Abstract: A polymerizable grade of ethylene is recovered from an olefin-containing composition, prepared by the conversion of a methoxy compound to olefins, by a process which significantly reduces the requirements of the demethanizer distillation column through which hydrogen and methane are eliminated as impurities from the ethylene product without suffering economically unacceptable losses of ethylene to the hydrogen-methane fraction that is separated. The invention also provides for a C-2 splitter column of simplified requirements.

Abstract: In a solvent recovery plant including a recovery or distillation tower from which solvent product is recovered overhead, an isothermal separator, preferably a cyclone, is used to separate liquid phase contaminant (i.e. oil in a lubricating oil extraction process) in overhead product and to feed the separated liquid to the recovery tower as reflux. In addition, a portion of the feed to the tower can be branched off and mixed with the overhead product to bring its temperature down to close to the dew point of the solvent vapor. In this way, flooding of the uppermost tower trays and distillation of oil overhead can be overcome.

Abstract: Process for separating a feedstock stream essentially consisting of hydrogen, methane and C.sub.3 /C.sub.4 -hydrocarbons, which first passes through a pretreatment, such as, e.g., dehydrogenation, after which the feedstock stream undergoes an at least one-stage partial condensation and separation into a C.sub.3 /C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon-rich fraction and into an H.sub.2 /CH.sub.4 fraction, after which a partial stream of the H.sub.2 /CH.sub.4 fraction is mixed in the not yet pretreated feedstock stream. The H.sub.2 /CH.sub.4 gas fraction drawn off from first separator (S1) is divided into two partial streams (10, 17), and first partial stream (10) together with liquid fraction (11) of first separator (S1) is fed to a second separator (S2) after partial condensation (W2), C.sub.3 /C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon-rich liquid fraction (16), drawn off at the bottom of second separator (S2), together with the second partial stream of H.sub.2 /CH.sub.

Abstract: A catalytic cracked naphtha is desulfurized with minimum loss of olefins and octane. The naphtha is fed to a first distillation column reactor which acts as a depentanizer or dehexanizer with the lighter material containing most of the olefins and mercaptans being boiled up into a first distillation reaction zone where the mercaptans are reacted with diolefins to form sulfides which are removed in the bottoms along with any higher boiling sulfur compounds. The bottoms are subjected to hydrodesulfurization in a second distillation column reactor where the sulfur compounds are converted to H.sub.2 S and removed. The lighter fraction containing most of the olefins is thus not subjected to the more harsh hydrogenation conditions of the second reactor.

Abstract: A process for the dehydration and/or desalination and simultaneous fractionation of a petroleum deposit effluent containing oil, associated gas and water which can be saline, which process comprises:(a) at least one step for separating the liquid and gaseous phases at the pressure P1 for removal of the gas, producing a gaseous fraction G1, on the one hand, which is removed and a liquid fraction L1, on the other hand, which is sent to step(b) at least one step for separating, at least partly, the two liquid phases mixed in the liquid fraction L1, the aqueous phase being partly removed and the oil phase containing a quantity of residual aqueous phase being sent to step (c);(c) at least one distillation step carried out at a pressure P2 which is less than, or at the most equal to, the pressure P1 in step (a), in a distillation zone C1, said distillation being carried out in the presence of the oil phase coming from step (b), said zone C1 comprising an internal heat exchange zone and a boiling zone, and enabling

Abstract: A description is given of a process for the fractionation of oil and gas on a petroleum deposit effluent, including:(a) a stage wherein the liquid and gaseous phases are separated at the gas evacuation pressure P1, producing a gaseous fraction G1, on the one hand, which is evacuated, and a liquid fraction L1, on the other hand, which is constituted at least partially of oil, sending the liquid fraction L1 to stage (b);(b) at least one distillation stage carried out at a pressure P2 which is less than or at least equal to the pressure P1 in stage (a), in a distillation zone C1 which has an internal heat exchange zone and a reboiling zone, and which permits a gaseous fraction G2 to be recovered, on the one hand, and a liquid fraction L2 to be recovered, on the other hand, which is sent to the internal exchange zone, then evacuated; and(c) at least one recompression stage at the pressure P1 of at least a part of the gaseous fraction G2 which is at least partly mixed with the gaseous fraction G2 and evacuated.

Abstract: In a process for the recovery of a polymerizable useful fraction, consisting of styrene, methylstyrenes, vinyltoluenes, indene, methylindenes and fractions whose boiling points are between styrene and methylindenes, from the crack gases of a steam cracker, the sidestream of the crack gas column is divided, by means of a distillation unit, into the useful fraction and into fractions which are recycled to the crack gas column.

