fire resistant phosphate esters base stock, a viscosity index improver, an anti erosion agent, an acid scavenger. The fluid used in the present method can also contain rust inhibitors and/or antioxidants.

Abstract: Fresh catalyst particles are added to a slurry hydrocarbon synthesis reactor and their activity increased by contact with hydrogen in-situ in the slurry in a catalyst activity increasing means, while the reactor is producing hydrocarbons. The means may be a simple, vertically oriented and hollow tube, open at the top and bottom, into which slurry and a hydrogen treat gas are passed. The treat gas acts as a lift gas which provides slurry circulation into and out of the means and back into the slurry body, while increasing the activity of the catalyst particles. During the activity increase of the fresh catalyst, partially and reversibly activated catalyst particles are rejuvenated. The activity increasing means may be inside the reactor and at least partially immersed in the slurry or external of the reactor, or both.

Abstract: A wax blending process is disclosed which retains the desirable properties of a Fischer-Tropsch wax, while adjusting the hardness of the wax to within to a desired range. The invention utilizes a synergistic effect between hard virgin Fischer-Tropsch wax and softer mildly isomerized Fischer-Tropsch wax in a blending process which allows the artisan to adjust the hardness of a wax product to within desired ranges. The process involves passing a Fischer-Tropsch wax over a hydroisomerization catalyst under predetermined conditions including relatively mild temperatures such that chemical conversions (e.g., hydrogenation and mild isomerization) take place while less than 10% boiling point conversion (hydrocracking) occurs, thus preserving overall isomerized wax yield.

Abstract: The invention includes a composition of matter which is resistant to metal dusting and a method for preventing metal dusting on metal surfaces exposed to carbon supersaturated environments.