Abstract: Commercially valuable oil is recovered from refinery-produced, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act classified, hazardous waste oil sludges by a series of volatilizing and condensing steps (which may vary depending on the oil, water, and solids content of the sludge) resulting in the production of nonhazardous water and solid waste byproducts. A pumpable, low viscosity, high oil- and/or water-content sludge is first centrifuged to separate free oil and water, while the thick waste oil sludge, centrifuge solids, or other sludges low in oil and/or water content are heated to volatilize the contained water and oil. Dry, friable, deoiled solids are recycled with the oily sludge feed to prevent material agglomeration and heat exchanger fouling. Oil and water vapor from the high-temperature volatilization apparatus is recycled as an indirect heat source to the low-temperature volatilization apparatus.

Abstract: A method of dewatering oil mud that occurs on board ships during the processing of heavy, diesel, and lubricating oils and consists of a mixture of water and mineral-oil residue that is intercepted on board and subjected to centrifuging. The liquids contaminated with mineral-oil residue that occur on board are collected in two separate containers. The liquids that contain heavy oil and diesel oil are conveyed to the first container and the liquids that contain lubricating oil are conveyed to the second container along with the water that occurs when the oils are processed. The contents of the containers are then conveyed sequentially to one and the same centrifuging device to concentrate the solids. The resulting liquid phases are subjected to separate further processing with on-board equipment, allowing complete disposal or further use of the liquids.

Abstract: A process for treating pretroleum refinery sludge to produce a coke-like residue product wherein an oily petroleum refinery sludge containing organic solid material boiling above 1000.degree. F. and water is heated to a temperature above the boiling point of water and below the thermal cracking temperature of hydrocarbons and water in the sludge forms steam used to steam strip any light hydrocarbons from the organic solid material which is recovered as a solid coke-like residue product.

Abstract: This invention provides for a process for separating extractable organic material from a feed composition comprising said extractable organic material intermixed with solids and water, the process comprising the steps of: (A) contacting said feed composition with a first organic solvent, said first organic solvent being capable of dissolving at least about ten parts of said extractable organic material per million parts of said first organic solvent at the temperature wherein at least about 50% by weight of said first organic solvent boils at atmospheric pressure; dissolving at least part of said extractable organic material in said first organic solvent to form a first solution; and separating at least part of said first solution from said feed composition to provide an intermediate composition, part of said first organic solvent remaining intermixed with said intermediate composition; and (B) contacting said intermediate composition with a volatile organic solvent, said voltile organic solvent being capable

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for the reprocessing of carbon containing wastes by pretreating the same thermally in the presence or absence of hydrogen, followed by hydrogenation of the pretreated material at elevated temperature and at least 200 bar hydrogen pressure.

Abstract: An improved reclamation process for treating petroleum oil and water emulsions derived from producing or processing crude oil is disclosed. The process comprises heating the emulsion to a predetermined temperature at or above about 300.degree. C. and pressurizing the emulsion to a predetermined pressure above the vapor pressure of water at the predetermined temperature. The emulsion is broken by containing the heated and pressurized fluid within a vessel at the predetermined temperature and pressure for a predetermined period of time to effectively separate the emulsion into substantially distinct first, second and third phases. The three phases are then separately withdrawn from the vessel, preferably without any appreciable reduction in temperature and pressure, and at least above a withdraw temperature of about 300.degree. and above the vapor pressure of water at the withdraw temperature.

Abstract: Crude oil sludges and other relatively heavy hydrocarbon liquid sludges are mixed with diatomaceous earth or perlite to form a friable and flowable solids mixture which is conveyed to a combustion unit, such as rotary kiln, calciner or lift pipe type combustor, wherein combustion of the hydrocarbons is carried out to provide gaseous combustion products and a substantially hydrocarbon free solids mixture. The solids discharged from the combustion unit may be recycled for use in the mixing process to reduce the sludge to a friable material for introduction to the combustion unit and excess solids may be discharged for disposal.