Abstract: Non-carcinogenic asphalts and asphalt blending stocks are produced from reduced hydrocarbon feedstocks. Such non-carcinogenic products are produced by establishing a functional relationship between mutagenicity index and a physical property correlative of hydrocarbon type for the asphalt or asphalt blending stock and determining a critical physical property level which, when achieved, results in a product having a mutagenicity index of less than about 1.0. Process conditions are established so that a product stream achieving the desired physical property level can be produced. Non-carcinogenic asphalts and asphalt blending stocks are then processed utilizing the conditions so established.

Abstract: An improved fractionating process is provided wherein a liquid stream is withdrawn from the separation zone of the fractionator, is cooled and is recycled to the fractionator at a location below the location of withdrawal of the liquid stream. An improved fractionator is provided which comprises a withdrawal point from which a liquid stream is withdrawn, a cooler to cool the withdrawn stream and a means for recycling the withdrawn stream to a point below the withdrawal point.

Abstract: Deasphalting heavy, asphaltic crudes before significant thermal treatment, even mild treatment which is inherent in, e.g., vacuum distillation, produces deasphalted whole crude with a reduced soluble metal content. This process is especially effective for preparing feedstocks for catalytic cracking units from heavy crudes containing large amounts of Ni and V which are porphyrin coordinated, and which are thermally unstable.

Abstract: A method for removing particulate solids, such as catalyst fines, from a hot slurry oil having a gravity of 5.degree. API to 15.degree. API, an atmospheric pressure initial boiling point of from about 500.degree. F. to about 750.degree. F. and an atmospheric pressure end point of less than 1,000.degree. F. which entails mixing a preselected amount of the slurry oil with a preselected amount of a hot vacuum reduced crude oil having equilibrium flash vaporization characteristics such that when the mixture is subjected to a selected temperature in a vacuum tower maintained at a vacuum of from about 1.0 mm Hg to about 10.0 mm Hg, at least 85 volume percent of the slurry oil will be flashed overhead and not more than about 15% of the vacuum reduced crude oil will be flashed overhead, and the particulate solids will remain in the liquid bottoms.

Abstract: Non-carcinogenic bright stock extracts and/or deasphalted oils are produced from reduced hydrocarbon feedstocks. Such non-carcinogenic products are produced by establishing a functional relationship between mutagenicity index and a physical property correlative of hydrocarbon type for the bright stock extract or deasphalted oil and determining a critical physical property level which, when achieved, results in a product having a mutagenicity index of less than about 1.0. Process conditions are established so that a product stream achieving the desired physical property level can be produced. Non-carcinogenic bright stock extracts and/or deasphalted oils are then processed utilizing the conditions so established. A bright stock extract and a deasphalted oil substantilly free from mutagenic activity, as well as processes for their production are also provided herein.

Abstract: Heavy intermediate petroleum wax is separated into two fractions in a wiped film evaporator to provide a lower boiling fraction of narrow melting range particularly suitable for use in hot melt adhesive formulations.

Abstract: The aim is to separate, by cooling and partial condensation of C.sub.2+, C.sub.3+ or C.sub.4 hydrocarbons contained in a gas mixture comprising, in addition to these components, even lighter constituents. For this purpose, the gas mixture is at first cooled until condensation of a smaller part of the hydrocarbons to be separated, after which the mixture is fed into the lower region of a fractionating column. A gaseous fraction is removed from the upper region of said column and is then again cooled and partly condensed in a heat exchanger, after which this partly condensed fraction is conveyed to the top of the fractionating column in the form of a return flow. In the case of C.sub.4 separation, the C.sub.4 hydrocarbons must represent more than 50% of the hydrocarbons contained in the gas.

Abstract: Processes are provided for the recovery of aromatic hydrocarbons from feeds comprising mixtures of aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons using a mixed aromatic extraction solvent at extraction temperature of less than 250.degree. F. The mixed extraction solvent is comprised of a solvent component containing low molecular weight polyalkylene glycols and a cosolvent component containing glycol ethers. Extractive distillation and steam distillation operations are employed to separate the hydrocarbon components from the rich solvent extract.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for preparing and treating a heavy oil extraction solvent. A solvent fraction is separated from a crude oil and combined with a slip stream of rerun solvent taken from an extraction process solvent recycle system. The solvent fraction and rerun solvent are fractionated to provide a purified extraction solvent. The purified extraction solvent is then utilized in the heavy oil extraction process.

Abstract: There is here disclosed an apparatus for continuously measuring on an on-line system a flash point of an intermediate fraction such as kerosene in a petroleum distillation process from a difference between gas concentrations of the intermediate fraction at two predetermined temperatures; and a method for controlling the flash point of the intermediate fraction from the thus measured value.

