Abstract: A process and apparatus for quenching a hydrocracked stream to prepare it for hydroisomerization. A fractionated hydroisomerized stream is recycled to quench a hot hydrocracked stream prior to hydroisomerization. Sufficient quenching can inactivate the hydroisomerization catalyst bed. The hydroisomerization catalyst bed can be heated back to hydroisomerization temperature and can actively hydroisomerize again.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for manufacturing lubrication oils. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a lubrication oil includes the steps of receiving into an activated carbon guard bed unit an unconverted oil (UCO) feedstock, the UCO feedstock comprising polynuclear aromatic (PNA) compounds and contacting the UCO feedstock with activated carbon within the activated carbon guard bed unit to remove at least a portion of the PNA compounds, thereby forming a treated UCO feedstock.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for converting heavy hydrocarbons to middle distillate fuels and, alternately, to Group II and III lube oils, in the presence of suitable metal catalysts using the same refining system with minor adjustments required to change between operating in fuel mode and operating in lube mode.

Abstract: A process for producing a high quality distillate that meets the ultralow sulfur, cold flow, and distillation requirements. The feed stream is first hydrotreated and dewaxed in the same reactor to provide a hydrotreated and dewaxed effluent. The hydrotreated and dewaxed effluent is separated in a separation zone into a liquid and a vapor phase, the vapor phase comprising a hydrogen containing gas that can be recycled. The liquid phase is separated into at least a diesel stream and a heavy hydrocarbon stream. The heavy hydrocarbon stream is hydrocracked and the hydrocracked effluent may be passed to the reactor for hydrotreating and dewaxing or passed to the separation zone with the hydrotreated and dewaxed effluent.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for quenching a hydrocracked stream to prepare it for hydroisomerization. A fractionated hydroisomerized stream is recycled to quench a hot hydrocracked stream prior to hydroisomerization. Sufficient quenching can inactivate the hydroisomerization catalyst bed. The hydroisomerization catalyst bed can be heated back to hydroisomerization temperature and can actively hydroisomerize again.

Abstract: A process for converting Fischer-Tropsch liquids and waxes into lubricant base stock and/or transportation fuels is disclosed. The process includes the steps of feeding a Fischer-Tropsch wax to a first isomerization unit to produce an isomerized Fischer-Tropsch wax product; combining a Fischer-Tropsch liquid with the isomerized Fischer-Tropsch wax product to create a mixture of the Fischer-Tropsch liquid and the Fischer-Tropsch wax product; and feeding the mixture to a fractionation column to separate the mixture into a lubricant base stock fraction and at least one transportation fuel fraction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for converting heavy hydrocarbons to middle distillate fuels and, alternately, to Group II and III lube oils, in the presence of suitable metal catalysts using the same refining system with minor adjustments required to change between operating in fuel mode and operating in lube mode.

Abstract: A process for producing a high quality distillate that meets the ultralow sulfur, cold flow, and distillation requirements. The feed stream is first hydrotreated and dewaxed in the same reactor to provide a hydrotreated and dewaxed effluent. The hydrotreated and dewaxed effluent is separated in a separation zone into a liquid and a vapor phase, the vapor phase comprising a hydrogen containing gas that can be recycled. The liquid phase is separated into at least a diesel stream and a heavy hydrocarbon stream. The heavy hydrocarbon stream is hydrocracked and the hydrocracked effluent may be passed to the reactor for hydrotreating and dewaxing or passed to the separation zone with the hydrotreated and dewaxed effluent.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for pretreating a hydrocarbon stream in a hydrotreating reactor and separating the diesel materials from the pretreated effluent before the heavier liquid materials are fed to a hydrocracking unit. Thus diesel materials are preserved but recovered along with the hydrocracked effluent. A recovered diesel stream can be sent to a hydrotreating unit to improve its cetane rating.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for increasing vacuum gas oil recovery from a vacuum column are described. The process includes separating a residue crude oil stream from a crude oil separation column in a vacuum column into at least one vacuum gas oil fraction, and a contaminant-rich slop fraction containing at least one contaminant; contacting the contaminant-rich slop fraction with a lean ionic liquid in a contaminant removal zone to produce a mixture comprising a contaminant-lean slop fraction and a rich ionic liquid comprising at least a portion of the at least one contaminant; and separating the mixture to produce a treated slop effluent comprising the contaminant-lean slop fraction and a rich ionic liquid effluent comprising the rich ionic liquid.

