Abstract: A method of desulfurizing/refining a hydrocarbon oil by which sulfur compounds are diminished to an extremely low concentration at a relatively low equipment cost and operating cost. The method of desulfurizing/refining a hydrocarbon oil comprises bringing a hydrocarbon oil containing at least one sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of thiophene compounds, benzothiophene compounds, and dibenzothiophene compounds and optionally further containing aromatic hydrocarbons into contact with a solid acid catalyst and/or an activated carbon having a transition metal oxide supported thereon to thereby desulfurize the oil. The solid acid catalyst preferably is a solid ultrastrong-acid catalyst selected among sulfuric acid radical/zirconia, sulfuric acid radical/alumina, sulfuric acid radical/tin oxide, sulfuric acid radical/iron oxide, tungstic acid/zirconia, and tungstic acid/tin oxide.

Abstract: This invention relates to lubricant base oil having high viscosity indexes and low pour points, and particularly to lubricant base oil consisting essentially of a normal paraffin and an isoparaffin, wherein (a) an average carbon number Nc in one molecule is not less than 28 but not more than 40, and (b) an average branch number Nb in one molecule calculated from a ratio of CH3 carbon to total carbon determined by 13C-NMR analysis and the average carbon number Nc in one molecule is not more than (0.2Nc?3.1) but not less than 1.5.

Abstract: An oxidative autothermal reformer including a reforming layer at least partially filled with a reforming catalyst for producing a reformed gas composed mainly of hydrogen through a reforming reaction by contacting a mixture of a hydrocarbon or an aliphatic alcohol and steam with the reforming catalyst; and an oxidative exothermic layer at least partially filled with an oxidation catalyst for generating heat by oxidizing a part of the reformed gas, in which the reforming layer is disposed at an upstream side of the oxidative exothermic layer; the reforming layer and the oxidative exothermic layer are in the form of a cylinder and have a triple circular tube structure formed by disposing an inner reforming layer, an oxidative exothermic layer and an outer reforming layer from the inside in a radial direction in this order; and at least a part of the reforming catalyst filled in the inner reforming layer and the outer reforming layer contains Ru metal.

Abstract: A semi-solid lubricant composition for transmission elements which is excellent in lubricity, antiwear properties, and energy-saving performance, has high reliability, and is for use as a turbine oil, machine tool oil, metal working oil, plastic working oil, cutting oil, compressor oil, vacuum-pump oil, electrical-contact oil, grease, or machine oil; and a mechanical system provided with the composition. The composition, which reduces the wear of sliding parts of a transmission element, comprises: an amide compound having one or two amide groups and forming a three-dimensional network structure; and a liquid base oil ingredient having a dynamic viscosity at 100° C. of 25 mm2/s or lower and a viscosity index of 120 or higher. The composition contains substantially no ingredients other than the amide compound and liquid base oil ingredient. The mechanical system has a transmission element including sliding parts which are provided with the semi-solid lubricant composition for transmission elements.

Abstract: Provided are a method for producing a super-low sulfur gas oil blending component or a super-low sulfur gas oil composition having a sulfur content of less than 5 mass ppm, under relatively mild conditions, without greatly increasing the hydrogen consumption and without remarkably decreasing the aromatic content; and a super-low sulfur gas oil composition having a sulfur content of less than 5 mass ppm which exhibits a high heating value, is excellent in fuel economy and output power, and is free from an adverse effect on a sealing rubber member or the like used in the fuel injection system and thus does not cause the leakage of a fuel. A method for producing a super-low sulfur gas oil blending component or a super-low sulfur gas oil composition having a sulfur content of less than 5 mass ppm is also disclosed.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide a method for desulfurization with a desulfurizing agent, which can efficiently desulfurize, for example, a hydrocarbon oil as a raw material and fuel for generating hydrogen for use in fuel cells, particularly kerosenes and light oils, without the need to use reduction treatment and hydrogen and at a temperature from room temperature to about 100° C., and a fuel cell system using the desulfurization method. There are also provided a solid acid useful as a constituent of the desulfurizing agent for use in the desulfurization method, and a process for producing the solid acid. [Means for Solving Problems] A solid acid comprising 20 to 99.9% by mass of aluminum oxide and 0.10 to 3.00% by mass of sulfur and having a specific surface area of not less than 150 m2/g and a pore volume of not less than 0.35 ml/g, and an I1540/I1450 ratio of 0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for desulfurization of a hydrocarbon oil (e.g., kerosene which is a raw fuel for a fuel cell) which can effectively remove benzothiophenes and dibenzothiophenes contained in the hydrocarbon oil under mild conditions to produce a desulfurized hydrocarbon oil having a significantly low sulfur content. The method comprises the step of desulfurizing the hydrocarbon oil such as kerosene containing benzothiophenes and dibenzothiophenes with the combination of a solid acid-type desulfurizing agent and an active carbon-type desulfurizing agent. This method can provide a hydrocarbon oil having a significantly low sulfur content. By using the hydrocarbon oil, the operation or maintenance of a fuel cell system can be made easily, a fuel cell itself can be miniaturized in size, and the lifetime of a desulfurizing agent in a desulfurization apparatus equipped in a fuel cell system can be prolonged.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of an ester by transesterification allows the transesterification reaction to proceed within a short reaction time and under a pressure of the order of normal pressure. It was found that transesterification proceeds when a starting material ester and an alcohol are brought into contact with a catalyst comprising (A) an amorphous zirconium oxide and (B) an oxide of a Group II element, an oxide of a Group V element, and/or an oxide of a Group IV element other than zirconium and hafnium. In this method, it is preferred that the starting material ester in a liquid-phase state and the alcohol in a vapor-phase state be brought into contact with a solid acid catalyst comprising the above components (A) and (B), the starting material ester be an oil or fat, and the alcohol be methanol or ethanol. An oxide of titanium, silicon, germanium, or tin is the preferred oxide of the Group IV element other than zirconium and hafnium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricating oil for a fluid bearing, which has a low viscosity, a reduced amount of evaporation, and superior low-temperature flowability. The lubricating oil includes, as a base oil, a high-purity diester synthesized from a carboxylic acid material containing 90 mass % or more of azelaic acid and an alcohol material containing 90 mass % or more of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol. The carboxylic acid material contains glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, sebacic acid and 1,9-nanomethylenedicarboxylic acid in a total amount of 5 mass % or less.

