Abstract: A coal liquefaction chargestock is first treated with a hydrogen sulfide-containing gas and thereafter subjected to coal liquefaction conditions.

Abstract: Sulfur-containing petroleum oil feedstocks which include heavy hydrocarbon constituents undergo simultaneous desulfurization and hydroconversion by contacting such feedstocks with alkaline earth metal hydrides or alkaline earth metal oxides, particularly barium hydride or barium oxide, in the presence of hydrogen, and at elevated temperatures. The mixtures of reaction products resulting from the above procedure can be separated to give a petroleum oil product which has been substantially desulfurized and demetallized and significantly upgraded as demonstrated by reduced Conradson carbon content, and increased API gravity and which includes alkaline earth metal sulfide salts from which the alkaline earth metal hydrides or oxides may be regenerated.

Abstract: A process for catalytically hydroconverting coal to produce coal liquids is effected by forming a mixture of an oil soluble metal compound, a hydrogen donor solvent and coal, converting the compound to a catalyst within said mixture and reacting the mixture with hydrogen. The recovered hydrogen donor solvent may be recycled to the hydroconversion zone without intervening hydrogenation. Preferred compounds are molybdenum compounds.

Abstract: Improved processes for the combined desulfurization and hydroconversion of various sulfur-containing pertroleum oils, and particularly various residua feedstocks, are disclosed. These feedstocks are thus contacted with alkali metals, such as sodium, in the molten state, in a conversion zone maintained at specified conditions such that the feedstocks are both desulfurized and subjected to significant hydroconversion, particularly demonstrated by significant reductions in the 1,050.degree. F+ fraction of these feedstocks, as well as significantly decreased Conradson carbon and increased API gravity. In addition, the deep demetallization and moderate denitrogenation of these feedstocks is also achieved. These important results are obtained by maintaining the conversion zone at temperatures of above 750.degree. F, and in the presence of sufficient added hydrogen to produce a hydrogen pressure in the conversion zone of between about 1500 and 3000 psig.

Abstract: A heavy hydrocarbonaceous oil is converted to lower boiling hydrocarbon products by treatment with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal phthalocyanine and a particulate iron component.

Abstract: A catalytic hydroconversion process is effected by reacting with hydrogen a heavy hydrocarbonaceous oil containing a catalyst comprising an iron component and a catalytically active other metal component prepared by dissolving an oil soluble metal compound in the oil and converting the metal compound in the oil to the corresponding catalytically active metal component. Preferred oil soluble compounds are molybdenum compounds.

Abstract: A heavy hydrocarbonaceous oil containing a Group IB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB or VIII transition metal compound is upgraded by treatment with hydrogen or a hydrogen donor compound in the presence of an aluminum alkyl compound, for example, triethyl aluminum. The transition metal compound may be naturally occurring in the oil or added to the oil. A preferred transition metal compound is vanadyl phthalocyanine.

Abstract: A heavy hydrocarbonaceous oil is converted to lower boiling products by treatment with hydrogen in the presence of a particulate acidic copper chloride catalyst.

Abstract: Sulfur-containing petroleum oil feedstocks which include heavy hydrocarbon constituents undergo simultaneous desulfurization and hydroconversion by contacting and reacting such feedstocks with sodamide in the presence of hydrogen and at elevated temperatures. The mixture of reaction products resulting from the above procedure is separated to give a sodium sulfur salt by-product, and a petroleum oil product which has been substantially desulfurized and demetallized, as well as being significantly improved as indicated by a reduced Conradson carbon content and an increased API gravity relative to the feedstock. Sodamide is regenerated from the sodium sulfur salt by-product and can be recycled for reaction with additional feedstock.

Abstract: Heavy petroleum oils, preferably whole crude or residua, are desulfurized and upgraded by contacting the petroleum oil with sodium oxide in the presence of hydrogen at elevated temperatures. The resulting mixture comprising desulfurized petroleum oil and a dispersion of sodium salts, primarily sodium sulfide and sodium hydroxide, is separated by conventional means and sodium oxide is regenerated from the salts.

Abstract: Heavy carbonaceous feeds, including various sulfur-containing heavy petroleum oils, are simultaneously desulfurized and subjected to hydroconversion by contacting these feedstocks with alkali metal oxides in a conversion zone maintained at elevated temperatures and in the presence of hydrogen. In this manner, the feeds are substantially desulfurized, and significant upgrading of the feedstocks is also obtained as demonstrated by decreased Conradson carbon, increased API gravity, and conversion of a substantial portion of the 1,050.degree. F+ portion of the feedstream. In addition, methods for the regeneration of the alkali metal oxides from the alkali metal sulfide salts produced in the reaction zone are disclosed.

Abstract: Processes for the simultaneous desulfurization and hydroconversion of heavy carbonaceous feeds, including various sulfur-containing heavy petroleum oils, are disclosed. These feeds are contacted with alkali metal hydroxides in a conversion zone, in the presence of added hydrogen, and at elevated temperatures, whereby the feeds are substantially desulfurized, while at the same time significant upgrading of these feedstocks is obtained as demonstrated by decreased Conradson carbon, increased API gravity, and the conversion of a substantial portion of the 1,050.degree. F+ portion of the feedstream. In addition, methods for the regeneration of alkali metal hydroxides from the alkali metal salts produced in the conversion zone are disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the combined hydrodesulfurization and hydroconversion of certain heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks is disclosed. Specifically, asphaltene-containing feedstocks, such as residua feedstocks, are initially contacted with a hydrodesulfurization catalyst which selectively avoids the conversion of the asphaltene agglomerates and metal-containing compounds therein, so that said feedstock is at least partially desulfurized, and then is contacted with an alkali metal in a conversion zone at elevated temperatures and in the presence of added hydrogen so that said feedstock is both further desulfurized and hydroconverted, preferably so that at least about 50 percent of the 1050.degree.F+ portion of the feedstock is converted to lower boiling products.