Abstract: Processes and systems for converting benzene and/or toluene via methylation with methanol and/or dimethyl ether may be performed by contacting an aromatic hydrocarbon feed with a first methylating agent feed in the presence of a methylation catalyst in a series of fixed beds. Between the fixed beds, the product mixture from the upstream bed may be treated by (a) reducing the temperature, (b) adding additional methylating agent feed, (c) optionally removing water, and (d) optionally adding additional aromatic hydrocarbon feed.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon-containing fluids are provided for use during solvent-assisted hydroprocessing of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar. The hydrocarbon-containing fluids can be used at any convenient time, such as during start-up of a pyrolysis process when recycled liquid pyrolysis product is not available; when the amount of liquid pyrolysis product available for recycle is not sufficient to maintain desired hydroprocessing conditions; and/or when the changes to the quality of the liquid pyrolysis product reduce the suitability of the recycle stream for use as a utility fluid.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon conversion processes. The process can include providing a gas oil feed that can include a gas oil and an olefin. A reactivity R(go) of the gas oil feed can be determined. The R(go) can be compared to a predetermined reference reactivity R(ref). If R(go)>R(ref), the gas oil feed can be heated to a temperature in a range of from 200° C. to 400° C. for a residence time in a range of from 1 minute to 45 minutes to produce a heat-treated gas oil feed having a reactivity R(ht-go), until R(ht-go)?R(ref). A hydroprocessor feed that includes the gas oil feed if R(go)?R(ref) or the heat-treated gas oil feed can be fed to a hydroprocessor. The hydroprocessor feed can be hydroprocessed in the hydroprocessor to produce a hydroprocessor effluent that can include a hydroprocessed gas oil.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for co-processing of pyrolysis tar with pre-pyrolysis flash bottoms. In some aspects, the co-processing can correspond to solvent-assisted hydroprocessing. By combining pyrolysis tar and flash bottoms with a solvent, various difficulties associated with hydroprocessing of the fractions can be reduced or minimized, such as difficulties associated with hydroprocessing of high viscosity feeds and/or high sulfur feeds. Optionally, separate solvents and/or fluxes can be used for the pyrolysis tar and the flash bottoms. The resulting upgraded products can be suitable, for example, for inclusion in low sulfur fuel oils (LSFO).

Abstract: Hydrocarbon-containing fluids are provided for use during solvent-assisted hydroprocessing of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar. The hydrocarbon-containing fluids can be used at any convenient time, such as during start-up of a pyrolysis process when recycled liquid pyrolysis product is not available; when the amount of liquid pyrolysis product available for recycle is not sufficient to maintain desired hydroprocessing conditions; and/or when the changes to the quality of the liquid pyrolysis product reduce the suitability of the recycle stream for use as a utility fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for determining the suitability of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, for upgrading using hydroprocessing without excessive fouling of the hydroprocessing reactor. A pyrolysis tar is sampled, the sample is analyzed to determine one or more characteristics of the tar related to tar reactivity, and the analysis is used to determine conditions under which the tar can be blended, pre-treated, and/or hydroprocessed.

Abstract: Processes for improving hydrocarbon feedstock compatibility are provided. More specifically, a process for preparing a liquid hydrocarbon product includes heat soaking a tar stream to produce a reduced reactivity tar and blending the reduced reactivity tar with a utility fluid comprising recycle solvent to produce a lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar. The process also includes hydroprocessing the lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar at a temperature of greater than 350° C. to produce a total liquids product containing the liquid hydrocarbon product and the recycle solvent. The process further includes separating the recycle solvent from the total liquids product, where the recycle solvent has the SBN of greater than 110, and flowing the recycle solvent to the reduced reactivity tar for blending to produce the lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar.

Abstract: Processes for preparing a low particulate liquid hydrocarbon product are provided and include blending a tar stream containing particles with a fluid and heating to a temperature of 250° C. or greater to produce a fluid-feed mixture that contains tar, the particles, and the fluid. The fluid-feed mixture contains about 20 wt % or greater of the fluid, based on a combined weight of the tar stream and the fluid. Also, about 25 wt % to about 99 wt % of the particles in the tar stream are dissolved or decomposed when producing the fluid-feed mixture.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for hydroprocessing of heavy oils, such as pyrolysis tars. For example, a process for preparing a liquid hydrocarbon product includes providing a first process stream comprising a reduced reactivity tar, and blending the first process stream with a utility fluid to produce a second process stream comprising solids and a reduced reactivity, lower viscosity tar. The method can includes introducing the second process stream into a guard reactor without sulfiding the guard reactor catalyst(s) prior to introducing the second process stream into the guard reactor. The method includes hydroprocessing the second process stream in the guard reactor under mild hydroprocessing conditions to produce a third process stream. The method includes hydroprocessing the third process stream to produce a fourth process stream having a bromine number (BN) lower than 12 and comprising the liquid hydrocarbon product and the utility fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for determining the suitability of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, for upgrading using hydroprocessing without excessive fouling of the hydroprocessing reactor. A pyrolysis tar is sampled, the sample is analyzed to determine one or more characteristics of the tar related to tar reactivity, and the analysis is used to determine conditions under which the tar can be blended, pre-treated, and/or hydroprocessed.