Abstract: A process for abating corrosion caused by ammonium bisulfate in a crude column overhead transfer line operated at a temperature above the nominal aqueous dew point and in contact with a crude oil feed stream containing sulfur oxides, ammonia and a hydrochloric acid neutralizing amine, which process comprises maintaining a chloride level in said crude oil feed stream sufficient to provide a mole ratio of ammonium chloride to ammonium bisulfate of greater than about 20 in said crude column overhead transfer line.

Abstract: A circular section column with helical liquid flow is divided by a vertical wall 10 into two gas and vapor tight sectors A and B, each sector housing a series of trays.The trays disposed are designated respectively 1a, 2a and 3a for sector A and 1b, 2b and 3b for sector B.The distance D separating each two successive half trays of a given series is constant.On the other hand, the half-trays of one series are each staggered in the axial direction of the column with respect to the half-trays of the other series by a spacing d which is less than half the distance D.This arrangement allows a greater number of half-trays to be housed in a column of a given height, or the height of a column for a given number of trays to be decreased.

Abstract: Improved product stripping in a catalytic hydrodesulfurization (CHD) product stream is obtained by employing off-gas from the unit as a stripping medium. The compressed off-gas is introduced into the stripper below the stripper feed level. The stripper may be operated at pressures higher than those previously employed in CHD product strippers and this permits LPG recovery to be maximized with lower product sulfur levels and reduced load in the off-gas compressor.

Abstract: A process for substantially neutralizing the volatile acid gases and water present in the condensate of a distilling pertroleum product which comprises treating the distilling product prior to the condensation thereof with at least one amine having a boiling point below 95.degree. C.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of a hydrocarbonaceous distillate and a hydrocarbonaceous residue, which comprises mixing a residual fraction of a product obtained by catalytic cracking or hydrocracking a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock, with a second hydrocarbonaceous fraction having such a boiling range that at least 50% w boils at a temperature above 400.degree. C., and subjecting the resulting mixture to a subatmospheric distillation yielding at least one distillate fraction and one residue. The residue thus prepared is a suitable component in bitumen compositions.

Abstract: A computer control system for automatically optimizing the temperature of the feed supplied to a distillation column from a fuel fired preheat furnace, wherein the furnace temperature is manipulated in response to a measured ratio of distillate flow (D) from the tower to fuel flow (F) to the furnace. The D/F ratio is maximized by periodically comparing the present value of D/F to the previous value and incrementally increasing the furnace temperature as long as the D/F ratio increases. When no change is detected or the D/F ratio starts to decrease the furnace temperature is incrementally decreased until the D/F ratio again increases and reverses the control action once more.

Abstract: Cut point is controlled in a distillation process by monitoring the partial pressure in a stripper.

Abstract: The present invention is a distillation vapor and feed mixing and subsequent separation process and apparatus involving the introduction of a vaporizing liquid feed into a flash zone via a tangential nozzle into a mixing and separation chamber which directs the feed into a circumferential path to enhance mixing, and the redirection of rising vapors from the distillation below the flash zone by baffling these vapors into the chamber inlet. The rising vapors are inspirated by the high velocity feed at the inlet side of the chamber and intimate contact and mixing of the rising vapors with the vaporizing feed are enhanced by creating a spinning action. Preferably, the chamber runs peripherally and slightly downward along the inside wall of the distillation column along an arc no greater than 360.degree.. Alternatively, the mixing section of the mixing and separation chamber may be located outside of the distillation tower and the feed, passing through a jet ejector would inspirate the rising vapors.

Abstract: An improvement in a process for the treatment of heavy oil in which a hydrocarbon diluent is subjected to distillation prior to its addition to a heavy oil production stream, to remove at least some of the light components in the diluent that would otherwise vaporize in the treatment process. A distillation unit for use in the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a reaction product of an alkynediol and a polyalkylene polyamine to control corrosion of metallic surfaces in contact with a substantially anhydrous elevated temperature mixture of a hydrocarbon and propionic acid. The method is particularly useful in controlling the corrosion of overheads in a crude unit of a refinery where problems of this nature are prevalent.

Abstract: A process for the multi-stage condensation of an overhead fraction is disclosed. The process facilitates optimal response to changes in distillation column controls wherein column top reflux condensation is preferentially returned to said distillation column, but auxiliary surge capacity is obtained by connection to a first accumulator section of an accumulating zone, which surge capacity is supplemented by one-way flow of liquid from a cooler, second section in said accumulation zone.

Abstract: In an atmospheric distillation tower of a coal liquefaction process, tower materials corrosion is reduced or eliminated by introduction of boiling point differentiated streams to boiling point differentiated tower regions.

