Abstract: There is provided a hydrocarbon extraction process and apparatus for removing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon containing ore such as a diatomite ore. The ore is preprocessed to the extent required to produce an extractable ore and subsequently mixed with a carrier to form an ore stream. The carrier may be a nonaqueous solvent and may further comprise a non-porous granular material such as sand. The ore stream is passed in substantially vertical countercurrent flow through a nonaqueous solvent to produce a product-solvent stream and a spent ore stream. The solvent is subsequently separated from the hydrocarbon stream, which may be further upgraded by removal of a heavy portion. This may be accomplished in the presence of a substantial amount of fines.

Abstract: A substantially uniform mesophase pitch is prepared by treating a mesophase forming pitch material at elevated temperatures above about 380.degree. C. to produce a mixture of mesophase and non-mesophase pitch containing about 20% to about 80% mesophase. The mixture is then maintained at a temperature below about 400.degree. C. for a time sufficient to allow the mesophase to coalesce and settle as a lower separable layer. A mesophase pitch so produced may contain from 90 to 100% mesophase with a softening point of less than 320.degree. C.

Abstract: A hydrodesulfurization process is provided in which a heavy hydrocarbonaceous feed comprising materials boiling above 1020.degree. F. is desulfurized at conditions to convert at least a portion of the 1020.degree. F..sup.+ materials, in the presence of hydrogen and a non-zeolitic hydrodesulfurization catalyst comprising a Group IIA metal component such as magnesia.

Abstract: A pitch which affords a carbon fiber having a high strength and a high elastic modulus is obtained by treating a pitch containing 5 to 35 weight percent of an optically anisotropic region with sulfur.

Abstract: A heavy oil such as an atmospheric pressure residue, a reduced pressure residue of petroleum, etc. is heated to 400.degree. to 500.degree. C. to carry out polycondensation and provide a pitch containing mesophase microspheres. This pitch is once cooled to 200.degree. to 400.degree. C. and a turbulent flow is imparted thereto to cause agglomeration of the mesophase microspheres. The resulting agglomerates are separated to obtain a crystallizable material enriched with quinoline insolubles. Production of the crystallizable material is preferably conducted in a separation tank accommodating the lower part of a heating polycondensation reactor (6) and having a stirring device (12).

Abstract: A method for producing a mesophase-containing pitch from petroleum pitch or coal tar pitch is disclosed. According to this method volatile distillate fractions, which are harmful to mesophase formation and present originally in the raw material pitch or formed as by-product during heat treatment time are driven off by using a carrier gas at a temperature of 360.degree. to 450.degree. C. in order to shorten the overall heat treatment time and advance the mesophase formation smoothly by the increase of stirring effect.

Abstract: A novel process for separating high viscosity bitumen from tar sand. The process includes grinding the tar sand to obtain phase disengagement of the bitumen phase from the sand phase and thereafter using flotation techniques to obtain phase separation of the bitumen phase from the sand phase. Phase disengagement is assisted by using a suitable wetting agent such as sodium carbonate or sodium silicate during the grinding step, while the phase separation step is assisted by the inclusion of a promoter oil for the flotation step.

Abstract: A process for the demetalation of heavy petroleum residua is provided wherein said residua dispersed in a suitable solvent is contacted with a large pore solid sorbent whereby organomettalic compounds or complexes contained in said residua are selectively adsorbed by the large pore solid sorbent.

Abstract: An improved liquefaction process for solid carbonaceous materials wherein at least a portion of the liquefaction is accomplished in the presence of an added hydrogenation catalyst and a solvent containing at least 1.25 wt % donatable hydrogen and in the presence of partially liquefied, solid carbonaceous material at liquefaction conditions. In a preferred embodiment, the liquefaction is accomplished in a plurality of stages and a solvent containing at least 1.25 wt % donatable hydrogen is used in at least one stage, most preferably in the second stage. The partially liquefied solid carbonaceous material may be taken from the bottoms fraction of the effluent from any of the liquefaction stages.

