Abstract: In a process for thermal cracking of heavy oils in which a heavy petroleum oil is caused to contact a heated fluidized bed of solid particles in the presence of steam thereby to obtain principally light petroelum oils, the solid particles are stable at the temperature of the thermal cracking and are of substantially spherical shape of porous nature of a pore volume of 0.10 to 1.0 cm.sup.3 /g, a specific surface area of 50 to 1,500 m.sup.2 /g, and a weight-mean diameter of 0.025 to 0.25 mm.

Abstract: A high pore volume solid sorbent material of low cracking activity and comprising a select group of metal additives to immobilize accumulated vanadium compounds deposited on the sorbent material in a heavy oil feed visbreaking zone is described and the conditions employed to effect demetallization and decarbonization of the heavy oil feed to produce vaporous products boiling up to about 1000.degree. F. Deposition of metal contaminants within the pores of the high pore volume material is encouraged by restricting the volume of the sorbent pores filled with oil feed to within the range of 1/4 to 2/3.

Abstract: A back-end guard bed is located downstream of and in series with a nickel catalyst-containing sulfur trap to remove the organosulfur-nickel complex formed in the nickel catalyst-containing sulfur trap and passed along with the product therefrom during periods of hydrofiner upset, or such other periods when sulfur concentration, flow rate and operating temperature of the feed passed from the hydrofiner through the nickel catalyst-containing sulfur trap forms the organosulfur-nickel complex.

Abstract: A combination process is described for upgrading residual oils and high boiling portions thereof comprising metal contaminants and high boiling Conradson carbon forming compounds comprising a thermal visbreaking operation with fluidizable inert solids followed by a fluidized zeolite catalytic cracking operation processing demetallized products of the visbreaking operation, regenerating solid particulate of each operation under conditions to provide CO rich flue gases relied upon to generate steam used in each of the fluidized solids conversion operation and downstream product separation arrangements, separating the wet gas product stream of each operation in a common product recovery arrangement and processing the high boiling feed product of visbreaking comprising up to 100 ppm Ni +V metal contaminant over a recycled crystalline zeolite cracking catalyst distributed in a sorbent matrix material comprising a high level of Ni +V metal contaminant.

Abstract: Unsaturated hydrocarbons and mixtures in which the latter are present are treated with anion exchangers prior to hydrogenation and are then hydrogenated catalytically in a known manner. The treatment with anion exchangers is carried out at 0.degree.-120.degree. C. and at a space velocity of 0.1 to 10 l of hydrocarbons to be hydrogenated per l of exchanger, per hour. The process avoids other, energy-intensive pretreatments, for example distillation of the hydrocarbons to be hydrogenated, or washing, and can be carried out in simple equipment. A considerable prolongation of the catalyst operating time is achieved in the subsequent catalytic hydrogenation.

Abstract: The method and means for effecting selective visbreaking of residual oil feeds comprising metallo-organic compounds with a fluid solid sorbent particle material in the presence of process sour water and wet gas recycle material is described to provide a gas oil rich product more suitable for crystalline zeolite fluid catalytic cracking operations.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock containing organo-sulfur compounds, such as a naphtha containing mercaptans, is desulfurized by contact, under non-hydrogenative conditions, with a reduced catalytic absorbent comprising one or more nickel components and one or more platinum group metal promoters composited with a porous refractory oxide.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for upgrading a hydrocarbon oil feed having a significant content of metals, especially vanadium, to provide a higher grade of oil products by contacting the feed under sorbing conditions in an upgrading zone with a high surface area, high pore volume sorbent material containing an added alkaline metal to neutralize acidic cracking sites. Upgrading conditions are such that coke and metals are deposited on the sorbent in the upgrading zone. Coked sorbent is regenerated by contact with an oxygen containing gas under regeneration conditions to remove the coke, and regenerated sorbent is recycled to the upgrading zone for contact with fresh feed. The added alkaline metal is present on the sorbent in an amount sufficient to neutralize substantially all of the acidic cracking sites and provide a sorbent material having a MAT relative activity in the range of about 0 to about 1 percent.

