Abstract: A process for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon feed includes the steps of: providing a hydrocarbon feedstock including a fraction having a boiling point greater than or equal to about 320.degree. C.; mixing the feedstock with steam so as to provide a reaction feedstock; providing a catalyst including a first metal selected from the group consisting of Group VIII non-noble metals and a second metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, the first and second metals being supported on a support selected from the group consisting of kaolin, alumina, silica, carbon, petroleum cokes and mixtures thereof; and contacting the reaction feedstock with the catalyst at steam conversion conditions so as to provide a reaction product including an upgraded hydrocarbon fraction.

Abstract: An adsorption/desorption process for selectively removing nitriles from a hydrocarbon feedstock includes the steps of: (a) providing a hydrocarbon feedstock having a nitrile content of less than or equal to about 400 ppm; (b) providing an adsorbent for selective removal of nitrile from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising a substantially homogeneous mixture of a cationic nonacidic zeolite and an inorganic oxide matrix, the zeolite having an accessibility index of between about 0.1 to about 0.4; (c) contacting the feedstock and the adsorbent at nitrile adsorption conditions whereby at least about 80% of the nitrile content is adsorbed by the adsorbent during contact with at least about 200 volumes of the feedstock per volume of the adsorbent so as to provide a used adsorbent having nitrile molecules adsorbed thereon; and (d) contacting the used adsorbent with a desorbent at desorption conditions so as to remove the nitrile molecules and provide a renewed adsorbent.

Abstract: A process comprises providing a catalyst comprising a support, a microwave absorption material, and a catalytically active phase; heating the catalyst with a source of microwave energy which is absorbed by said microwave absorption material to increase the temperature of the catalyst to a desired temperature; and contacting said heated catalyst with a hydrocarbon feedstock for upgrading same.

Abstract: A combustible fuel for diesel engines and a process for forming same in the form of a water in hydrocarbon emulsion wherein the mean water drop diameter is .ltoreq.4 .mu.m with a maximum diameter of .ltoreq.10 .mu.m.

Abstract: An apparatus for characterizing dynamic stability of an emulsion includes a test vessel, a gap within the test vessel defined between a stationary surface and a moving surface; and an inlet for feeding an emulsion through the gap within the test vessel, whereby dynamic stability of the emulsion can be characterized based upon cycles of flow through the test vessel. Methods for characterizing dynamic stability are also disclosed.

Abstract: A catalyst system for selective hydrogenation of sulfur-containing and nitrogen-containing compounds of a heteroaromatic organic phase includes a mixture of a noble metal selected from Group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements and a water-soluble ligand. A process for preparing the catalyst system and hydrogenation process using the catalyst system are also provided.

Abstract: A combustible fuel for diesel engines and a process for forming same in the form of a water in hydrocarbon emulsion wherein the mean water drop diameter is.ltoreq.4 .mu.m with a maximum diameter of.ltoreq.10 .mu.m.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a roadway for supporting vehicular traffic and which can be used over a wide variety of terrains comprises a network of interconnected modular components for supporting a road bed over which vehicles can travel and a plurality of prefabricated panels, overlaying the network of interconnected modular components, which form a road bed. The network of interconnected modular components includes a first layer of interconnected, prefabricated concrete cylinders placed over the terrain to be traversed. The concrete cylinders are formed into a number of rows whose longitudinal axes are parallel to the direction of the road. The network further includes a second layer of interconnected, prefabricated concrete cylinders placed over the first layer and joined to the first layer by a number of intermediate support devices. The concrete cylinders in the second layer have their longitudinal axes extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the road.

Abstract: A process for preparing a hydrocarbon in water emulsion includes the steps of: providing a hydrocarbon phase containing a contaminant selected from the group consisting of vanadium, sulfur, and mixtures thereof; mixing a solid additive with the hydrocarbon phase, the solid additive being selected from the group consisting of calcium compounds, magnesium compounds and mixtures thereof so as to provide a hydrocarbon suspension including the solid additive; and forming an emulsion from the hydrocarbon suspension and an aqueous phase including a surfactant so as to form a combustible hydrocarbon in water emulsion having the solid additive suspended in the hydrocarbon phase.