Abstract: A method of selective and efficient removal of mercury from a hydrocarbon oil comprising contacting said oil with a cupric and/or stannous compound forming a reaction system. The purified hydrocarbon oil can be readily separated from the reaction system. The purified hydrocarbon oil does not contain mercury or any other catalyst poisoning component and can, therefore, be used extensively in catalytic reactions typified by hydrogenation reaction.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing hydrocarbons from oily wastes. According to the process, the oily wastes are mixed with solids and a binder and then granulated. The granules thus formed are contacted with solvent to extract hydrocarbons from the granules. Preferred solids include limestone and preferred binders include portland cement calcium sulfate and/or calcium sulfate hydrate such as plaster of Paris.

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: The invention relates to a process for the destruction of waste, like biologically difficult to degrade halogen-, nitrogen-, sulphur-, and/or oxygen containing compounds by thermal hydrogenolysis. The waste materials are heated together with an excess hydrogen and/or hydrogen donor during 1 to 10 sec. to a temperature between 700.degree.-1220.degree. C., followed by quenching the gaseous effluent of the reaction and separating it in a hydrocarbon and hydrogen containing phase and a hydrogen halogenide(s) nitrogen-, sulphur-, and/or oxygen containing compounds containing phase.Preferably the hydrogenolysis is performed in two steps, first during 1-10 sec. at 700.degree.-900.degree. C. and second during 1-10 sec. at 850.degree.-1200.degree. C.

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: A method of producing pyrolytic oils suitable for petroleum reprocessing is disclosed. According to the invention, petroleum derived organic sludges or oil residues in a solid/liquid phase are subjected to vacuum pyrolysis under temperature and sub-atmospheric pressure conditions such as to prevent gas and vapor phase secondary cracking reactions and to thereby increase the yield of pyrolytic oils to the detriment of hydrocarbon gases. About 97% of the organic matter content of the sludges and about 75% of the organic matter content of the oil residues can be converted into pyrolytic oils suitable for petroleum reprocessing.

Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbon containing sludges such as refinery waste streams, oil storage tank sludges and marine oil tanker ballast are treated by passing the sludges in a flow stream through an indirect dryer to vaporize liquids having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of less than about 700.degree. F. and to provide substantially dried solid particles discharged from the dryer. The dried particles, containing heavy hydrocarbons as a coating or as a part of the solids, are conducted to a combustor/oxidizer and exposed to a high velocity flow stream of oxygen containing gas, typically low pressure forced air, to burn the residual hydrocarbons in the solids and to reduce heavy metals and the like to oxides thereof. A sludge handling system includes a rotary disk type indirect dryer connected to a lift pipe type combustor/oxidizer for thorough exposure of the dried solids to an oxygen containing atmosphere.

Abstract: Oil containing sludges are treated for the recovery of oil therefrom to render the resultant sludge disposable, by a process of conditioning the sludge to destabilize the emulsified phase thereof, centrifuging the destabilized sludge to obtain a solids-rich material which is largely hydrocarbon free and disposable, and a supernatant, hydrocarbon-containing liquid, and then subjecting the supernatant so formed to liquid/liquid phase separation. The conditioning is conducted so as to prepare a conditioned sludge characterized by a solids content of less than 50% by weight, a water content of less than 90% by weight, an oil phase with an API gravity of less than 12.degree., a continuous aqueous phase, and the solids in the sludge being primarily water wetted, this conditioned sludge being ready for centrifugation.

