Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from feedstreams containing mixtures of aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons using extractive distillation with an aromatic selective solvent in order to separate the aromatic hydrocarbons from the non-aromatic hydrocarbons. A rich solvent stream comprising the aromatic hydrocarbons and solvent is withdrawn from the extractive distillation column and passed to a steam stripping column to provide a regenerated lean solvent stream, a side-cut stream comprising the aromatic hydrocarbons and a stripper overhead stream comprising non-aromatic hydrocarbons which are passed as a reflux stream to the extractive distillation column. Various solvents are disclosed and an especially preferred solvent is sulfolane.

Abstract: Impregnated carbon adsorbents for the removal of mercury from liquid hydrocarbons are used in a variety of applications. The activated carbon impregnated adsorbents in the present invention remain effective in removing mercury. Generally, these activated carbons are comprised of an activated carbon adsorbent impregnated with a composition containing metal halide or other reducing halide, supplemented according to the desired characteristics with other elements. The formulation of the impregnants in the present invention can be varied to adjust the performance characteristics so as to meet the desired mercury removal performance criteria, to achieve enhanced removal of organic bound mercury from liquid hydrocarbon, and to have other advantages useful in a variety of applications. These impregnated carbon adsorbents possess desirable qualities regarding their ability to remove even trace levels of mercury from liquid hydrocarbon without a leaching effect of the impregnants used.

Abstract: In a hydrotreating process, a hydrocarbon feedstock having a boiling of at least about 460.degree. F. is contacted with a catalyst having at least one member selected from the group consisting of a carbide of a Group VIB metal and a nitride of a Group VIB metal under hydrotreating conditions.

Abstract: This invention provides for a process for separating extractable organic material from a feed composition comprising an oil-in-water emulsion comprising a continuous aqueous phase, a discontinuous organic liquid phase comprising said extractable organic material, and solids dispersed in said emulsion, the process comprising the steps of:(I) mixing said feed composition with sufficient shear to convert said feed composition to a water-in-oil emulsion; and(II) contacting said water-in-oil emulsion with at least one organic solvent, said organic solvent being capable of forming with said emulsion a system comprising at least two phases and being capable of dissolving at least about ten parts of said extractable organic material per million parts of said organic solvent at the temperature wherein at least about 50% by weight of said solvent boils at atmospheric pressure; forming a system comprising at least two phases, one of said phases being an emulsion phase comprising said emulsion and the other of said phase

Abstract: A process and apparatus for fluidized catalytic cracking of heavy oils is disclosed using a modified high efficiency catalyst regenerator. A fast fluidized bed coke combustor, which is essentially free of gas/catalyst separation means, partially regenerates catalyst and discharges a steam laden flue gas and catalyst into a dilute phase transport riser. Closed cyclones separate catalyst from steam laden flue gas exiting the transport riser outlet. This flue gas is isolated from a second fluidized bed of catalyst maintained in a vessel containing the transport riser and closed cyclones. Coke combustion in the drier region of the second fluidized bed is possible. Catalyst deactivates less in the second fluidized bed because it is drier.

Abstract: In a combined solvent extraction/steam distillation process for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from a mixture of aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons, there are three major thermal and material cycles: the solvent cycle, the hydrocarbon cycle, and the water cycle. The process is improved by redistributing the energy use between the three cycles to minimize the internal recycle within the process and to reduce the overall energy requirements. One means of the redistribution includes cooling of a lean solvent stream with liquid in a recovery or stripping column. Cooling of the lean solvent reduces flashing within an extract column and the resulting reflux of hydrocarbons to the extract column.

Abstract: An improved fluid coking process which includes: (a) a fluid coker comprised of a coking zone, a scrubbing zone, and a stripping zone; (b) a heater, and optionally a gasifier. The improvement comprises feeding a portion of the heated solids from the heater and/or the gasifier, to the stripping zone. Consequently, the coking zone can be operated at a temperature lower than the stripping zone.

Abstract: A process for purifying linear paraffins in which a hydrocarbon feedstream containing linear paraffins contaminated with aromatics, sulfur-, nitrogen-, and oxygen-containing compounds, and color bodies, and also containing up to about 5 wt % desorbent from effluent recycle, is contacted with a solid adsorbent such as a NaX zeolite or zeolite MgY; after adsorption the adsorbent is desorbed with an alkyl-substituted aromatic desorbent, such as toluene. As the adsorent bed is being desorbed, the initial effluent from the adsorption cycle will contain levels of desorbent and may be recycled to the hydrocarbon feedstream. Previous to the removal of impurities from the adsorbent by desorption, the desorbent displaces interstitial linear paraffins which are also recycled to the hydrocarbon feedstream.

