Abstract: The invention describes a process for producing light products, such as engine and diesel fuels, and fuel oils for conventional use by thermal conversion of heavy metal- and sulfur-rich-crude oil residues. Thermal cracking of the residues is done by mild cracking in several stages, where the residue remaining after separation of the conversion products of the preceding stage is fed to the respective subsequent stage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved method for continuous thermal cracking of heavy petroleum oil, which can achieve a high degree of cracking in a column-like reactor of relatively small size and provides residual pitch rich in .beta.-resin components and lean in gas mixed therein. The above method comprises charging preheated heavy oil into an upper reaction zone of an upright cylindrical continuous reactor, which is divided into upper and lower reaction zones by means of a partition plate, drawing the resultant cracked gas and oil vapor from the upper reaction zone, and discharging residual pitch through the bottom of the lower reaction zone.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the liquefaction of coal in which a slurry composed of the coal, a solvent, and an iron ore consisting mainly of a hydrate of iron oxide is heated under an elevated pressure of hydrogen.

Abstract: In a process wherein a slurry of water-containing coal and a solvent is heated to 100.degree.-350.degree. C. and then subjected to vapor-liquid separation by which water vapor is separated from the slurry to obtain a dehydrated slurry, a slurry to be dehydrated is mixed with a part of the dehydrated slurry and then heated. The dehydrated slurry thus obtained is suitable for use as a starting material for the hydrogenolysis of coal.

Abstract: A fibrous carbon is prepared by dissolving coal in a hydrocarbon solvent by heating under hydrogen pressure, by subjecting to melt spinning a solvent-refined coal obtained by successively removing insoluble residues and the solvent from the resultant solution, by making the fiber thus obtained non-fusible, and then by subjecting same to carbonization. The melt spinning may be effected by mixing a highly aromatic bituminous substance with the solvent refined coal. Alternatively, the solvent-refined coal may be pretreated prior to melt spinning by extracting it with a non-aromatic solvent to remove soluble components therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the treatment of water-containing coal which comprises mixing the water-containing coal with a hydrocarbon oil having a specific gravity higher than that of water at temperatures in the range of 100.degree. to 350.degree. C.; heating the resulting mixture at a temperature in the range of 100.degree. to 350.degree. C. and a pressure not lower than the saturated vapor pressure of water at that temperature; and then allowing the heated mixture to settle at a temperature in the range of 100.degree. to 350.degree. C. and a pressure not lower than the saturated vapor pressure of water at that temperature, whereby an upper layer consisting of the water separated from the water-containing coal is formed on a lower layer consisting of the mixture of the dehydrated coal and the hydrocarbon oil.

Abstract: The invention provides: a fuel composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a coal-liquid fuel mixture and 0.02 to 1.0 part by weight of at least one additive selected from the group consisting of dibenzylidene sorbitol, ditoluylidene sorbitol, tribenzylidene sorbitol, tritoluylidene sorbitol and hydrogenated castor oil; and a fuel composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a coal-liquid fuel mixture, 0.02 to 1.0 part by weight of at least one additive selected from the group consisting of dibenzylidene sorbitol, ditoluylidene sorbitol, tribenzylidene sorbitol, tritoluylidene sorbitol and hydrogenated castor oil, and 1 to 10 parts by weight of water. The composition shows high stability over a prolonged period of time, preventing the separation into layers of the components.

Abstract: Metallurgical coke is made from coking a blend of coal which is comprised of reformed coal and another suitable coking coal. Reformed coal hereof is preferably made by the method which comprises dissolving at least one component selected from the group consisting of bituminous coal, subbituminous coal, brown coal and lignite in a hydrocarbon solvent, and recovering a reformed coal from said solution.

Abstract: Coal is dissolved in a hydrocarbon solvent, heated and purged of insolubles to form various types of solvent purified coal having different degrees of depolymerization. These various types of solvent purified coal are then coked to yield a variety of green coke products. The solvent purified coal is useful as a raw material for needle-like green coke when the value of its (N+O+S)/C atomic ratio is less than 0.0445; for coarse mosaic green coke when the value is in the range of from 0.0445 to but excluding 0.0516; for mosaic green coke when the value is in the range of from 0.0516 to but excluding 0.0584; for fine mosaic green coke when the value is in the range of from 0.0584 to but excluding 0.0645; and for glassy green coke when the value is equal to or greater than 0.0645.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of solvent-refined coal useful as a starting material for micromosaic carbonaceous products and having an O/C atomic ratio of 0.040 to <0.046, or useful as a starting material for coarse mosaic carbonaceous products and having an O/C atomic ratio of 0.030 to <0.040 or useful as a starting material for needle like carbonaceous products and having an O/C atomic ratio of less than 0.030. The process comprises dissolving in a hydrocarbon solvent a coal intrinsically having an O/C atomic ratio of 0.030 to <0.055 or a coal pretreated with a solvent, under hydrogen pressure, so as to have an O/C atomic ratio of 0.030 to <0.055, and heating the resultant coal solution under a pressure of hydrogen for a period of time sufficient to form said solvent-refined coal.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing an isotropic carbonaceous material having a high density and a high crushing strength which comprises the steps of (a) extracting a reformed coal from at least one component selected from the group consisting of brown coal, lignite and grass peat in the presence of hydrogen gas; (b) heating the reformed coal to produce a green coke; and (c) coking the green coke.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing reformed coal which comprises the steps of (a) dispersing coal into a mixed oil which is comprised of a coal oil having a boiling point between about 150.degree. C. and 500.degree. C. and a petroleum oil having a boiling point higher than that of kerosene; (b) subjecting the coal and oil dispersion to hydrogenation conditions sufficient to depolymerize the coal; (c) separating a substantially liquified coal solution from the product of hydrogenation, and (d) distilling the liquified coal solution to recover a reformed coal. Preferably, a portion of the coal oil is recycled from the distillation stage and a portion of the hydrogen needed for hydrogenation is produced from light fractions from the distillation stage.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for manufacturing needle coke, which process involves the steps of comminuting a coal, dispersing it in a suitable solvent, subjecting the dispersion to hydrogenolysis liquefaction at 360.degree.-480.degree. C and 1-150 Kg/Cm.sup.2 H.sub.2 pressure, distilling the resultant ashless coal solution at 250.degree.-600.degree. C to remove impurities, and unreacted coal, and coking selected distillate fractions in a conventional coker.