Abstract: A catalytic cracking process is disclosed which comprises:(a) thermally and/or catalytically cracking a hydrogen-rich hydrocarbon feed in the lower region of a riser reactor in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising a first catalyst component, and, optionally, a second catalyst component, said first catalyst component being an amorphous cracking catalyst and/or large pore crystalline cracking catalyst, said second catalyst component being a shape selective medium pore crystalline silicate zeolite catalyst, to provide a gasiform material contributing hydrogen species and/or carbon-hydrogen fragments; and,(b) catalytically cracking a thermally treated heavy hydrocarbon feed in a higher region of the riser in the presence of said catalyst composition and gasiform material to provide gasoline boiling range material in increased yield and/or of higher quality.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the working up of salvage oil, in which the salvage oil is subjected to an extraction under supercritical conditions. The halogen compounds contained in the produced extract are removed by catalytic hydrogenation. The extraction residue is eliminated by deposition or thermal treatment (gasification). In the case of a thermal treatment of the extraction residue, other residues can be simultaneously converted, so that the process is performed without yield of environmentally burdensome residues or by-products. Ethane in particular and/or propane is employed as solvent for the supercritical extraction.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon-containing liquid waste sludges from refinery waste streams can be disposed of by blending with the feedstock being passed to a fluid catalytic cracking unit. Preferably, the sludge is premixed with a hydrocarbon, such as a light oil, prior to mixing with the feed.

Abstract: Crude oil sludges and other relatively heavy hydrocarbon liquid sludges are mixed with diatomaceous earth or perlite to form a friable and flowable solids mixture which is conveyed to a combustion unit, such as rotary kiln, calciner or lift pipe type combustor, wherein combustion of the hydrocarbons is carried out to provide gaseous combustion products and a substantially hydrocarbon free solids mixture. The solids discharged from the combustion unit may be recycled for use in the mixing process to reduce the sludge to a friable material for introduction to the combustion unit and excess solids may be discharged for disposal.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for treating cat cracker bottoms sludge to remove the cat cracker bottoms hydrocarbons from the catalyst fines in the sludge to provide treated fines which are environmentally safe for landfill. The process involves mixing the sludge with a hydrocarbon diluent, separating the fines from the diluent-sludge mixture, then mixing the separated fines and remaining diluent with water and distilling off the remaining diluent to obtain the treated fines.

Abstract: Process for the removal of the residual sulfuric acid from the reaction mixture which has been obtained in the reaction of paraffin with sulfur dioxide, oxygen and water under irradiation by UV light and which has been freed from sulfur dioxide by degassing at an elevated temperature and from which the bulk of the sulfuric acid has been removed by concentration, by warming this concentrated product and adding as much of an alkali metal carbonate, peroxide, hydroxide, sulfate or sulfonate as is required to convert the residual sulfuric acid into an alkali metal bisulfate.

Abstract: A process for producing delayed petroleum coke wherein petroleum sludge is added to liquid hydrocarbon coker feedstock.

Abstract: There is disclosed a new process for the conversion of the organic components of sludge, particularly sewage sludge, to produce useful, storable, energy-containing oil products, apparatus for carrying out the process and a control process for optimization of the process temperature. The sludge preferably is mechanically dewatered to about 20-25% solids by weight and thermally dried to about 90% solids by weight. The resultant material is comminuted and heated in the apparatus of the invention to at least 250.degree. C. in a heating zone in the absence of oxygen to generate a gaseous atmophere containing volatiles; this atmosphere is then removed, scrubbed of H.sub.2 S and NH.sub.3 if required, and passed preferably in countercurrent flow in a heated reaction zone in intimate contact with the "devolatilized" sludge solids from the heating zone, again in the absence of oxygen, at a temperature of at least 280.degree. C., resulting in catalyzed vapor phase oil-producing reactions.

Abstract: An improved fluid coking process is provided in which an aqueous sludge comprising an organic waste is used as quench in a quench elutriator to cool the coke product and convert at least a portion of the organic waste to a vaporous compound (e.g., hydrocarbon) which is recycled to the heating zone to increase the fuel value of the heating zone gaseous effluent.

