Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting a non-distillable residue of a mixed-base or paraffin-base crude hydrocarbon oil to a distillable precursor for motor fuels and/or petrochemical products which comprises donor solvent hydrovisbreaking said residue in a hydrovisbreaking zone in the presence of a circulated hydrogen donor solvent at a temperature in the range of 380.degree. to 480.degree. C.

Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbon oil to be processed is subjected to a treatment at elevated temperature and superatmospheric pressure in the presence of dispersed solids and molecular hydrogen and recycled hydrogen donor oil. By this treatment, a certain part of the asphaltenes absorbed on the solids may be coked. The product of that donor solvent hydrovisbreaking (DSV) is distilled. The distillate or distillates is or are catalytically hydrogenated. The visbreaking residue is used for the production of hydrogen. The hydrogenated products are separated in hydrocarbon fractions and are then processed further to fuels and/or petrochemical products and a part of the hydrogenated products is recycled as inherent donor solvent.

Abstract: A process for converting high-boiling crude oil having a high content of nondistillable residue which crude oil contains metals and asphaltenes by donor solvent hydrovisbreaking is disclosed wherein the process is carried out near the carbonization temperature limit in the presence of a hydrogen donor. The hydrogen donor can be one derived from the crude itself, from a similar crude oil, or from the distillate product of said donor solvent hydrovisbreaking.

Abstract: Solids and a clear liquid phase are separated and recovered wherein the solids are suspended in high boiling liquids. The sludge phase is separated from the liquid phase. A separate liquid phase which has a higher density than the liquid content of the sludge phase is added to the dispersion to be separated or to the sludge phase and the resulting mixture is centrifuged to separate the solids from the liquid phase.

Abstract: A process for refining a shale oil or tar fraction boiling below 200.degree. C. is described wherein the shale oil or tar fraction is hydrogenated in the presence of a pre-hydrogenated naphtha which functions as a hydrogen transfer agent. Also described is a method for the production of such pre-hydrogenated naphtha from a solid containing shale oil or tar fraction boiling above 200.degree. C.

Abstract: An improvement in a process of removing arsenic and/or antimony from their chemical compounds in a substantially organic liquid by treating the latter with hydrogen under a superatmospheric pressure and at an elevated temperature, the improvement residing in applying this process to the liquid distillate of oil shale or coal or one derived from the gasification of coal, said liquid containing oil shale dust or coal dust whereby elementary arsenic and/or antimony is deposited on said oil shale dust or said coal dust and said oil shale dust or said coal dust containing elementary arsenic and/or antimony is removed therefrom.

Abstract: A process for contacting two counterflowing immiscible liquid phases in a column in which perforated plates define mixing zones and separating zones and in which each mixing zone receives a heavy-liquid phase entering through perforations from above and a light-liquid phase entering through perforations from below and a dispersion formed by the two liquid phases in each mixing zone is transferred from the latter into a juxtaposed separating zone from which the heavy-liquid phase is withdrawn downwardly through perforations and the light-liquid phase is withdrawn upwardly through perforations. The dispersion is contacted in the separating zones with a filling of a material which accelerates coalescence.