Abstract: A device comprising at least one absorber, at least one cold separator from which is extracted a gaseous phase that feeds the absorber, at least one recycling to said cold separator of at least a portion of liquid effluent that is obtained from the absorber and which is mixed with the feedstock, at least one heat exchanger for cooling the mixture prior to the recycling, at least one conduit for recovering a light hydrocarbon-enriched liquid fraction obtained from the cold separator and at least one conduit for evacuating gases from the absorber, said device being useable for the treatment of a hydrogen-rich gas or for the recovery of a hydrocarbon-enriched liquid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device that comprises at least one absorber, at least one cold separator from which is extracted a gaseous phase that feeds the absorber, at least one recycling to said cold separator of at least a portion of the liquid effluent that is obtained from the absorber and is mixed with the feedstock, at least one means for cooling said recycling, at least one means for recovering a light hydrocarbon-enriched liquid fraction that is obtained from said cold separator and at least one means for evacuating gases from the absorber. The invention also relates to a process for a hydrogen-rich gas or a process for recovery of a hydrocarbon-enriched liquid that uses said device.

Abstract: For co-production of metaxylene and paraxylene from a feedstock (line-4) of hydrocarbons, there is employed a simulated moving bed chromatographic column 5 having at least five zones and which delivers an extract, a raffinate and an intermediate raffinate. The feedstock has an ethylbenzene content of less than 5% by weight, and the chromatographic column comprises at least twenty-five beds, of which at least five beds are in zone 3B. The raffinate is distilled (31) to recover the metaxylene at a purity of at least 99% and orthoxylene. The extract is distilled (7, 10) to recover the paraxylene at a purity of at least 99.6%. The recovered isomers can be synthesized into isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid.

Abstract: The specification describes a method and a fixed bed apparatus for producing olefinic hydrocarbons from a charge of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons with 2 to 20 carbon atoms and hydrogen in a chamber 1 comprising a plurality of parallel tubes 3 filled with a catalyst and arranged in rows. A so-called reaction phase and a catalyst-regenerating phase are carried out in the tubes of the chamber. The tubes are heated by appropriate radiant heating means 6, arranged in layers substantially perpendicular to the tubes. These layers heat a first part of the tubes (at the feed side) with a heat flux greater than the mean heat flux of the chamber and a second, subsequent part with a mean flux no more than equal to the mean heat flux, so that the isothermicity of the catalyst is substantially maintained, using appropriate control means.

Abstract: Continuous process for the skeletal isomerization of n-olefins containing at the most 20 carbon atoms, in the presence of a catalyst essentially constituted by alumina and titanium, in which a charge containing the said n-olefins is made to flow through at least one fluidized bed reaction zone, the catalyst flowing into each reaction zone. The catalyst drawn off from the final reaction zone is passed into a regeneration zone, at the outlet of which it is passed into a zone where it undergoes a steam treatment prior to its reintroduction into the first reaction zone. The process is performed in the presence of steam, so that the catalyst is in contact with 3 to 85 wt. % (based on the catalyst weight) of steam. The water/olefin charge molar ratio in the reaction zone is between 0.1 and 3.

Abstract: Apparatus for conducting an improved method of processing a catalytic reformate with an improved production of hydrogen. The apparatus comprises units for conducting a separation stage, absorption at 20.degree. to 60.degree. C. and at a pressure of at least 10 bars, purification of hydrogen over adsorbent beds and recycling of the residual gas obtained at purification.

Abstract: A process for the elimination of mercury and possibly of arsenic from hydrocarbons wherein compounds containing mercury are transformed into elemental mercury, the charge is fractioned, and then the fractions rich in mercury are purified through contact with a mercury collecting mass.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a tertiary alkyl ether, in particular methyl tert. amyl ether (MTAE), is described which comprises reacting, in a reaction section, a charge constituted by a mixture of C.sub.5 hydrocarbons, including reactive isopentenes, with an aliphatic monoalcohol in excess, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol or isopropanol, and collecting in the bottom of a fractionation section the corresponding pure tert. alkyl ether. The head effluent, after condensation, is subdivided into a liquid reflux and a distillate. The process is further characterized by providing a finishing reactor for the reflux, or for the reflux + distillate effluent prior to the subdivision thereof, or two finishing reactors are provided, one for the reflux and the other for the distillate, along with the possibility of injecting aliphatic monoalcohol upstream of each finishing reactor.

Abstract: The isomerization of C.sub.5 /C.sub.6 n-paraffins to isoparaffins, comprises:a stage (1) of deisopentanizing a charge constituted by a light naphtha,a stage (2) of isomerizing the deisopentanization residue, an adsorption stage (3) carried out by passing the isomerization effluent onto an adsorbent retaining the n-paraffins and alternating with the adsorption stage (3), a desorption stage (4) carried out by lowering the pressure and stripping by means of an isopentane-rich gas flow from the deisopentanization stage.The isomerate freed from the n-paraffins in stage (3) is a product having a high octane number.

Abstract: A process for the fractionation of a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen, light aliphatic hydrocarbons and light aromatic hydrocarbons wherein following compression of the mixture and separation of one or more light fractions, a gas is contacted with light aliphatic hydrocarbons and then hydrogen is separated by permeation. A series of distillation steps makes it possible to isolate the aliphatic hydrocarbons and the aromatic hydrocarbons subsequent to the separations.

Abstract: A reactor for low pressure catalytic reforming of gasolines with heating by smoke gases comprises: at least one device for introducing and removing the charge; at least one device for introducing and removing the catalyst; at least two elementary reaction cells spaced apart from each other are made of substantially vertical and parallelepipedic enclosures (an individual charge distributor, an individual processed charge collector, a catalytic bed); at least one general charge distributor; and at least one general processed charge collector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a reactor for low pressure catalytic reforming of gasolines with heating by smoke gases.The reactor of the invention comprises:at least one means for introducing and removing the charge,at least one means for introducing and removing the catalyst,at least two elementary reaction cells not adjacent each other, substantially vertical and parallelepipedic, substantially parallel to each other, each of said cells being formed of three substantially parallelepipedic enclosures (an individual charge distributor, an individual processed charge collector, a catalytic bed),at least one general charge distributor,at least one general processed charge collector.The reforming process of the invention may be used in this reactor, smokes-based heating gases, coming from the combustion in air of a hydrocarbon mixture, flowing between the elementary reaction cells and thus bringing the heat required for the reforming reaction.

Abstract: An asphaltene-containing residual hydrocarbon oil is deasphalted by means of a light hydrocarbon solvent. Heating of the resultant asphaltic phase for solvent removal is effected by heat exchange with the deasphalted oil previously subjected to sufficient heating in a furnace heated by flame. Fouling of the plant is thus avoided.