Abstract: The residues obtained in the hydrogenation of oil, especially heavy oil, or of coal are subjected to low temperature carbonization in a drum, preferably a rotary drum, at temperatures between approximately 400.degree. C. and approximately 600.degree. C., by means of a carbonization gas after the separation of the condensable portions and heating to temperatures between approximately 600.degree. C. and approximately 950.degree. C. which is introduced into the low temperature carbonization drum. The gas is heated to temperatures between approximately 600.degree. C. and approximately 950.degree. C. indirectly by flue gases arising from the combustion of oil or gas, for example, of excess carbonization gas. The residue to be carbonized at low temperature is introduced into the hot gas in a finely dispersed state and preferably atomized.

Abstract: A process for dewatering petroleum-containing sludges by a two-stage method using finely divided additives and organic flocculants, wherein(a) finely divided additives, such as ash, coal, sand or mixtures of these, in a free-flowing form or as an aqueous suspension, are homogeneously dispersed in the petroleum-containing sludge, in an amount such that the total solids content of the resulting mixture is from 10 to 30% by weight, especially from 12 to 20% by weight,(b) this sludge mixture is treated with an aqueous solution of an organic flocculant, preferably of anionic nature,(c) the greater part of the sludge water is removed by gravity filtration,(d) the pre-dewatered sludge mixture is treated with an aqueous solution of aluminum salts or trivalent iron salts and(e) this mixture is substantially dewatered by pressure filtration, in the course of which the greater part of the petroleum present is also removed.

Abstract: A gas phase process for the regeneration and concentration of spent sulfuric acid containing oxidizable impurities, which minimizes decomposition of sulfur trioxide to sulfur dioxide comprising: providing one or more reactor vessels containing hot turbulent combustion products; providing a supply of oxygen to the reactor; atomizing into the reactor vessel or vessels the spent sulfuric acid in droplets capable of evaporating in less than several milliseconds whether or not electromagnetic or ultrasonic energy sources are used to augment evaporation, having a particle size smaller than 50 microns, thereby vaporizing the droplets, almost instantaneously, dissociating the spent sulfuric acid into sulfur trioxide and water, and oxidizing the hydrocarbons; maintaining the temperature in the reactor vessel below 1000.degree. C.

Abstract: In the recovery of regenerated mineral and synthetic oils from blackish dirty lubricating or industrial oils, a quaternary ammonium salt or mixture of salts is added to the dirty oil and the mixture is subjected to agitation. The agitated mixture is next subjected to a decanting operation making it possible to recover, as the upper supernatant fraction, an oil exhibiting approximately the same characteristics as a new starting oil useful for automotive engines, transmissions and differentials, as a lubricant for machine tools, useful in transformers and other electric and electropneumatic devices and also useful as a hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed are a process and apparatus useful for reclaiming sulfur-containing waste materials such as waste or spent sulfuric acid and acid tars.The sulfur-containing waste material is burned in a multi-stage combustion furnace having, in sequence, a rotary furnace containing heated coke, an intermediate combustion chamber and a secondary combustion chamber. The temperatures, gas flow rates and amount of added air are carefully controlled.A separation gas is produced having a high sulfur dioxide content which can be used in the sulfuric acid contact process. The separation gas is free of nitrous oxides, hydrocarbons and sulfur trioxide.

Abstract: A process for forming uniform distributions of at least one substance in a solid. The process comprises forming a predistribution of the at least one substance in at least one compound, e.g., mixing the at least one substance so that it is distributed throughout the at least one compound, and reacting the at least one compound with water to form a hydroxide, which hydroxide has a larger surface area than the at least one compound. Predistribution must take place before a substantial portion of the compound reacts to form the hydroxide. This process can be used to form a dry powder having at least one substance uniformly distributed therein.

