Abstract: An environmentally controlled greenhouse is located near a landfill site and uses the landfill gas to both heat the greenhouse and furnish a clean carbon dioxide enriched product gas to enhance plant growth. The clean CO2 system product gas is used to regenerate adsorber beds which remove undesirable constituents from the landfill gas. A portion of the landfill gas may also power an extraction steam turbine which heats the greenhouse with extraction steam. The system is controlled to enhance plant growth by adjusting the temperature and CO2 levels.

Abstract: In the delayed coking of a coking feedstock wherein the feedstock is continuously heated in a coking heater and introduced into a coke drum, the heater is operated to provide a coke drum temperature of from 415.degree. to 455.degree. C., and, after filling of the drum to the desired level, feedstock introduction is discontinued and the coke drum contents are heated at a temperature of 450.degree. C. to 500.degree. C., and which heating temperature is at least 10.degree. C. greater than the coking temperature, by passing a non-coking vapor through the contents of the drum to reduce the volatile combustible matter content to a value of 4% to 10% by weight and thereby reduce the CTE of the formed coke. The process is applicable to the production of needle coke from various kinds of feedstocks, in particular from a petroleum feedstock wherein the feedstock is initially treated by thermal soaking in the presence of sulfur, followed by thermal cracking to increase the aromaticity.

Abstract: Coal tar pitch is contacted with a promoter liquid having a 5 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 250.degree. F. and a 95 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 350.degree. F. and no greater than about 750.degree. F. with the liquid having a characterization factor of at least 9.75 to promote the separation of quinoline insolubles from the pitch. A coat tar pitch fraction essentially free of quinoline insolubles is then subjected to coking to produce a needle coke. The process is also applicable to separation of quinoline insolubles from coal tar derived binder pitch.

Abstract: In the liquefaction of a sub-bituminous and/or lignitic coal, an ash containing coal liquid is heated to a temperature of from 410.degree. C. to 450.degree. C., and delayed coked adiabatically at a pressure of from 15 psig to 120 psig to produce an ash containing soft coke, having a volatile matter content of above 16% and generally no greater than 30%, all by weight, which is particularly suitable as a blending stock for the production of metallurgical coke.

Abstract: Coal tar pitch is contacted with a promoter liquid having a 5 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 250.degree. F. and a 95 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 350.degree. F. and no greater than about 750.degree. F., with the liquid having a characterization factor of at least 9.75 to promote the separation of quinoline insolubles from the pitch. A coal tar pitch fraction essentially free of quinoline insolubles is then subjected to coking to produce a needle coke. The process is also applicable to separation of quinoline insolubles from coal tar derived binder pitch.

Abstract: A gravity settler comprised of a housing which encloses a plurality of conically shaped hollow members arranged in vertically spaced horizontally disposed layers, each of such layers containing a plurality of the conical members, with adjacent layers defining therebetween separate gravity settling compartments. Each of the compartments includes a feed inlet(s), overflow outlets for withdrawing clarified liquid and underflow outlets for withdrawing liquid containing solid.

Abstract: Coal which is liquefied in the presence of a pasting solvent, is separated into an ash free and an ash containing coal liquefaction product. Each of such products is delayed coked in separate zones with the vapors from such zones being introduced into a common combination coker-fractionator to recover ash containing and ash free coking recycle, pasting solvent for the liquefaction and lighter products. The process is particulary applicable to coal liquefaction products produced from high ash containing coals.

Abstract: A pyrolysis fuel oil (black oil) is contacted with a promoter liquid having a 5 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 250.degree. F. and a 95 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 350.degree. F. and no greater than about 750.degree. F., with the liquid having a characterization factor of at least 9.75 to promote the separation of quinoline insolubles and asphaltenes from the fuel oil. A fraction free of quinoline insolubles and having a reduced content of asphaltenes may be subjected to coking to produce a needle coke, or employed directly for the production of carbon black.

Abstract: A gravity settler comprised of a housing which encloses a plurality of conically shaped hollow members arranged in vertically spaced horizontally disposed layers, each of such layers containing a plurality of the conical members, with adjacent layers defining therebetween separate gravity settling compartments. Each of the compartments includes a feed inlet(s), overflow outlets for withdrawing clarified liquid and underflow outlets for withdrawing liquid containing solid.

Abstract: The catalyst is withdrawn from a coal hydroliquefaction reactor while it is maintained on stream by withdrawing a portion of the catalyst, in a separate stream, dispersed in product from the liquefaction zone, with such withdrawn stream being further diluted with liquid recovered from the main product stream to reduce the catalyst concentration. The catalyst containing stream is introduced into the ash separation zone, wherein catalyst is recovered with the ash containing solids. Fresh catalyst is subsequently added to the liquefaction zone in a stream of the liquid recovered from the main product stream.

Abstract: A high crystalline coke can be prepared by heat-soaking a petroleum feedstock in the presence of added dissolved sulfur, heating to effect controlled thermal cracking thereof, separating non-crystalline substances as pitch, recovering a heavy cokable residue from the pitch free feed, and subjecting the residue to delayed coking.