Abstract: The recovery of hydrocarbon values from high metals content feeds can be carried out more efficiently via supercritical extraction with recycle of a portion of the asphalt product and proper control of the use of countercurrent solvent flow to said extraction.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for oxidizing difficultly oxidizable mercaptans contained in a hydrocarbon fraction which comprises adding a hydrocarbon soluble alkali metal compound, capable of forming the alkali metal mercaptides of the difficultly oxidized mercaptans, to the hydrocarbon fraction; and contacting the resulting hydrocarbon fraction containing the hydrocarbon soluble alkali metal compound with a metal chelate catalyst disposed on an adsorptive support in the presence of a hydrated oxygen-containing gas and in the absence of a separate water phase.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for treating hydrocarbon streams such as naphtha by the oxidation of mercaptans into disulfide compounds which remain in the hydrocarbon stream. The conversion is effected during passage of the hydrocarbon and an aqueous stream downward through a cylindrical mass of liquid-liquid contact material. The liquids then flow through a cylindrical screen into an annular separation zone which surrounds a lower part of the contact material. After decantation in the separation zone, the aqueous material, which preferably contains the oxidation catalyst, is recycled.

Abstract: A process for converting or synthesizing hydrocarbons from carbon sulfides such as CS.sub.2 by catalytic hydrogenation over catalysts such ZSM-5 type zeolites.

Abstract: A process for deashing primary coal liquids with a selective hydrocarbon solvent separation wherein the coal liquids and selective hydrocarbon solvent are contacted initially at a temperature greater than the temperature at which the deashing separation occurs. More particularly, a process for the production of deashed coal liquid which comprises the sequential steps of: (a) admixing a primary coal liquid containing ash and a hydrocarbon deashing solvent having no hydrogen-transferring ability at a selected admixing temperature from about 250.degree. F. to about 575.degree. F.; (b) reducing the temperature of the entire resulting admixture of the primary coal liquid and hydrocarbon deashing solvent to a deashing temperature about 50.degree. F. to about 125.degree. F. less than the admixing temperature of step (a); and deashing the primary coal liquid with the deashing solvent at the deashing temperature of step (b).

Abstract: A pitch which affords a carbon fiber having a high strength and a high elastic modulus is obtained by treating a pitch containing 5 to 35 wt. % of an optically anisotropic region with an oxidizing gas, followed by hydrogenation treatment if required.

Abstract: A novel carbonaceous pitch which is optically isotropic in nature and which turns into optically anisotropic when shear forces are applied thereto. The carbonaceous pitch may be obtained by hydrogenating the mesophase of a mesophase pitch to the extent that the mesophase is rendered soluble in quinoline. The carbonaceous pitch is useful as a binder and an impregnator and as a precursor material for a highly oriented, high-strength and high-modulus carbon fiber, needle coke or the like carbonaceous materials.

Abstract: A new oxidation-resistant pitch composition is obtained by treating in the molten state a coal tar or petroleum pitch with at least one pitch-soluble and compatible alkyl-aryl sulfonic acid or some salts thereof in an amount of less than 1% of said pitch, with a pitch suitable for making an electrode treated that way, upon subsequent carbonization in conjunction with petroleum coke, an electrode can be formed, with great resistance to oxidation, and with very little dusting. Due to increased coking value of the pitch, the fuming is decreased both during the art of making electrodes and during the use of same in the actual electrolysis thus providing environmental benefits. Such a pitch may also be used as a refractory material.

Abstract: A cholesteric mesophase pitch is disclosed along with methods for producing the same.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing liquid crystal containing pitches includes extracting carbonaceous isotropic pitches with an organic solvent system which comprises at least one member of the group consisting of dioxane, dimethylacetamide, and tetramethylurea.

Abstract: A process for converting cat cracker bottoms to a feedstock suitable for carbon artifact manufacture, especially carbon fiber manufacture, is provided. Basically, the cat cracker bottom is stripped of fractions boiling below about 400.degree. C., catalytically heat soaked at temperatures below about 410.degree. C., and then vacuum stripped to provide a pitch. The pitch is subsequently treated to remove high melting solids, such as ash, coke and catalyst fines.