Abstract: The invention relates to a process for hydrocarbon fractionation and extraction making it possible to obtain a petrol with an improved octane number and a kerosene with an improved smoke point.According to the invention a charge with a final boiling point of at least 220.degree. C. is fractionated into three fractions:a light petrol containing less than 10% aromatics and boiling points at 25.degree. to 80.degree. C.,a medium petrol (80.degree. C. and at the most 150.degree. C.), whose end point is determined by a nitrogen content below 50 ppm,a heavy petrol with an end point equal to or below 220.degree. C.,be a selective liquid solvent aromatics are then extracted from the heavy petrol producing a refined product which is poured into the kerosene pool or diesel fuel,the solvent is regenerated by reextraction using light petrol so as to produce an aromatics-enriched petrol fraction with an improved octane number.

Abstract: This process for fractionating solid asphalts is operable under low temperature and pressure conditions.The process consists of treating a suspension of asphalt powder in a surfactant-containing aqueous phase by means of a hydrocarbon solvent immiscible with water and of separating:an hydrocarbon phase containing asphalt of softening point lower than that of the initial asphalt, andan aqueous phase wherein is suspended asphalt of softening point higher than that of the initial asphalt.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and an apparatus for making a stable solution or dispersion of a hydrosoluble powder.It is characterized by the simultaneous use of a system for withdrawing powder from a vessel (2) e.g. by means of a gas (4), the dilution of the powder in a carrying gas, the driving with said carrying gas, of the obtained dilution, through a transfer duct (10), the passage of the dilution across an electrostatic field (11) and the solubilization in water of a tank (12).The invention is particularly applicable to the dispersion of polyacrylamides used in the technique of enhanced oil recovery.

Abstract: Petroleum sulfonates are manufactured by reacting a hydrocarbon stock with a sulfonating agent and neutralizing the sulfonation product. The hydrocarbon stock is pretreated with hydrogen, in the presence of a NiW or NiMo catalyst, under specified conditions: its sulfur content is decreased by at least 50%, but its aromatic hydrocarbon content is decreased by not more than 35%, so that the aromatic hydrocarbons content remains at least 20% b.w. after completion of the pretreatment.