Abstract: The hydroprocessing of heavy oils is improved by the use of a high activity slurry catalyst prepared by sulfiding an aqueous Group VIB metal compound with a gas containing hydrogen sulfide to a dosage greater than 8 SCF of hydrogen sulfide per pound of Group VIB metal. After introducing the slurry catalyst into the heavy oil, and subjecting the mixture to elevated temperatures and partial pressures of hydrogen, the mixture is treated in a fixed or ebullated bed of hydrodesulfurization/hydrodemetalation catalyst under hydroprocessing conditions.

Abstract: A temperature gradient in staged turbulent bed retort established by adding heat transfer material at different levels along vertical length of retort to prevent thermal cracking of product vapors.

Abstract: A heavy oil fraction of pyrolysis oil vapors containing concentrated contaminants is coked on the hot mixture of pyrolyzed solids and heat transfer material in a retorting vessel provided with an inert stripping gas of a velocity sufficient to lower the dew point of the pyrolysis oil.

Abstract: Heavy oil fraction of pyrolysis oil vapors containing concentrated contaminants is coked on retorted fine solids contained in a coking zone separate from a retorting vessel characterized by the presence of an inert stripping gas of a rate sufficient to lower the dew point of the pyrolysis oil.

Abstract: A reactor vessel for maintaining a staged moving bed of solids, in the presence of countercurrently flowing gas stream, having a diameter of at least one meter and a pressure drop across the body of solids approximately equal to that of a fully fluidized bed and a method for using same to thermally process a granular solid composed of a broad distribution of particle sizes.

Abstract: The heavy oil fraction of pyrolysis oil vapors containing concentrated contaminants is coked on hot heat transfer material. The coke-containing heat transfer material is then mixed with raw feed in a retorting vessel provided with an inert stripping gas of a velocity sufficient to lower the dew point of the pyrolysis oil.

Abstract: A water impermeable liner, cap, or dam core for a containment basin for spent oil shale is made from a mixture of water and combusted oil shale having a particle size of less than about one cm, a residual organic carbon content of less than 1%, and at least 15% of its Mg/Ca/Fe carbonate minerals decomposed. A layer of the mixture is applied to the basin and/or top of the filled basin, compacted, and allowed to cure under conditions that minimize the likelihood of shrinkage cracking.

Abstract: A process for retorting a carbon containing solid, especially oil shale, comprises passing heat transfer particles and raw particles of carbon containing solid downwardly through a fluidized retort zone containing a plurality of baffles to prevent gross vertical backmixing. The heated solid particles and heat transfer particles are then passed to a moving packed bed retort to pyrolyze the carbon containing solid particles.

Abstract: Arsenic is removed from green shale oil coke of high arsenic content by calcining the coke at 1500.degree. F. to 3000.degree. F. for 0.1 hr to 4 hr. The arsenic content is reduced from above about 150 to 300 ppm to below about 100 ppm, thereby making the coke suitable for use as a fuel, in electrodes for producing aluminum, or in steel making.

Abstract: Disclosed is a preferred baffle system for a staged turbulent bed retort. The system preferably comprises a plurality of at least 4 vertically spaced, horizontally disposed perforated baffles, each of said baffles having an open area in the range of 30-70% of the baffle cross-sectional area.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for retorting oil shale in a staged turbulent bed retort wherein the raw shale feed particles are classified and deaerated into first and second fractions, said first fraction containing substantially only shale particles above about 25 mesh. The first fraction is then preheated with hot shale fines in a dilute phase lift pipe prior to retorting.

Abstract: Disclosed is an oil shale retorting process which is suitable for retorting lean oil shale containing less than 0.13 liters of oil per kilogram of shale. The raw shale is preferably retorted in a staged turbulent bed and the retorted hydrocarbonaceous vapors containing entrained shale fines are withdrawn therefrom. The fines are concentrated in a portion of the liquid product and fed to a combustion with the previously retorted shale to provide the heat required for retorting the raw shale.

Abstract: A combination of a retorting process with a granular filtration zone whereby finely divided solids are removed from hydrocarbonaceous vapors. Raw hydrocarbon-containing particles such as shale are retorted by contacting them with heat carrier particles, and the resulting hydrocarbonaceous vapors withdrawn from the retort are contaminated with entrained, finely divided solids. These solids are removed from the hydrocarbonaceous vapors by passing the contaminated vapors at substantially the retorting temperature transversely through a downwardly moving bed of solid contact material maintained at approximately retorting temperature. The solid contact material is selected from retorted solids, heat carrier particles and mixtures of them. The mixture of finely divided solids and contact material withdrawn from the granular filtration may be returned to the process.

Abstract: In a staged calcination process a sulfur-containing green coke is converted to a low-sulfur-content coke and two off-gas streams, one which contains sulfur dioxide and another which contains hydrogen sulfide. In one stage the green coke is calcined and partially desulfurized under oxidative conditions at a temperature in the range 1000.degree. to 3000.degree.F. In a second stage, the calcination and desulfurization is continued by heating the coke from 2000.degree. to 4000.degree.F under substantially reducing conditions. Preferably the reaction times and conditions in the stages are adjusted to result in the production of two mols of hydrogen sulfide per mol of sulfur dioxide. Portions of the two off-gas streams are mixed and reacted to form elemental sulfur.