Abstract: A catalyst system for selective hydrogenation of sulfur-containing and nitrogen-containing compounds of a heteroaromatic organic phase includes a mixture of a noble metal selected from Group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements and a water-soluble ligand. A process for preparing the catalyst system and hydrogenation process using the catalyst system are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a zeolite catalyst, a process for using the catalyst for conversion of hydrocarbons, especially naphtha and LPG feedstock, and a process for preparing the catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for separating a hydrocarbon containing material such as crude oil from water. The system of the present invention includes a treatment tank, a layer of a fluid having a chemical affinity for the hydrocarbon contain material being separated within the tank for separating the hydrocarbon containing material from said water without any mixing and with a minimum level of turbulence, and a distribution system for introducing the water with the hydrocarbon containing material into the layer of chemical affinity fluid. The method of the present invention broadly comprises the steps of providing a treatment tank having a layer of a fluid having a chemical affinity for the hydrocarbon containing material and separating the hydrocarbon containing material from the water without any mixing and with a minimum of turbulence by introducing the water with the hydrocarbon containing material into the layer of chemical affinity fluid.

Abstract: A catalyst useful for the simultaneous and selective hydrogenation of diolefins and nitriles present in a hydrocarbon feedstock includes (a) a support material selected from the group consisting of inorganic oxide, carbon, zeolite and mixtures thereof; and (b) a catalytically active metal phase including at least two metals selected from the group consisting of at least partially reduced Group IB metals and completely reduced Group VIII metals, the active metal phase being present in an amount of about .gtoreq.0.03 wt %.

Abstract: A method for on line recovery of oil from an oil in water emulsion spilled in water includes the steps of: obtaining a stream of recovered material including an oil in water emulsion and water; inducing a gas into the stream and applying shear so as to provide a mixture wherein oil from the oil in water emulsion is adhered to bubbles of the gas; passing the mixture to a flotation compartment for allowing the oil adhered to the bubbles to rise to a surface of the mixture; and removing the oil from the surface of the mixture.

Abstract: A method for on line recovery of oil from an oil in water emulsion spilled in water includes the steps of: obtaining a stream of recovered material including an oil in water emulsion and water; injecting a gas into the stream and applying shear so as to provide an injected mixture wherein oil from the oil in water emulsion is adhered to bubbles of the gas; passing the injected mixture to a flotation compartment for allowing the oil adhered to the bubbles to rise to a surface of the injected mixture; and removing the oil from the surface of the injected mixture.

Abstract: A process for suppressing foam formation in a bubble column reactor includes the steps of feeding a liquid and a gas to a reactor at a liquid velocity and a gas velocity respectively; and adding particles of a solid material to the liquid, wherein the particles are wettable by the liquid, and whereby foam formation in the reactor is suppressed

Abstract: A process for suppressing foam formation in a vessel includes the steps of feeding a liquid and a gas to a vessel at a liquid velocity and a gas velocity respectively; adding particles of a solid material to the liquid, the particles having a particle size and particle density; and selecting at least one of the liquid velocity, particle size and particle density so as to fluidize the particles in the liquid, whereby foam formation in the vessel is suppressed. The particles are preferably liquid phase phobic particles.

Abstract: A catalyst system for treating sulfur and nitrogen contaminated hydrocarbon feedstock includes a matrix, at least one support medium substantially uniformly distributed through said matrix and comprising a silica alumina molecular sieve material having a composition xSiO.sub.2 :Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 :yP.sub.2 O.sub.5, wherein x is at least about 0.1, a first catalytically active metal phase supported on said support medium, said first catalytically active metal phase comprising a first metal and a second metal each selected from group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements, said first metal being different from said second metal, a second catalytically active metal phase supported on said matrix, said second catalytically active metal phase comprising a third metal and a fourth metal each selected from group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements and a fifth metal selected from group VIb of the Periodic Table of Elements, said third metal being different from said fourth metal.

Abstract: A multi-stage process for treating n-paraffin feed is provided, including the steps of: (a) providing an n-paraffin feed; (b) contacting the n-paraffin feed with a dehydroisomerization catalyst under dehydroisomerization conditions so as to provide a dehydroisomerization product stream comprising n-paraffin, iso-paraffin, olefin and iso-olefin fractions; (c) mixing at least the iso-olefin fraction from the dehydroisomerization product stream with an alkyl alcohol to provide an etherification reaction feed; (d) contacting the etherification reaction feed with an etherification catalyst under etherification conditions so as to provide an etherification product stream comprising alkyl tert alkyl ether, n-paraffin, iso-paraffin and olefin fractions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a synthetic crystalline material and its use in catalytic conversion of organic compounds and as a sorbent. The crystalline material contains one or more microporous crystalline phases, having a micropore volume greater than or equal to about 0.15 cc/g distributed in channels between about 3 to about 15 .ANG. in average diameter which is rendered accessible by a mesopore volume of greater than or equal to about 0.1 cc/g distributed in channels between about 20 to about 100 .ANG. in average diameter. A process is also provided for preparing the crystalline material of the present invention.