Abstract: Nitrogen and sulfur contaminants are removed from an aqueous stream containing the same by steam stripping the aqueous stream to produce a first vapor stream, containing water and a major portion of NH.sub.3 and H.sub.2 S, reducing the temperature of the first vapor stream to a temperature at which a substantial portion of H.sub.2 S is insoluble in water to produce a second vapor stream, containing a major portion of the H.sub.2 S, and a second liquid stream, containing a major portion of the NH.sub.3, and separating the second vapor and liquid streams. The second liquid stream is added to a fluid containing acidic materials to reduce corrosion and the formation of solid deposits. Preferably, the aqueous stream is obtained from refinery operations and the fluid containing acidic materials is the overhead of a crude oil fractional distillation step.

Abstract: A process for upgrading heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials for making coke suitable for metallurgical purposes comprises mixing the heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials with a diluent having a closely controlled boiling range so as to facilitate transport, dehydration and desalting of the crude oil. In addition, the diluent aids in controlling temperature and residence time of the crude thereby avoiding premature decomposition.

Abstract: Vinyltoluene is separated from close-boiling, olefinically unsaturated alkylaromatic compounds by extractive distillation. For example, vinyltoluene is separated from cis-.beta.-methylstyrene, and from .alpha.-methylstyrene by extractive distillation using .gamma.-butyrolactone as the extracting agent.

Abstract: A process for mechanochemically activating treatment of crude oil from petroleum and of hydrocarbon mixtures like crude oil but of different, e.g. synthetic origins, is characterized in that the crude oil or similar, if need be after separation of the usual additional water, salts, insoluble impurities, washable acids or compounds with acid reactions, and expulsion of dissolved gaseous components, is treated in a pinned-disk or cage mill known as a "disintegrator" such that every single droplet of oil is exposed on a statistical average to 3 to 12 beats during a period of 0.001 to 0.01 seconds. Improved properties are thus imparted to the products, affecting both processing and the use of the processed products.

Abstract: The efficiency of pumping a hydrocarbon slurry in a pipeline is determined prior to transportation by the relationship:.DELTA.P=ae.sup.bXwherein .DELTA.P is the pressure drop expected to be experienced by the slurry in the pipeline in pounds per square inch (psi), "a" and "b" are constants relating to the size of the pipeline, the flow rate of the slurry and the hydrodynamic volume of the wax crystals, and "X" is the wax crystal content in the slurry from the congealed particles in percentage by weight. The wax crystal content of the slurry is measured, such as by nuclear magnetic resonance and/or differential scanning calorimetry, and is used in conjunction with the constants "a" and "b" to determine the expected pressure drop of the slurry in a particular pipeline. The wax crystal content of the slurry may then be modified, if necessary, to obtain desirable or optimum slurry pumpability conditions for the pipeline.

Abstract: A process for the multistage condensation of an overhead fraction is disclosed. The process employs a single accumulation zone for at least two stages of the condensation, the accumulation zone being characterized by separate accumulation sections formed by a barrier which provides, at or near its bottom, limited liquid flow between the sections.

Abstract: The efficiency of a hydrocarbon slurry is maximized by determining the largest percent of economically pumpable distillation overhead that can be obtained from the hydrocarbon. This determination is based on the properties of the overhead as a carrier fluid in the transporting system (e.g. slurry viscosity or pumpability). Once determined, the composition of the optimum overhead is determined by the usual techniques, i.e., by gas chromatographic techniques, to determine its composition and the cut point defined in terms of the composition of the optimum overhead. The composition of the overhead is monitored during the refining process and is compared with the composition of the optimum overhead. The distillation process is then monitored and controlled accordingly to produce an overhead with the desired molecular composition. One advantage of this method is that it limits the amount of undesirable wax crystals in the overhead.

Abstract: A method for treatment of the heavy hydrocarbonaceous fraction resulting from thermal cracking of high molecular-weight hydrocarbonaceous materials, which method comprises removing light hydrocarbons contained in said fraction by bringing it into contact with a bed packed with refractory inorganic particles at an elevated temperature so as to evaporate said light hydrocarbons and regenerating said refractory inorganic particles-packed bed by incinerating heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials remaining on and/or among said particles in the bed by supplying oxygen to the bed.

Abstract: In a chemical processing plant such as a petroleum refinery, provision is made for steam boilers and heating furnaces in which the energy consumed by the boilers for generating steam exceeds the energy consumed by the heating furnaces. The steam is produced at a pressure level which is sufficient to operate at least one back-pressure turbo-alternator, then to heat the chemical process stream to a sufficiently high temperature by heat exchange with the steam recovered at the outlet of the turbo-alternator.