Abstract: A catalyst for the hydrogenation of a hydrocarbon material which is a member selected from the group consisting of red mud, iron oxides, iron ores, hard coals, lignites impregnated with heavy metal salts, carbon black, soots from gasifiers, and cokes produced by the hydrogenation of virgin residues, the catalyst being comprised of at least two separate particle size fractions such that the combined fractions have a particle size distribution between 0.1 and 2,000 microns with 10-40 wt. % of the particles having a particle size greater than 100 microns, and the mixture of fractions not being represented by a straight line when the accumulative weight of the particles vs. particle size which is plotted on log (minus log) vs. log graph paper has a correlation coefficient R.sup.2 less than 0.96 as determined from the equation: ##EQU1## wherein n is the number of experimental points, y is ln [-ln (n/1000)] and x is ln (dp), wherein dp is the particle size (.mu.m) of the particles.

Abstract: A high-pressure hot separator for the separation of an overhead product from a process of high-pressure hydrogenation of coals, tars, crude oils, whose distillation and extraction products or similar carbon-containing feedstock such as heavy oils, low-temperature carbonization oils, extracts of heavy oil sands and the like, is downstream from the bottom phase reactors of the high-pressure hydrogenation. The separator is constructed from a vertically erected cylindrical pressure jacket having an upper cover, a lower cover, an inside adjacent thermal insulation member and a cylindrical wall insert. The overhead product is separated into a gas/vapor phase and a bottom product. A cyclone separator is installed in the gas/vapor space of the hot separator for improvement of the separation function.

Abstract: Process for the hydrogenative conversion of heavy oils and residual oils, used oils and waste oils, mixed with sewage sludge in a typical liquid phase hydrogenator with gases containing hydrogen, with the addition of a finely ground substance that preferably has a large internal surface area, as additive. The additive is added in two different particle size ranges so that a portion of the additive is present as a fine particle size fraction iwth a particle size of 90 .mu.m or less and another portion as a coarse particle size fraction with a particle size of 100 .mu.m to 2000 .mu.m, preferably 100 to 1000 .mu.m with the procedure being carried out with a weight ratio of raw oils to sewage sludge used of 10:1 to 1:1.5. Conversion of vacuum residue of a Venezuelan heavy oil with the addition of 2 wt. % of lignite coke as additive and with the admixture of 10 wt.

Abstract: In order to melt and discharge solid and highly viscous products from barrels, the barrels are opened and placed upside down on a foraminous frame. The frame with the barrels placed thereon is then inserted through the open top of a heated vessel defining a heating chamber therein. After covering the top of the vessel, the heating chamber is heated so that the product melts and flows out of the barrels, through the frame and is discharged from the vessel. The discharged product may be stored in a heated storage container.

Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of coal which entails slurrying pulverized coal with oil, hydrogenating the mixture at an elevated temperature and pressure and separating the liquid and solid reaction products from the gaseous reaction products, wherein the slurry oil contains non-process derived hydrocarbon mixtures having a boiling range above about 200.degree. C., in the amount of about 30-100% by weight with the remainder of the slurry oil being process derived oils having a boiling range above about 200.degree. C.