Abstract: This invention relates to a lubricating oil composition being excellent in oxidation stability and low-temperature flowability, and more particularly to a lubricating oil composition characterized by using as a base oil a diester obtained from a straight-chain dihydric alcohol having a carbon number of 6 to 12 and having a hydroxyl group at both terminal carbon atoms respectively and a branched-chain saturated monovalent fatty acid having a carbon number of 6 to 12.

Abstract: A method for producing an LPG fraction, a gasoline fraction, a kerosene fraction, a gas oil fraction, monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and a non-aromatic naphtha fraction from hydrocracked oil includes hydrocracking hydrocarbon oil containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon to convert into a light hydrocarbon fraction, and efficiently and selectively producing monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with higher valuable alkylbenzenes. The method for producing hydrocarbon fraction comprises subjecting hydrocarbon feedstock containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and in which the ratio of carbons constituting an aromatic ring to the total carbons in the hydrocarbon oil (the aromatic ring-constituting carbon ratio) is 35 mole % or more to catalytic cracking in the presence of hydrogen. 40% or more of a fraction with a boiling point of 215° C. or higher in the hydrocarbon feedstock is converted into a fraction with a boiling point lower than 215° C.

Abstract: A process oil comprising a 95/5 to 5/95 by weight mixture of: an extract having a DMSO extractable content less than 3 wt % obtained by solvent-extracting an oil obtained by deasphalting a vacuum distillation bottom; and either a mineral oil base having a DMSO extractable content less than 3 wt % which is a raffinate obtained by the solvent refining of a vacuum distillate or a mineral oil base having a DMSO extractable content less than 3 wt % obtained by subjecting a raffinate obtained by the solvent refining of a vacuum distillate to hydrorefining and/or dewaxing. The process oil has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of less than 32 mm2/s, % CA of 15 to 30, aniline point of 100° C. or lower, weight change through evaporation of 0.5% or less, and mutagenicity index of less than 1.

Abstract: A semi-solid lubricant composition for transmission elements which is excellent in lubricity, antiwear properties, and energy-saving performance, has high reliability, and is for use as a turbine oil, machine tool oil, metal working oil, plastic working oil, cutting oil, compressor oil, vacuum-pump oil, electrical-contact oil, grease, or machine oil; and a mechanical system provided with the composition. The composition, which reduces the wear of sliding parts of a transmission element, comprises: an amide compound having one or two amide groups and forming a three-dimensional network structure; and a liquid base oil ingredient having a dynamic viscosity at 100° C. of 25 mm2/s or lower and a viscosity index of 120 or higher. The composition contains substantially no ingredients other than the amide compound and liquid base oil ingredient. The mechanical system has a transmission element including sliding parts which are provided with the semi-solid lubricant composition for transmission elements.

