Abstract: Petroleum refinery operations involving catalytic reactions are improved by subjecting hydrocarbon reactants in contact with catalytic material to the influence of wave energy in the microwave range.

Abstract: A method is described for the preparation of chalcogenides of ruthenium, rhodium, osmium and iridium transition metals of the Periodic Table of the Elements which comprises mixing in the absence of an aqueous solvent a Group VIII transition metal salt with a source of chalcogenide, said chalcogenide being selected from the group consisting of sulfur, selenium, tellurium and mixtures thereof, yielding a precipitate of the formula MX.sub.y wherein M is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, osmium and iridium, X is sulfur, selenium, tellurium and mixtures thereof and y is a number ranging from about 0.1 to about 3, preferably 0.1 to about 2.5. By the practice of the nonaqueous synthesis technique, Group VIII chalcogenides are prepared which are finely divided, have a high surface area, small particle size and small crystallite size which are also free of excess sulfur, water and/or hydrolysis products.

Abstract: A used hydrocarbon cracking catalyst is treated with an antimony carbonate to passivate contaminating metals thereon, e.g., vanadium, iron and/or nickel. A process for cracking a hydrocarbon in the presence of the passivated catalyst is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for reducing coking in quench units is disclosed, the method being characterized by removal of the coking materials from the quench liquid employed.

Abstract: A method of recovering heat energy from hydrocarbon pyrolysis effluent characterized by differentiated cooling systems, reduced coking, and high quality steam generation. Steam quality is improved by utilization of a minimum quenched effluent temperature of at least 370.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for hydrotreating a hydrocarbon stream to remove nitrogen and sulfur which process comprises contacting a hydrocarbon stream comprising a stream selected from petroleum distillate, tar sands distillate, and shale oil, with hydrogen and a catalyst comprising a porous refractory inorganic oxide and deposited thereon hydrogenation components comprising chromium, molybdenum and at least one Group VIII metal, said catalyst having a pore volume distribution comprising 20-50% of pore volume in pores with diameters of 0-50 Angstrom units, 30-70% of pore volume in pores with diameters of 50-100 Angstrom units, 0-20% of pore volume in pores with diameters of 100-150 Angstrom units, and 0-10% of pore volume in pores with diameters greater than 150 Angstrom units.

Abstract: Phenol-containing streams are treated by an oxygen-alkylation process to convert substantially all of the phenol groups to ether groups. The oxygen-alkylation process comprises contacting the phenol-containing stream, preferably a coal liquid, with (a) a basic solution comprising one or more oxides or hydroxides of a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali and alkaline-earth metals; and (b) an alkylating agent represented by the formula RX where R is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 alkyl, allyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, benzyl or arylalkyl group provided X is located on the alkyl portion of the compound and X is sulfate or a halide selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine and iodine.

Abstract: Process for improving properties of phenol-containing hydrocarbonaceous streams such as a coal liquid by contacting stream with (a) a multivalent metal composition selected from the group consisting of oxides and/or hydroxides of multivalent metals capable of forming hydroxy metal phenates with the phenols of the stream; and (b) one or more alkylating agents represented by the formula RX where R is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, allyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, benzyl, and arylalkyl, provided X is located on the alkyl portions of the alkylating agent and X is sulfate or a halide.

Abstract: A method of passivating metal contaminants on cracking catalysts which comprises contacting said catalysts with steam for limited periods of time and at moderate temperatures.

Abstract: A process for fluid catalytic cracking of residuum and other heavy oils comprising gas oil, petroleum residue, reduced and whole crudes and shale oil to produce gasoline and other liquid products which are separated in various streams in a fractionator and associated vapor recovery equipment wherein heat from combustion of coke on the coked catalyst is removed by reacting sulfur-containing coke deposits with steam and oxygen in a separate stripper-gasifier to produce a low BTU gas stream comprising sulfur compounds, methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide at a temperature of from about 1,100.degree. F. to about 2,200.degree. F. The partially regenerated catalyst then undergoes complete carbon removal in a regeneration vessel. The regenerated catalyst is recycled for re-use in the cracking of heavy petroleum fractions. The liquid products are gasoline, distillates, heavy fuel oil, and light hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Process and system are described for control of sulfur oxide in emissions to the atmosphere from regenerators of Fluid Catalytic Cracking Units (FCC) in a manner which improves the operation of the regenerator and/or the reactor. Spent FCC cracking catalyst containing sulfur-bearing inactivating carbonaceous deposit is partially oxidized, preferably in the presence of steam, thereby producing a mixture of CO and CO.sub.2 and releasing sulfur in the resulting reducing atmosphere as vaporous hydrogen sulfide before the catalyst is regenerated, whereby the amount of sulfur convertible to noxious SOx in the regenerator flue gas is reduced. By the disclosed process and system, the quantity of oxygen introduced is predetermined and controlled in response to hydrogen content of the coke on the partially oxidized catalyst or an SOx analyzer associated with the regenerator can be used as a control tool.