Abstract: Processes for preparing a low particulate liquid hydrocarbon product are provided and include blending a tar stream containing particles with a fluid and heating to a temperature of 250° C. or greater to produce a fluid-feed mixture that contains tar, the particles, and the fluid. The fluid-feed mixture contains about 20 wt % or greater of the fluid, based on a combined weight of the tar stream and the fluid. Also, about 25 wt % to about 99 wt % of the particles in the tar stream are dissolved or decomposed when producing the fluid-feed mixture.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for determining the suitability of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, for upgrading using hydroprocessing without excessive fouling of the hydroprocessing reactor. A pyrolysis tar is sampled, the sample is analyzed to determine one or more characteristics of the tar related to tar reactivity, and the analysis is used to determine conditions under which the tar can be blended, pre-treated, and/or hydroprocessed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for determining the suitability of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, for upgrading using hydroprocessing without excessive fouling of the hydroprocessing reactor. The invention includes establishing a reference activity for the thermally treating the pyrolysis tar to produce a treated tar having a lesser reactivity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for co-processing of pyrolysis tar with pre-pyrolysis flash bottoms. In some aspects, the co-processing can correspond to solvent-assisted hydroprocessing. By combining pyrolysis tar and flash bottoms with a solvent, various difficulties associated with hydroprocessing of the fractions can be reduced or minimized, such as difficulties associated with hydroprocessing of high viscosity feeds and/or high sulfur feeds. Optionally, separate solvents and/or fluxes can be used for the pyrolysis tar and the flash bottoms. The resulting upgraded products can be suitable, for example, for inclusion in low sulfur fuel oils (LSFO).

Abstract: This invention relates to thermally-treating and hydroprocessing pyrolysis tar to produce a hydroprocessed pyrolysis tar, but without excessive foulant accumulation during the hydroprocessing. The invention also relates to upgrading the hydroprocessed tar by additional hydroprocessing; to products of such processing; to blends comprising one or more of such products; and to the use of such products and blends, e.g., as lubricants, fuels, and/or constituents thereof.

Abstract: Processes for improving hydrocarbon feedstock compatibility are provided. More specifically, a process for preparing a liquid hydrocarbon product includes heat soaking a tar stream to produce a reduced reactivity tar and blending the reduced reactivity tar with a utility fluid comprising recycle solvent to produce a lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar. The process also includes hydroprocessing the lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar at a temperature of greater than 350° C. to produce a total liquids product containing the liquid hydrocarbon product and the recycle solvent. The process further includes separating the recycle solvent from the total liquids product, where the recycle solvent has the SBN of greater than 110, and flowing the recycle solvent to the reduced reactivity tar for blending to produce the lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermally-treating and hydroprocessing pyrolysis tar to produce a hydroprocessed pyrolysis tar, but without excessive foulant accumulation during the hydroprocessing. The invention also relates to upgrading the hydroprocessed tar by additional hydroprocessing; to products of such processing; to blends comprising one or more of such products; and to the use of such products and blends, e.g., as lubricants, fuels, and/or constituents thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for hydroprocessing of heavy oils, such as pyrolysis tars. For example, a process for preparing a liquid hydrocarbon product includes providing a first process stream comprising a reduced reactivity tar, and blending the first process stream with a utility fluid to produce a second process stream comprising solids and a reduced reactivity, lower viscosity tar. The method can includes introducing the second process stream into a guard reactor without sulfiding the guard reactor catalyst(s) prior to introducing the second process stream into the guard reactor. The method includes hydroprocessing the second process stream in the guard reactor under mild hydroprocessing conditions to produce a third process stream. The method includes hydroprocessing the third process stream to produce a fourth process stream having a bromine number (BN) lower than 12 and comprising the liquid hydrocarbon product and the utility fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for determining the suitability of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, for upgrading using hydroprocessing without excessive fouling of the hydroprocessing reactor. A pyrolysis tar is sampled, the sample is analyzed to determine one or more characteristics of the tar related to tar reactivity, and the analysis is used to determine conditions under which the tar can be blended, pre-treated, and/or hydroprocessed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for determining the suitability of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, for upgrading using hydroprocessing without excessive fouling of the hydroprocessing reactor. The invention includes establishing a reference activity for the thermally treating the pyrolysis tar to produce a treated tar having a lesser reactivity.