Abstract: The organic compound oxidation plant comprises vessels for organic compounds and for liquid-phase oxidizer, and a mixer for mixing organic compounds. The plant further includes a furnace for heating organic compounds and a reactor for oxidizing organic compounds. The top portion of the reactor is made cylindrical and accommodates a spraying unit for the supply of organic compounds and a liquid-phase oxidizer dispersion unit. The bottom portion of the reactor is made conical and accommodates a spraying unit additionally mounted therein at an angle to the reactor horizontal axis. Said latter spraying unit has nozzles ensuring the supply of organic compounds to the conical surface of the reactor. The nozzles of the spraying unit are provided with screens serving to ensure directional movement of organic compounds to the spraying unit and with openings for the supply of organic compounds, above which openings guide deflectors are mounted.

Abstract: PCT No. PCT/SE78/00029 Sec. 371 Date May 9, 1979 Sec. 102(e) Date May 9, 1979 PCT Filed Aug. 10, 1978 PCT Pub. No. WO79/00137 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 22, 1979This specification describes a method of separating a fine-grained close-packed solid material from a liquid with which the fine-grained material is saturated. The material may by way of example consist of grindings; metal-containing pickling bath deposits; or metal oxides from metallurgical venturi-filter. The moist mixture (1) is packed in a container (2) which thereafter is closed and heated from underneath. The liquid is evaporated starting from the lower portions in the container and forces liquid from the upper portions towards the surface of the paste-like mixture, wherefrom collected liquid (9) can be removed. Common oil drums can be used as containers.

Abstract: Waste products derived from coking coal, such as coal tar decanter wastes and wash oil muck, are processed to recover an oil fraction and a granular coke breeze residue. The wastes are mixed with a diluent oil, preferably having a saponification number of about 100 or more, are subjected to agitation and mixing and are thereafter filtered to produce a granular, coke breeze cake and a filtrate comprising water and oil which separate easily by decantation.

Abstract: Oily sludge is treated by filtering it through a precoated surface filter, treating the filtration residue with a hydrocarbon solvent and/or steam stripping the extracted residue.The residual oil content of the treated sludge is very low and it can be used for land fill operations.

Abstract: Sulfonic acids are converted into a hydrocarbon oil of superior oxidation stability by transforming the acids into compounds selected from the group consisting of ammonium sulfonates, substituted ammonium sulfonates, and sulfonic acid esters; and hydrotreating the resultant sulfonic acid derivatives at elevated temperatures in the presence of a hydrotreating catalyst. The hydrotreating process frees the parent hydrocarbons that originally constituted the organic portion of the sulfonic acids by cleaving the carbon-sulfur bond of the sulfonic acid derivatives. These parent hydrocarbons are recovered from the reaction products of the hydrotreating step and comprise a hydrocarbon oil that exhibits a higher stability toward oxidation than can otherwise be obtained from other hydrocarbon oils of similar composition and viscosity.

Abstract: A method for the solidification and containment of sludge from an oil reclaiming process to permit environmentally safe storage disposal of the sludge and particularly electric transformer oil containing PCB's. In the process, the sludge or oil is mixed with fuller's earth in a weight ratio of at least 40:60 of fuller's earth to sludge or oil. The fuller's earth has a particle size not greater than -4 mesh to 0 mesh range and a moisture content of less than 12%. The mixture is allowed to harden to a paste like solid material and conveyed to a conventional land fill storage disposal site.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing an aluminum halide or its complex catalyst from a polymerization product comprising the steps of adding to the polymerization product an aprotic polar solvent in an amount of 1.0 through 6.0 mol per one mol of the aluminum halide in the catalyst present in the product and sufficiently mixing them at a temperature of 70.degree. through 150.degree. C, and then, filtering the mixture at a temperature of 70.degree. through 150.degree. C. The addition of the aprotic polar solvent remarkably facilitates the separation of the catalyst from the polymerization product.

