Abstract: The production of liquid hydrocarbons from coal via liquefaction is enhanced by recovering a bottoms fraction from the coal liquefaction reaction and subjecting the bottoms fraction to alkylation or acylation prior to recycling this bottoms fraction to the liquefaction reaction zone. The introduction of aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals or acyl radicals, including carbon monoxide, into the highly refractory molecules of the bottoms product from coal liquefaction permits additional amounts of the coal to undergo liquefaction at suitable liquefaction conditions.

Abstract: A low cost, high efficiency process for treating oil shale is provided which allows essentially complete recovery of the valuable hydrocarbon fraction of the shale, including light ends, without direct firing of the shale or use of other expensive processing steps heretofore proposed. In preferred forms, the oil shale is heated in a closed heating system using circulating, oxygen-free gases until the shale "break point," or temperature at which the hydrocarbons begin to vaporize from the shale, is reached; at this point the system is slowly depressurized and hydrocarbons are simultaneously released to a condensation stage for the recovery thereof and control of circulating fan horsepower. Steam may also be added to the circulating system to further purge hydrocarbons from the shale and provide additional control of fan horsepower.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the removal of solids and the fluid catalytic cracking of a synthetic hydrocarbon stream having a 90% boiling point above 800.degree. F. and containing finely divided solids. The stream is cracked under low-severity cracking conditions, and a first portion of the solids is removed along with the spent catalyst and separated from the spent catalyst in a catalyst regeneration zone. A second portion of the solids is removed by conventional means from the catalytically cracked product to form a product synthetic crude essentially free of solids.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the retorting of shale and other similar hydrocarbon-containing solids in which the solids to be retorted are mixed with a solid heat transfer material to rapidly heat the hydrocarbon-containing solids to a high temperature. The shale and heat-transfer material are entrained in a high-velocity gaseous stream and conveyed upward in a vertical dilute phase lift pipe retorting vessel whereby the hydrocarbon-containing solids are rapidly heated to an elevated temperature vaporizing a minor portion of the hydrocarbons in the solid. The hydrocarbon-containing solids then pass into a disengaging zone wherein the gas and solids are separated. The partially retorted solids then pass into a gravitating bed retort and flow downward countercurrent to the flow of a stripping gas. The process is characterized by a high liquid yield and a minimum gas yield along with minimal amounts of volatile components being left in the retorted solids.

Abstract: A method of improving the quality of slurry products taken from coal liquefaction reactors comprising subjecting the slurry to treatment with an alkaline compound such as caustic soda in the presence of steam in order to decompose the phenolic and acidic materials present in the slurry, and to also lower the slurry viscosity to allow separation of solid particles by sedimentation.

Abstract: In a coal liquefaction process wherein heavy bottoms produced in a liquefaction zone are upgraded by coking or a similar pyrolysis step, pyrolysis liquids boiling in excess of about 1000.degree. F. are further reacted with molecular hydrogen in a reaction zone external of the liquefaction zone, the resulting effluent is fractionated to produce one or more distillate fractions and a bottoms fraction, a portion of this bottoms fraction is recycled to the reaction zone, and the remaining portion of the bottoms fraction is recycled to the pyrolysis step.

Abstract: In a continuous process for recovery of values contained in a solid carbonaceous material, the carbonaceous material is comminuted and then subjected to flash pyrolysis in the presence of a particulate heat source to form a pyrolysis product stream containing a carbon containing solid residue and volatilized hydrocarbons. After the carbon containing solid residue is separated from the pyrolysis product stream, values are obtained by condensing volatilized hydrocarbons. The particulate source of heat is formed by oxidizing carbon in the solid residue. Apparatus useful for practicing this process are disclosed.

Abstract: Production of a low mineral content fuel by a coal liquefaction process utilizing a hydrogenated coal solvent having been hydrogenated to remove at least about 80% of the asphaltenes which yields as the primary product a mixture of liquid and solids, a part of which is suspended in the liquid. The suspended solids are effectively removed with minimum loss of desired product by means of a light aromatic solvent in combination with a hydrogenated coal solvent.

Abstract: In the process for recovering energy values from oil shale by the cross-flow retort technique, an improvement is disclosed wherein controlled oxidation of non-vaporizable carbonaceous residue not only provides additional heat for the continuation of the oil educing process without application of external heat but also enables the continuation of a temperature profile which is below that at which adverse chemical and physical changes occur in the shale. According to the invention the moving bed is removed from exposure to external heat as soon as oil eduction has been completed in the upper bed regions. It is thereafter immediately exposed to unheated gases containing measured amounts of oxygen. Oxidation is initiated in those regions of the bed which are above about 800.degree. F. The heat generated by such oxidation may be utilized, in place of externally heated gases, to transfer heat to the lower regions of the bed for oil eduction from those lower regions.