Abstract: Whole crude and residual fractions from distillation of petroleum and like feed stocks are subjected to selective vaporization to prepare heavy fractions of reduced Conradson Carbon and/or metals content by short-term, high temperature riser contact with a substantially inert solid contact material of low surface area in a selective vaporization zone. High boiling point components of the charge which are of high Conradson Carbon number and/or high metal content remain on the contact material as a combustible deposit which is then burned off in a combustion zone whereby the contact material is heated to a high temperature for return to the selective vaporization zone to supply the heat required therein. Equilibrium FCC catalyst, previously treated to reduce catalytic cracking activity and surface area, is used as the substantially inert solid.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for decarbonizing, demetallizing and/or desalting a hydrocarbon feed stock by: contacting, in a selective vaporization step, for a short hydrocarbon residence time at an elevated contact temperature, the feed stock with an inert solid contact material in a confined rising vertical column to vaporize a major portion of the feed stock and to provide, as combustible deposits on the contact material, an unvaporized minor portion of the feed stock which includes high Conradson Carbon components and/or metal-containing components of the feed stock; separating the vaporized major portion of the feed stock from the contact material bearing the combustible deposits; contacting in a combustion step the contact material, bearing the combustible deposits, with an oxidizing gas to oxidize the combustible deposits and generate heat, whereby the contact material is heated by combustion of the combustible deposits; and recycling the so-heated contact material to contact further feed stock in t

Abstract: A hydrocarbon feed for use in a catalytic conversion process that utilizes a zeolite catalyst, and that contains a catalytically deleterious impurity, is refined by contact with a zeolitic sorbent. The invention is applicable to dewaxing, with an example illustrating reduction by 100.degree. F. of the initial equilibrium (lineout) temperature by the method of this invention. Other reactions include conversions of aromatic hydrocarbons such as alkylation, isomerization and disproportionation.

Abstract: A waxy fuel oil that contains a catalytically deleterious contaminant is treated with a crystalline zeolite under sorption conditions followed by catalytic dewaxing with a crystalline zeolite exemplified by ZSM-5 to produce dewaxed fuel oil and high octane gasoline.

Abstract: Catalytically dewaxed lubricating base stock oils that have improved resistance to oxidation are produced by pretreating the waxy furfural raffinate with a zeolite sorbent prior to dewaxing with a zeolite catalyst such as ZSM-5, and conducting the dewaxing at a reduced temperature not to exceed about 675.degree.-700.degree. F.

Abstract: Coal tar pitch is liquified at temperature of from about 135.degree. C. to 280.degree. C. The liquid coal tar pitch is filtered through a sieve with apertures from about 100 to 220 .mu.m and with a closed surface area of at least 75 percent of the total sieve surface under pressures of from about 2 to 10 bar until a filter cake of a height of from about 40 to 80 mm forms above the sieve for separating ash, soot and quinoline insoluble particles from the liquid. Then the filtrate obtained is subjected to a coking process.The needle cokes resulting in accordance with the invention provide excellent materials for the production of graphite electrodes.

Abstract: A reforming process is disclosed which comprises contacting a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon material in at least one liquid phase scavenging or sulfur removal zone with at least one manganese-containing composition at conditions to remove at least a portion of said sulfur from said hydrocarbon material to produce a hydrocarbon feedstock having a reduced concentration of sulfur; and contacting said hydrocarbon feedstock with a catalyst comprising a minor catalytically effective amount of at least one platinum-group metal component, optionally, a major amount of a porous solid support, optionally, a minor catalytically effective amount of at least one halogen component, and optionally, at least one rhenium component in the presence of hydrogen at hydrocarbon reforming conditions to obtain a hydrocarbon reformate product.

Abstract: An improvement is disclosed on selective vaporization for decarbonizing and demetallizing heavy petroleum stocks by short time riser contact with hot inert solid contact material. Flexibility is imparted to that process by suspending the contact material in steam or other carrier gas and adding the heavy petroleum stock at variable levels in the riser.

Abstract: An improved coal liquefaction process is disclosed wherein subdivided coal is substantially dissolved in a solvent in the presence of added hydrogen, thereby forming a mixture of dissolved coal, solvent and insoluble solids, and said mixture is passed through a guard bed of solid porous contact material, such as alumina, in the presence of hydrogen, to deposit titanium, iron and calcium from the mixture prior to hydrocracking.

Abstract: Metals deposited on an inert contact material during high temperature decarbonizing and demetallizing of heavy petroleum stocks are inactivated by mixing the contact material with a silica donor and reacting the mixture at high temperature in the presence of steam to induce migration of silica from the donor to mask metal on the contact material.