Abstract: A catalytic cracking process is provided for cost effectively separating and stripping hydrocarbon from catalyst while limiting the occurrence of undesired catalytic overcracking and thermal cracking reactions. The process includes the steps of contacting feed with catalyst, grossly separating the larger coked catalyst particles from the hydrocarbon, disengaging the smaller coked catalyst fines from the hydrocarbon, removing volatile hydrocarbon from the grossly separated and disengaged catalyst, and recycling the volatile hydrocarbon back to the gross separating step. The disengager step includes the steps of dampening the flow of grossly separated hydrocarbon and internally cyclone separating the smaller catalyst fines from the hydrocarbon product.

Abstract: The recovery of bitumen from tar sands by flotation is improved by the use of alkanol amines as flotation promoters. Monoethanolamine and diethanolamine are particularly useful for this purpose.

Abstract: A process for removal of arsenic from a hydrocarbon stream containing arsenic together with mercaptan and non-mercaptan sulfur compounds. The hydrocarbon stream is passed through at least two mercaptan oxidizing reactors in series wherein the mercaptans are oxidized to disulfides to produce a low mercaptan liquid containing no more than 1.5 ppm sulfur as mercaptans. The low mercaptan liquid is passed over an arsenic sorbent catalyst containing less than 20 weight percent gamma alumina to selectively sorb arsenic substantially without sorbing non-mercaptan sulfur compounds.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for removal of sulfur contaminants from hydrocarbons using processes which rely upon the reaction of organosulfur compounds with N-halogeno compounds. The sulfur removal may be effected by using liquid/liquid extraction processes or one of two reactive adsorption processes involving injecting a stoichiometric amount of N-halogeno compounds into hydrocarbon and then passing the stream through an adsorbent column to adsorb the N-halogeno-sulfur compounds and any unreacted N-halogeno compounds; or using adsorbents which are pre-loaded with N-halogeno compounds which are placed in a fixed-bed column for sulfur removal.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the separation of hydrogen sulfide from feedstreams containing hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbons by adsorption using a clinoptilolite adsorbent containing cations having ionic radii of from about 1.10 to 1.40 Angstroms. The processes can provide substantially enhanced adsorption capacities as compared with other adsorbents such as Zeolite 4A. As a result, a throughput of existing sulfur adsorption plants can be increased, e.g., by about 100%. The processes can be operated at elevated adsorption temperatures, e.g., greater than about 200.degree. F., and thus are particularly suitable when integrated with other processing steps such as hydrocarbon conversion reactions that utilize catalysts which are sulfur-sensitive. In addition, the clinoptilolite adsorbents of the present invention have a high tolerance to environments that comprise halides, e.g., HCl.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an FCC process uses dissipator plates at the outlet of a disengaging vessel to provide a quick separation of catalyst from produce vapors and to prevent reentrainment of catalyst into the disengaging vessel. The process and apparatus use a riser for the conversion of an FCC feedstock and direct the effluent from the riser directly into a disengaging vessel to separate catalyst from the product vapors. Catalyst is directed downwardly out of the outlet of the disengaging vessel and through a series of dissipator plates that eliminate the tangential velocity that would be otherwise introduced by the vortex and would lead to reentrainment of catalyst. A stripping vessel is located immediately below the disengaging vessel outlet to receive catalyst as it leaves the dissipator plates.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an antioxidant material and its use in petroleum and petrochemical processes to reduce and/or control fouling problems specifically as regards hydrocarbons having a bromine number of 10 or less and containing oxygen. The inventive antioxidant material is 1-(2-aminoethyl) piperazine.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes for inhibiting fouling in fluid catalytic cracking units. The processes comprise adding to the hydrocarbon being processed a polymer formation inhibiting amount of aminoethyl piperazine.

Abstract: A spent metal contaminated zeolite-containing catalytic cracking catalyst composition is reactivated by a process which comprises contacting with an aqueous solution of HC1 and/or HNO.sub.3 and/or H.sub.2 SO.sub.4. The thus reactivated catalyst composition can be employed in a catalytic cracking process.

Abstract: A process and catalyust are provided for hydrogenation of a hydrocarbon feedstock consisting essentially of material boiling between about 150.degree. F. and about 700.degree. F. which comprises reacting the feedstock with hydrogen at hydrogenation conditions in the presence of a catalyst comprising from about 0.1% to about 2.0% by weight each of palladium and platinum and a support comprising mordenite. The process of the present invention provides substantially improved dearomatization performance, increased desulfurization and denitrogenation, increased distillate product cetane number, increased distllate volume expansion, and utilizes a more durable catalyst.

Abstract: Charge containing dewaxed oil and dewaxing solvent (typically methyl ethyl ketone and toluene) is treated to separate dewaxing solvent by use of a separating membrane barrier of a polyurea.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the improved dehydrogenation of paraffins using as catalyst zeolite modified with a Group I A modifier and containing a transition metal component.