Abstract: A process for the desulfurization and demetalation of a nickel and sulfur containing heavy hydrocarbon charge stock comprises: admixing the feed with hydrogen; reacting the admixture in a reaction zone containing desulfurization catalyst at desulfurization conditions; injecting water into the reaction zone at H.sub.2 O/H.sub.2 molar ratios of about 0.05 to 0.5; separating and recycling both hydrogen and water from the reactor effluent; and recovering the substantially sulfur and nickel free product.

Abstract: Oxygen compounds are removed, e.g., by solvent extraction, from a shale oil prior to its hydrogenation. As a result, the amount of hydrogen consumed during subsequent hydrogenation to achieve a given level of nitrogen for the shale oil is less than that which would occur if the oxygen compounds were not removed from the shale oil. Removal of the nitrogen is necessary to avoid adverse effects on subsequent shale oil processing steps such as catalytic cracking.

Abstract: Catalytic cracking processes are improved by employing cracking catalyst particles containing rare earth components spray impregnated thereon. In comparison to other rare earth-promoted cracking catalysts, the cracking catalysts of the invention exhibit greater activity for oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide during the regeneration step of the cracking process wherein coke-containing catalyst particles are reactivated for cracking hydrocarbons by combustion of the coke.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the nitrogen content of shale oil by removing nitrogen-containing compounds from the shale oil. The shale oil containing nitrogen-containing compounds is extracted with a sufficient amount of selective solvent which is selective toward the nitrogen-containing compounds present in the shale oil. The selective solvent comprises an active solvent for nitrogen-containing compounds and water in an amount sufficient to provide phase separation. The active solvent component of the selective solvent is selected from the group consisting of organic acids, and substituted organic acids, particularly acetic, formic and trichloroacetic acids and mixtures thereof. The selective solvent containing the nitrogen-containing compounds is separated from the reduced nitrogen content shale oil raffinate by phase disengagement.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for reducing the nitrogen content of shale oil by selectively removing therefrom nitrogen-containing compounds. The nitrogen content of shale oil is reduced by a process comprising lowering the viscosity of the shale oil and then contacting the shale oil with a sufficient amount of a solvent which is selective toward the nitrogen-containing compounds present in the shale oil. The selective solvent is selected from the group consisting of organic acids, and substituted organic acids, particularly acetic, formic and trichloroacetic acids and mixtures thereof. The selective solvent system containing the nitrogen-containing compounds is separated from the reduced nitrogen content shale oil raffinate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making ethylene by subjecting a gas mixture containing hydrocarbons, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and steam to a hydropyrolysis reaction. More particularly, the gas mixture is heated to temperatures higher than 800.degree. C. inside a reaction zone having metal walls. The walls contain aluminum and/or copper in at least their surface portions.

Abstract: Deposit of solids on the walls of tubular continuous flow reactors is avoided by a process and apparatus in which an oscillating motion is superimposed on the linear flow of reactants in order to maintain turbulent flow throughout.

Abstract: Dewaxed lube base stock oil which forms a wax haze on storage at a temperature above its cloud point is treated by contacting the oil and hydrogen with a zeolite catalyst such as ZSM-5 to eliminate the wax-haze formation. The method may be used to reclaim wax-contaminated lube base stock oils and other wax-contaminated hydrocarbon oils.

Abstract: An integrated fluid coking and gasification process is provided in which a solid cracking catalyst is added to the coker chargestock and in which a partially gasified coke matrix comprising the cracking catalyst is recycled to the coker vapor phase product.