Abstract: The phenolic oxygen and/or the thiol sulfur present in the polycyclic aromatic compounds in a heavy oil, such as vacuum pipestill bottoms, crude oil, reduced crude, residual oil or tar sands oil, can be removed as H.sub.2 O and/or H.sub.2 S by contacting the heavy oil with a hydrogen donor at an elevated temperature in the presence of a specified catalyst.

Abstract: Lubricant compositions are stabilized against oxidative degradation by incorporating therein a minor effective amount of a reaction product produced from singlet oxygen and a hindered bis-p-methylphenol.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for reducing the level of thiophenic sulfur compounds in a heavy carbonaceous oil feed which involves contacting the oil feed with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkanol in the presence of a non-acidic zeolite catalyst.The reaction equilibrium in the process favors the displacement of thiophene sulfur atoms by oxygen atoms.

Abstract: An improved two-stage coal liquefaction process is provided, wherein solvent-boiling range phenolics, produced in the solubilization of the coal feed, are removed wholly or partially from recycle solvent at some point in the process prior to recycle to the first stage to control the level of phenolics in both stages of the process. The two-stage process involves a mild short contact time first stage operation, the removal of inorganic sulfur, ash and coal solids followed by a second stage operation, the severity of which is controlled as a function of the final product desired.

Abstract: Processed coal such as solvent refined coal are subjected to multistage liquid chromatographic fractionation. There is employed a succession of eluants of progressively varying properties, this succession having the effect of removing from the substrate a corresponding succession of sharply defined, chemically differentiated product groups each of value as an industrial raw material. An installation for practising the invention on a continuous basis is described.

Abstract: Extraction of hydrocarbons from tar sands with a light naphtha/methanol solvent system results in rapid decrepitation of the tar-sand aggregate and separation of organic matter into three phases. Distribution of the extracted and non-extracted organic material is among the phases. The most desirable, non-polar organic materials are recovered from the light naphtha phase; more polar soluble constituents are recovered from the methanol phase; and less desirable asphaltenes separate as a precipitate.