Abstract: This invention relates to an oxidative autothermal reformer (1) comprising a reforming layer (2) at least partially filled with a reforming catalyst for producing a reformed gas composed mainly of hydrogen through a reforming reaction by contacting a mixture of a hydrocarbon or an aliphatic alcohol and steam with the reforming catalyst; and an oxidative exothermic layer (3) at least partially filled with an oxidation catalyst for generating heat by oxidizing a part of the reformed gas, in which the reforming layer (2) is disposed at an upstream side of the oxidative exothermic layer (3); the reforming layer (2) and the oxidative exothermic layer (3) are in the form of a cylinder and have a triple circular tube structure formed by disposing an inner reforming layer (2A), an oxidative exothermic layer (3) and an outer reforming layer (2B) from the inside in a radical direction in this order; and at least a part of the reforming catalyst filled in the inner reforming layer (2A) and the outer reforming layer (2B)

Abstract: A heat reversible gel-like lubricating composition having such properties that, in a service bulk temperature region, the composition is in a semi-solid gel form as with grease, but in a local high-temperature region such as a sliding contact site, the composition is homogeneously melted, is free from grease, i.e., the precipitation of foreign materials, exhibits excellent low frictional characteristics unrealizable by grease, and exhibits significant energy saving properties. The heat reversible gel-like lubricating composition includes a mineral oil and/or synthetic liquid lubricating base oil and a bisamide and/or a monoamide and has heat reversible gel properties. Preferably, the heat reversible gel-like lubricating composition contains a triamide and further contains, based on 100 parts by weight of the liquid lubricating base oil, 0.01 to 500 parts by weight in total of a bisamide and a monoamide and 0.05 to 10 parts by weight of a friction regulator.

Abstract: A method of desulfurizing/refining a hydrocarbon oil by which sulfur compounds are diminished to an extremely low concentration at a relatively low equipment cost and operating cost. The method of desulfurizing/refining a hydrocarbon oil comprises bringing a hydrocarbon oil containing at least one sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of thiophene compounds, benzothiophene compounds, and dibenzothiophene compounds and optionally further containing aromatic hydrocarbons into contact with a solid acid catalyst and/or an activated carbon having a transition metal oxide supported thereon to thereby desulfurize the oil. The solid acid catalyst preferably is a solid ultrastrong-acid catalyst selected among sulfuric acid radical/zirconia, sulfuric acid radical/alumina, sulfuric acid radical/tin oxide, sulfuric acid radical/iron oxide, tungstic acid/zirconia, and tungstic acid/tin oxide.

Abstract: An object is to provide a sulfated tin oxide catalyst with strong catalytic activity, and a method for preparation thereof. It was discovered that in the preparation of a solid acid catalyst containing tin, stronger solid acid properties than before could be achieved by preparing a support comprising a crystalline tin oxide, preferably metastannic acid, bringing this support into contact with organic acid ions, then bringing it into contact with a sulfate group-containing compound, and then calcining it. The solid acid catalyst of the present invention has a tin content of 30% or more by weight as metal in the catalyst, a sulfate group supported thereon and an argon adsorption heat of more than 30 kJ/mol, and is used in acid-catalytic reactions.

Abstract: A method for producing a hydrorefining catalyst includes the step of preparing a carrying solution containing molybdenum, phosphorus, and cobalt or nickel and bringing a carrier composed of an inorganic porous oxide into contact with the carrying solution. A molar ratio of molybdenum with respect to phosphorus in the carrying solution is 2.5 to 7.0, a molar ratio of a total of molybdenum, cobalt, and nickel with respect to phosphorus is 3.5 to 9.0, and a molar ratio of molybdenum with respect to a total of cobalt and nickel is 1.9 to 2.8. pH of the carrying solution is 2 to 5, and a Raman spectroscopy spectrum of the carrying solution has a peak top between 965 cm?1 and 975 cm?1. The catalyst obtained by this method is excellent in desulfurizing activity.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon isomerization method of making hydrocarbons containing at least 50 wt. % of saturated hydrocarbons having 7 and 8 carbon atoms (so-called heavy naphtha) come into contact, in the presence of hydrogen, with a solid acid catalyst containing a platinum group metal component supported on a carrier that contains as metal components at least one group IV metal component selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium and hafnium and at least one group VI metal component selected from the group consisting of tungsten and molybdenum. In particular, the isomerization method is preferably carried out at a temperature in a range of 190 to 250° C. and a pressure in a range of 0.8 to 10 MPa and, as the catalyst, it is preferable to use a solid acid catalyst in which the carrier further contains aluminum as a metal component.

Abstract: A heavy oil is hydrorefined using a hydrorefining catalyst. A spent hydrorefining catalyst whose activity has decreased is heat treated (S1) and pulverized to obtained a regenerated powder (S2). This regenerated powder is fractionated according to its metal content (S3), formed (S6), dried (S7), and calcined (S7) to manufacture a regenerated catalyst whose volume of pores with a diameter of 50 to 2000 nm is at least 0.2 ml/g, and whose volume of pores with a diameter over 2000 nm is no more than 0.1 mL/g. Using this regenerated catalyst, a heavy oil containing at least 45 wt ppm vanadium and nickel as combined metal elements is hydrodemetalized, and the vanadium and nickel are recovered from the used regenerated catalyst (SS1). Through hydrorefining, the metal components are recovered more efficiently, and the spent catalyst can be reused to manufacture a regenerated catalyst that exhibits high reaction, activity.