Abstract: A hydroconversion process is described in which a feed slurry comprising a heavy hydrocarbon oil and an iron compound additive is contacted with a hydrogen-containing gas in a hydroconversion zone at hydroconversion conditions to convert at least a portion of said oil to lower boiling products. The process is characterized by the use of an iron compound having particle sizes of less than 45 .mu.m, preferably with at least 50 wt % of particles of less than 5 .mu.m.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of a heavy hydrocarbon oil in the presence of hydrogen and iron-coal catalyst is described in which the iron-coal catalyst is prepared by grinding coal particles and particles of an iron compound in oil to form an additive slurry or paste and mixing the coal-iron oil slurry or paste with the heavy hydrocarbon oil to form a feedstock to a hydroconverter.

Abstract: A process is described for the simultaneous demetalization and hydrocracking of heavy hydrocarbon oils. The process permits the recovery of metals such as vanadium and nickel in an economic manner by passing a slurry of a heavy hydrocarbon oil and carbonaceous additive particles, such as coal, in the presence of hydrogen through a confined vertical hydrocracking zone at high temperatures and pressures. A mixed effluent containing a gaseous phase and a liquid phase is removed from the top of a hydrocracking zone, while there is removed from the bottom of the hydrocracking zone a portion of the hydrocracking zone contents containing carbonaceous remains of the additive particles to which is adsorbed the metal residues from the feedstock. The effluent removed from the top of the hydrocracking zone can be subsequently fed directly to a catalytic hydrocracking unit.

Abstract: A process is described for producing metallurgical coke from poor coking coals in which there is combined with the poor coking coals a small amount of an additive consisting of a bitumen residue obtained from hydrocracking of bitumen from tar sands. The residue used is that from vacuum distillation of a heavy hydrocarbon bottoms material obtained from hydrocracking of the bitumen. A high boiling organic residue from vacuum distillation to an equivalent atmospheric boiling temperature of 524.degree. C. is preferred. The novel additive is superior in its ability to penetrate into cavities and provide excellent bonding of the components of the coal.