Abstract: This invention relates to a process for upgrading a hydrocarbonaceous material having an initial boiling point of at least about 625.degree. F. to a product having a lower boiling point than the initial boiling point of said hydrocarbonaceous material and/or a higher boiling point than the final boiling point of said hydrocarbonaceous material, the process comprising heating a mixture comprising said hydrocarbonaceous material and at least one organic solvent in an enclosed space in the absence of externally supplied water or hydrogen at a temperature in the range of about 750.degree. F. to about 1300.degree. F. and a pressure in excess of about 1200 psig for an effective period of time to yield said product, said pressure being sufficient to maintain the specific gravity of the contents of said enclosed space in the range of about 0.05 to about 1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a facile method of oil removal from an oil-water emulsion containing suspended solid particulates. In general, the method utilizes a volatile solvent which is liquefied under pressure and forms a two-phase system when in contact with the emulsion.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating an organic material from a composition comprising said organic material intermixed with particulate solids, the process comprising advancing a light hydrocarbon fluid through said particulate solids at an effective rate to drive said organic material from said particulate solids.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating an organic material from a composition comprising said organic material intermixed with particulate solids, the process comprising advancing a light hydrocarbon fluid through said particulate solids at an effective rate to drive at least some of said organic material from said particulate solids, adding water to said composition containing particulate solids and residual organic material to produce a second composition, and adding an oxidizing agent to said second composition in an amount sufficient to remove substantially all of the residual organic material.

Abstract: An improvement in the conversion of high boiling liquid organic materials to low boiling materials, and more particularly, in the process of converting heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstocks to fuel range liquids is described. In its broadest aspects, the invention comprises a process for converting high boiling hydrocarbons to lower boiling materials characterized by an increase in aromatic content and a lower pour point which comprises contacting said high boiling hydrocarbons with water at a temperature of from about 600.degree. F. to about 875.degree. F. at a pressure of at least about 2000 psi in the absence of any externally supplied catalysts, and wherein the weight ratio of water to high boiling hydrocarbons is from about 0.5:1 to about 1:1, and the water and high boiling hydrocarbon form a substantially single phase system under the elevated temperature and pressure conditions utilized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a facile method of oil removal from an oil-water emulsion containing suspended solid particulates. In general, the method utilizes a volatile solvent which is liquefied under pressure and forms a two-phase system when in contact with the emulsion.

Abstract: A fuel slurry consisting of a hydrocarbonaceous solid, oil and water effectively stabilized against settling of the solid by the addition of an aluminate, silicate, aluminosilicate or a combination of these compounds.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of high boiling saturated organic materials is described. The method comprises contacting said high boiling organic materials at a temperature of at least about 300.degree. C. and at a reaction pressure of at least about 2000 psi with an aqueous acidic medium containing at least one olefin, and a halogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of a halogen, a hydrogen halide, a compound which can form a halide or a hydrogen halide in the aqueous acidic medium under the process conditions, or mixtures thereof whereby the high boiling organic material and aqueous acidic medium form a substantially single phase system. Optionally the process can be conducted in a reducing atmosphere. The process of the invention is useful for producing and recovering fuel range liquids from petroleum, coal, oil shale, shale oil, tar sand solids, bitumen and heavy hydrocarbon oils such as crude oil distillation residues which contain little or no carbon-carbon unsaturation.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus is disclosed which comprises a vessel; first impeller means positioned within said vessel immediately subjacent to the top of said vessel but sufficiently spaced from said top to rotate; second impeller means positioned within said vessel immediately superjacent to the bottom of said vessel but sufficiently spaced from said bottom to rotate; third impeller means positioned within said vessel between said first and said second impeller means; paddle means positioned within said vessel between said second and said third impeller means; and means for rotating said first, second and third impeller means and said paddle means.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of high boiling organic materials is described. The method comprises contacting said high boiling organic materials under supercritical conditions with an aqueous acidic medium containing a halogen, a hydrogen halide, a compound which can form a halide or a hydrogen halide in the aqueous acidic medium under the process conditions, or mixtures thereof. Under the supercritical conditions of the process, the high boiling organic materials and aqueous acidic medium form a single phase allowing efficient conversion of the high boiling materials to lower boiling materials. The process of the invention is useful for producing and recovering fuel range liquids from petroleum, coal, oil shale, shale oil, tar sand solids, bitumen and heavy hydrocarbon oils such as crude oil distillation residues. Preferably, the aqueous acidic medium contains a halogen or a hydrogen halide.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of high boiling organic materials to lower boiling materials is described. The process comprises contacting said high boiling organic materials under supercritical conditions in a reducing atmosphere with an aqueous acidic medium containing a halogen, a hydrogen halide, a compound which can form a halide or a hydrogen halide in the aqueous acidic medium under the process conditions, or mixtures thereof. Under the supercritical conditions of the process, the high boiling organic materials and aqueous acidic medium form a single phase allowing efficient conversion of the high boiling materials to lower boiling materials. The process of the invention is useful for producing and recovering fuel range liquids from petroleum, coal, oil shale, shale oil, tar sand solids, bitumen and heavy hydrocarbon oils such as crude oil distillation residues. Preferably, the aqueous acidic medium contains a halogen or a hydrogen halide.

Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbons are upgraded and cracked in a process comprising contacting the heavy hydrocarbons with olefins containing 5 or less carbon atoms and a solvent, at a temperature both sufficient for cracking and greater than or equal to the critical temperature of the solvent.

Abstract: Fuel range liquid hydrocarbons are produced by the oligomerization of olefins in a process comprising contacting the olefins containing 5 or less carbon atoms with a water containing medium at a temperature sufficient to cause oligomerization and at a pressure sufficient to maintain the density of the medium at about 0.5 to about 1.0 grams per milliliter.

Abstract: The efficiency with which a sulfur getter such as limestone captures sulfur produced during combustion of a coal getter mixture is enhanced by intimately mixing the coal and the getter together in the form of an aqueous slurry also containing a gelling agent.

Abstract: Pure acrylic acid may be obtained from an aqueous solution containing acrylic acid by fractional crystallization wherein a salt is added to the aqueous solution that eliminates the eutectic point between acrylic acid and water.

Abstract: The addition of a salt comprising a group III A metal halide, such as aluminum chloride, to an acrylic acid-water solution obtained from the oxidation of propylene or acrolein, allows recovery of a 95% or better acrylic acid solution by phase separation.