Abstract: Sulfonic acids are converted into a hydrocarbon oil of superior oxidation stability by transforming the acids into compounds selected from the group consisting of ammonium sulfonates, substituted ammonium sulfonates, and sulfonic acid esters; and hydrotreating the resultant sulfonic acid derivatives at elevated temperatures in the presence of a hydrotreating catalyst. The hydrotreating process frees the parent hydrocarbons that originally constituted the organic portion of the sulfonic acids by cleaving the carbon-sulfur bond of the sulfonic acid derivatives. These parent hydrocarbons are recovered from the reaction products of the hydrotreating step and comprise a hydrocarbon oil that exhibits a higher stability toward oxidation than can otherwise be obtained from other hydrocarbon oils of similar composition and viscosity.

Abstract: Water containing combustible sludges are dried with the multiple effect use of the heat required by adding recycled cool high boiling oil and heating the mixture by direct contact with steam produced as later described. Then the oil sludge mixture has water separated off which is possible, since water has been added by the direct condensation of steam in the heating of the mixture plus any extra original water in the sludge that can be removed by a centrifuge. The mixture is heated again by adding hot oil and then the mixture has water evaporated off by reducing the pressure. This steam produced is used for the direct steam heating mentioned above. Then water vapor is evaporated off again by reducing the pressure again and this water vapor is condensed by a water cooled condenser. In this way water vapor is evaporated off with the double use of heat. By indirect heat exchange of separated warm water with oil plus dried solids being heated sensible heat losses are kept small.

Abstract: A method for activation of an aluminum chloride complex used as a catalyst in the nuclear alkylation of an aromatic compound with an alkyl halide or an olefin which comprises washing a part of or all of the aluminum chloride complex with a paraffinic hydrocarbon.

Abstract: Lime, preferably as calcium oxide, is mixed with the contents of sumps, such as oil well sumps, and these generally have a pasty or plastic consistency. The calcium oxide reacts with the materials present and also dehydrates the contents of the sump, causing the sump contents to stiffen. This mixing is performed by a drag line scoop that carries calcium oxide through the sump contents, mixing and blending the oxide and contents as it moves because of the unique construction of the mixing scoop. Once the mixing and blending is complete and reaction of the calcium oxide and the contents is complete, the sump contents are dredged and deposited on high ground to dry by the combined action of sun and air. Drying periods may range from several days to several weeks and the material thereupon becomes a dry, hard and stable type of soil suitable for fill purposes and which, when neutralized with acid, also may be suitable for agricultural purposes.

Abstract: A process for deoiling and dewatering refinery sludges in which sludges, optionally mixed with a diluent oil such as recycle oil recovered in the process, are contacted in a heating zone with steam or superheated steam to effect separation of the sludges into dry, oil-free, free-flowing solids and an oil-water vapor phase which on condensation yields a mixture of oil and water. The oil recovered from this mixture is suitable for a variety of purposes such as for cracking stock, etc. and the water recovered exhibits a reduced Chemical Oxygen Demand. The dry, free flowing solids recovered from the heating zone are useful for a wide variety of applications, such as for land fill.

Abstract: A process for removing HF (hydrogen fluoride) from the sludge resulting from the HF treatment of a hydrocarbon is disclosed. The process comprises concurrently treating the sludge with aqueous caustic and a liquid aromatic hydrocarbon.

Abstract: An environmentally attractive method for storing sludge containing water, mineral matter, bitumen, and liquid hydrocarbon formed in a retention pond used to store effluent discharge waste streams associated with aqueous extraction of bitumen from tar sands comprising inserting the sludge below the surface of an unpolluted pond.

Abstract: A method for the solidification and containment of sludge from an oil reclaiming process to permit environmentally safe storage disposal of the sludge and particularly electric transformer oil containing PCB's. In the process, the sludge or oil is mixed with fuller's earth in a weight ratio of at least 40:60 of fuller's earth to sludge or oil. The fuller's earth has a particle size not greater than -4 mesh to 0 mesh range and a moisture content of less than 12%. .[.The mixture is allowed to harden to a paste like solid material and conveyed to a conventional land fill storage disposal site..].