Abstract: Production of a low mineral content fuel by a coal liquefaction process utilizing a hydrogenated coal solvent having been hydrogenated to remove at least about 80% of the asphaltenes which yields as the primary product a mixture of liquid and solids, a part of which is suspended in the liquid. The suspended solids are effectively removed with minimum loss of desired product by means of a light aromatic solvent in combination with a hydrogenated coal solvent having been hydrogenated to remove at least about 80% of the asphaltenes.

Abstract: Coked solids, produced by coking of tar sands, are contacted in a first zone with air and the minimum amount of supplemental fuel needed to burn all the coke. Part of the hot clean mineral solids produced is then discarded; the balance is moved into a second zone. Here supplemental fuel is burned to increase the temperature of the solids. The hot solids from the second zone are recycled to the coking stage.Only part of the solids is heated with supplemental fuel, thereby reducing consumption of the latter. In addition, the flue gas from the second zone is relatively clean and can be vented directly to the atmosphere in the flue gas from the first zone.

Abstract: A process for converting solid carbonaceous material to a liquid product which involves heating a slurry composed of the solid carbonaceous material and a solvent, together with hydrogen, at elevated temperatures and elevated pressures in the presence of a substantially phosphate-free catalyst comprising a hydrogenating component selected from the group consisting of Group VI and Group VIII metals, their oxides and sulfides, supported on a non-zeolitic carrier, which catalyst is promoted with a minor amount of a Group IV-B metal.

Abstract: Production of a low mineral content fuel by a coal liquefaction process utilizing a hydrogenated coal solvent having been hydrogenated to remove at least about 80% of the asphaltenes which yields as the primary product a mixture of liquid and solids, a part of which is suspended in the liquid. The suspended solids are effectively removed with minimum loss of desired product by means of a light aromatic solvent in combination with a hydrogenated coal solvent having been hydrogenated to remove at least about 80% of the asphaltenes with a weight ratio of unreacted coal oil solvent to light aromatic solvent of from about 0.1 to about 1000.

Abstract: Production of a low mineral content fuel by a coal liquefaction process utilizing a hydrogenated coal solvent having been hydrogenated to remove at least about 80% of the asphaltenes which yields as the primary product a mixture of liquid and solids, a part of which is suspended in the liquid. The suspended solids are effectively removed with minimum loss of desired product by means of a light aromatic solvent in combination with a hydrogenated coal solvent.

Abstract: A method for suppressing asphaltene formation during coal liquefaction utilizing a hydrogenated coal solvent having been hydrogenated to remove at least about 80% of the asphaltenes which yields as the primary product a mixture of liquid and solids, a part of which is suspended in the liquid. The solids are effectively removed with a minimum loss of desired product and suppressed asphaltene formation by means of a light aromatic solvent in combination with a hydrogenated coal oil solvent having been hydrogenated to remove at least about 80% of the asphaltenes.

Abstract: A novel catalytic reactor comprising an elongated reaction chamber and catalytic elements composed of alumina and a hydrogenation catalyst vertically disposed within the reaction chamber and a coal hydrogenation process using such reactor.

Abstract: Production of a low mineral content fuel from a coal liquefaction product utilizing a hydrogenated coal oil solvent and a light aromatic solvent in combination to remove suspended mineral solids.

Abstract: Production of a low mineral content fuel by a coal liquefaction process utilizing an asphaltene-free hydrogenated coal solvent which yields as the primary product a mixture of liquid and solids, a part of which is suspended in the liquid. The suspended solids are effectively removed with minimum loss of desired product by means of a light aromatic solvent in combination with a hydrogenated coal solvent, having been hydrogenated to remove at least about 80% of the asphaltenes.

Abstract: An improved process for the conversion of coal to low-sulfur products is disclosed wherein coal is heated with a liquid phase coal dissolution solvent, which is preferably a heavy aromatic petroleum solvent, in the presence of a solid, sulfur scavenger such as iron. Improved separation of inorganic solids, including both coal-derived and solvent-derived sulfur combined with the scavenger, is obtained by using a light cycle-oil modified slurry settler operation followed by separation. Vacuum distillation of the filtrate provides a low-sulfur solid which is used directly as fuel or coked to form low-sulfur distillates and coke. The scavenger is separated from other inorganics, regenerated, and recycled. Moderate amounts of fuel gas are also formed.

Abstract: A process for catalytically hydroconverting coal to produce coal liquids is effected by forming a mixture of an oil soluble metal compound, a hydrogen donor solvent and coal, converting the compound to a catalyst within said mixture and reacting the mixture with hydrogen. The recovered hydrogen donor solvent may be recycled to the hydroconversion zone without intervening hydrogenation. Preferred compounds are molybdenum compounds.