Abstract: Whole crude and residual fractions from distillation of petroleum and like feed stocks are subjected to selective vaporization to prepare heavy fractions of reduced Conradson Carbon and/or metals content by short-term, high temperature riser contact with a substantially inert solid contact material of low surface area in a selective vaporization zone. High boiling point components of the charge which are of high Conradson Carbon number and/or high metal content remain on the contact material as a combustible deposit which is then burned off in a combustion zone whereby the contact material is heated to a high temperature for return to the selective vaporization zone to supply the heat required therein. The system is dynamically controlled for fuel supply in the combustion zone by the lower hydrogen content, least valuable components of the feed.

Abstract: Residual fractions from distillation of petroleum are rendered suitable for charge to catalytic cracking by high temperature, short time contact in a decarbonizing zone with fluidizable solid particles of essentially inert character and low surface area to deposit high boiling components of the crude and metals on the fluidizable solid particles whereby Conradson Carbon values and metal content of the hydrocarbon feedstock are reduced to levels tolerable in catalytic cracking and carbon laid down on the inert fluidizable particles is burned in a burning zone separate from the decarbonizing zone. Heated inert particles are recycled at least in part to the decarbonizing zone and then to the burning zone.

Abstract: An improved coal liquefaction process is disclosed wherein subdivided coal is substantially dissolved in a process-derived solvent in the presence of added hydrogen, thereby forming a mixture of dissolved coal, solvent and insoluble solids, and said mixture is passed through a guard bed of solid porous contact material, such as alumina, in the presence of hydrogen, to deposit titanium, iron and calcium from the mixture prior to hydrocracking.

Abstract: Whole crude and bottoms fractions from distillation of petroleum are upgraded by high temperature, short time contact with a fluidizable solid of essentially inert character to deposit high boiling components of the charge on the solid whereby Conradson Carbon values, salt content and metal content are reduced. The upgraded hydrocarbon fraction may be supplied to fractionator, in which case the high temperatue contactor serves as a heater, e.g. crude heater for crude distillation, in addition to improving quality of the fractions derived by distillation. For charge stocks boiling above about 500.degree.-650.degree. F., the upgrading process yields a product suitable for charge to catalytic cracking in that Conradson Carbon, salts and metals are reduced to levels tolerable in catalytic cracking.

Abstract: A process which comprises fractionating a wide-boiling range naphtha feedstock into a low-boiling, light-naphtha fraction having an end or maximum boiling point within the range of about 190.degree. to about 200.degree. F. (88.degree. to about 104.degree. C.), and a high-boiling, heavy-naphtha fraction having an initial boiling point within a range of about 190.degree. to about 220.degree. F. (88.degree. to about 104.degree. C.), and contacting the light-naphtha fraction in an isomerization zone with added hydrogen and a catalyst comprising tantalum pentafluoride and hydrogen halide to produce effluent yielding naphthene components which are blended with the heavy-naphtha fraction. The resulting blended material can be processed by reforming to produce an aromatic-rich naphtha product and hydrogen.

Abstract: Residual fractions from distillation of petroleum are rendered suitable for charge to catalytic cracking by high temperature, short time contact in a decarbonizing zone with a fluidizable solid particles of essentially inert character and low surface area to deposit high boiling components of the crude and metals on the fluidizable solid particles whereby Conradson Carbon values and metal content of the hydrocarbon feedstock are reduced to levels tolerable in catalytic cracking and carbon laid down on the inert fluidizable particles is burned in a burning zone separate from the decarbonizing zone. Heated inert particles are recycled at least in part to the decarbonizing zone and then to the burning zone.

Abstract: A reforming process is disclosed which comprises contacting a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon material in at least one scavenging or sulfur removal zone with at least one manganese-containing composition at conditions to remove at least a portion of said sulfur from said hydrocarbon material to produce a hydrocarbon feedstock having a reduced concentration of sulfur; and contacting said hydrocarbon feedstock with a catalyst comprising, optionally, a major amount of a porous solid support, a minor catalytically effective amount of at least one platinum-group metal component, optionally, a minor catalytically effective amount of at least one halogen component, and optionally, at least one rhenium component in the presence of hydrogen at hydrocarbon reforming conditions to obtain a hydrocarbon reformate product.

Abstract: Thiol impurities are removed from hydrocarbon oils by contacting the oil with a scavenger at a temperature in the range of about 120.degree. to 400.degree. C. The scavenger is a composite having a copper component and an inorganic porous carrier component and having a surface area in the range 20 to 1000 square meters per gram. The contacting must be with the scavenger below its thiol-sulfur end point.