Abstract: A process for selectively dealkylating aromatic compounds includes providing a coal tar stream comprising aromatic compounds and hydrotreating the coal tar stream to reduce a concentration of one or more of organic sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen in the coal tar stream, and to hydrogenate at least a portion of the aromatic compounds in the coal tar stream. The process further includes hydrocracking the hydrotreated coal tar stream to further hydrogenate the aromatic compounds and to crack at least one ring of multi-ring aromatic compounds to form single-ring aromatic compounds. The single-ring aromatic compounds present in the hydrocracked stream are then dealkylated to remove alkyl groups containing two or more carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for transalkylating a coal tar stream is described. A coal tar stream is provided, and is fractionated to provide at least one hydrocarbon stream having polycyclic aromatics. The hydrocarbon stream is hydrotreated in a hydrotreating zone, and then hydrocracked in a hydrocracking zone. A light aromatics stream is added to the hydrocracking zone. The light aromatics stream comprises one or more light aromatics having a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position that is lower than a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position for the hydrotreated stream. The hydrocracked stream is transalkylated in the hydrocracking zone.

Abstract: A process for purifying at least one product from coal tar is described. The process involves separating a coal tar fraction having a boiling point in the range of about 180° C. to about 230° C. into an acidic portion and a non-acidic portion by contacting the fraction with a caustic compound. The acidic portion is separated into a cresol portion and a xylenol portion, and the non-acidic portion is separated into a naphthalene portion and a naphthalene co-boiler portion. The acidic portion and the non-acidic portions are separated by contacting with an adsorbent comprising small, discrete crystallites, the adsorbent having less than 10 wt % amorphous binder component. The various portions can be separated in a similar manner.

Abstract: A method of processing a coal feed to produce aromatic hydrocarbon compounds includes providing a coal tar stream and converting the coal tar stream to a conversion product comprising at least olefins, paraffins, and aromatics. The process further includes separating the olefins and C5? paraffins from the conversion product, and contacting the separated olefins and the C5? paraffins with a catalyst to dehydrogenize, oligomerize, and cyclize the olefins and the C5? paraffins, to form aromatic hydrocarbon compounds.

Abstract: A process for transalkylating a coal tar stream is described. A coal tar stream is provided, and is fractionated to provide at least one hydrocarbon stream having polycyclic aromatics. The hydrocarbon stream is hydrotreated in a hydrotreating zone, and then hydrocracked in a hydrocracking zone. A light aromatics stream is added to the hydrocracking zone. The light aromatics stream comprises one or more light aromatics having a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position that is lower than a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position for the hydrotreated stream. The hydrocracked stream is transalkylated in the hydrocracking zone.

Abstract: A process for selectively dealkylating aromatic compounds includes providing a coal tar stream comprising aromatic compounds and hydrotreating the coal tar stream to reduce a concentration of one or more of organic sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen in the coal tar stream, and to hydrogenate at least a portion of the aromatic compounds in the coal tar stream. The process further includes hydrocracking the hydrotreated coal tar stream to further hydrogenate the aromatic compounds and to crack at least one ring of multi-ring aromatic compounds to form single-ring aromatic compounds. The single-ring aromatic compounds present in the hydrocracked stream are then dealkylated to remove alkyl groups containing two or more carbon atoms.

Abstract: A method of processing a coal feed to produce aromatic hydrocarbon compounds includes providing a coal tar stream and converting the coal tar stream to a conversion product comprising at least olefins, paraffins, and aromatics. The process further includes separating the olefins and C5? paraffins from the conversion product, and contacting the separated olefins and the C5? paraffins with a catalyst to dehydrogenize, oligomerize, and cyclize the olefins and the C5? paraffins, to form aromatic hydrocarbon compounds.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for pretreating a hydrocarbon stream in a hydrotreating reactor and separating the diesel materials from the pretreated effluent before the heavier liquid materials are fed to a hydrocracking unit. Thus diesel materials are preserved but recovered along with the hydrocracked effluent. A recovered diesel stream can be sent to a hydrotreating unit to improve its cetane rating.

Abstract: A process for producing alkylated aromatic compounds includes pyrolyzing a coal feed to produce a coke stream and a coal tar stream. The coal tar stream is hydrotreated and the resulting hydrotreated coal tar stream is cracked. A portion of the cracked coal tar stream is separated to obtain a fraction having an initial boiling point in the range of about 60° C. to about 180° C., and an aromatics-rich hydrocarbon stream is extracted by contacting the fraction with one or more solvents. The aromatics-rich hydrocarbon stream is contacted with an alkylating agent to produce an alkylated aromatic stream, or the aromatics-rich hydrocarbon stream is reacted with an aliphatic compound or methanol in the presence of a catalyst to produce a methylated aromatic stream. The alkylated aromatic stream, the methylated aromatic stream, or both are separated into at least a benzene stream, a toluene stream, and a xylenes stream.

Abstract: A process for transalkylating a coal tar stream is described. A coal tar stream is provided, and is fractionated to provide at least one hydrocarbon stream having polycyclic aromatics. The hydrocarbon stream is hydrotreated in a hydrotreating zone, and then hydrocracked in a hydrocracking zone. A light aromatics stream is added to the hydrocracking zone. The light aromatics stream comprises one or more light aromatics having a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position that is lower than a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position for the hydrotreated stream. The hydrocracked stream is transalkylated in the hydrocracking zone.