Abstract: An arsenic-contaminated shale oil is thermally treated to precipitate the arsenic and to lower the pour point. Treated oil is then transported and thereafter heated to produce coke and a liquid hydrocarbon distillate. At least a portion of the distillate is catalytically processed in the presence of hydrogen, forming a treated shale oil product.

Abstract: Coal-tar pitch is heated to a temperature which is at least 100.degree. C above its softening point but below its decomposition temperature and is mixed with a filter aid, such as kieselghur or activated carbon prior to filtering the pitch at at least the preheat temperature so as to remove ashes, soot and heavy metals therefrom. The thus-purified pitch is then coked. In this manner, it is possible to obtain high-quality, anisotropic acicular coke which is readily convertible into graphite.

Abstract: A method for reducing the nitrogen content of a syncrude feed obtained from at least one of oil shale, tar sands, and coal wherein syncrude is mixed with an adsorbent which is effective for adsorbing nitrogen materials from the syncrude feed and also effective as a catalytic cracking catalyst for said syncrude feed. The mixture is settled into a first phase of low nitrogen syncrude material and a second phase of adsorbent and high nitrogen syncrude feed. The first phase can be subjected to additional light or mild hydrotreating, i.e. low temperature, high space velocity, etc. The second phase is stripped to separate low nitrogen syncrude material which is combined with the hydrotreated low nitrogen material to form a first low nitrogen syncrude product. The stripped second phase is catalytically cracked to produce a second low nitrogen syncrude product. The adsorbent from the cracking step is regenerated by heating to at least 1000.degree.

Abstract: A method for reducing the nitrogen content of a syncrude feed obtained from at least one of oil shale, tar sands, and coal wherein the syncrude is mixed with an extractant-catalyst which is effective for extracting nitrogen materials from the syncrude feed and also effective as a hydrocracking catalyst for said syncrude feed. Said mixing helps form a first phase composed of a first low nitrogen syncrude product and a second phase composed of said extractant-catalyst and high nitrogen syncrude feed, separating said first and second phases from one another, and hydrocracking said second phase to produce a second low nitrogen syncrude product.

Abstract: A two-step process for preparing a stabilized lubricating oil resistant to oxidation and sludge formation upon exposure to a highly oxidative environment is provided. The first step of the present process comprises contacting a lubricating oil stock with elemental sulfur in the presence of a catalyst material selcted from the group consisting of alumina, silica, aluminosilicate, a metal of Groups II-A, II-B, VI-B or VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements, an oxide of a metal of Groups II-A, II-B, VI-B or VIII, a sulfide of a metal of Groups II-A, II-B, VI-B or VIII, clay, silica combined with an oxide of a metal of Groups II-A, III-A, IV-B or V-B, and combinations thereof in a flow reactor or under conditions comparable to those existing in a flow reactor. The second step of the present process comprises contacting the product of the first step with hydrogen in the presence of alumina impregnated with at least about 10 weight percent of MoO.sub.3 and at least about 2.

Abstract: A method for removing at least one impurity selected from the group consisting of arsenic and selenium from a synthetic crude oil or a fraction thereof by employing iron or cobalt, nickel, oxides in a coprecipitated solid matrix with aluminum oxide, in a hydrogen atmosphere, at a temperature of at least 300.degree. F, and in the substantial absence of water, whereby at least one of the arsenic and selenium is removed by way of iron or cobalt, oxide, or sulfide. Also disclosed is a method of preparation and use of a particularly preferred structural matrix in accordance with one embodiment of this invention.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons are converted by contacting a hydrocarbon charge stock and a hydrogen stream at hydrocarbon conversion conditions, in a reaction zone maintained in a substantially sulfur- and water-free condition by the use of at least one guard bed, with an acidic multimetallic catalytic composite comprising a combination of catalytically effective amounts of a platinum group component, a tin component, a cobalt component, and a halogen component with a porous carrier material. The platinum group component, tin component, cobalt component, and halogen component are present in the multimetallic catalyst in amounts respectively, calculated on an elemental basis, corresponding to about 0.01 to about 2 wt. % platinum group metal, about 0.01 to about 5 wt. % tin, about 0.5 to about 5 wt. % cobalt, and about 0.1 to about 3.5 wt. % halogen.