Abstract: A method to remove a metals impurity from a petroleum feedstock for use in a power generating process is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing a heated feedstock with a heated water stream in a mixing device to produce a mixed stream; introducing the mixed stream to a supercritical water reactor in the absence of externally provided hydrogen and externally provided oxidizing agent to produce a reactor effluent comprising a refined petroleum portion; cooling the reactor effluent to produce a cooled stream; feeding the cooled stream to a rejecter configured to separate a sludge fraction to produce a de-sludged stream; reducing the pressure of the de-sludged stream to produce a depressurized product; separating the depressurized product to produce a gas phase product and a liquid product; separating the liquid product to produce a petroleum product, having a reduced asphaltene content, reduced concentration of metals impurity, and reduced sulfur.

Abstract: A highly active nickel carrier catalyst based on aluminium oxide has a nickel content of approximately 20 to 70 wt.-% (as Ni) and optionally comprises a bonding agent and optionally a promoter, selected from the compounds of Mg, Ti, Pb, Pt, Ba, Ca and/or Cu, wherein the size of the Ni crystallites in the reduced state is in the range of approximately 3.5 to 4.5 nm and the distortion factor of the Ni crystallites is approximately 2 to 5%. In a method for the reduction of the content of sulphur compounds in hydrocarbon-based fuels by selective adsorption of the sulphur compounds on a nickel catalyst, a nickel catalyst based on aluminium oxide is used, particularly the nickel catalyst described above. A nickel catalyst based on aluminium oxide may be used for reducing the sulphur compound content in hydrocarbon-based fuels by selective adsorption of the sulphur compounds on said catalyst and/or for the hydrogenation of aromatic compounds.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for treating a hydroprocessing fraction. The process can include obtaining a bottom stream from a fractionation zone, and passing at least a portion of the bottom stream to a film generating evaporator zone for separating a first stream containing less heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds than a second stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing layered catalytic processes. This is accomplished by testing various catalysts with a compound found in a feedstock to be tested, to determine the facility of the catalyst in hydrogenating, hydrosulfurizing, or hydrodenitrogenating the molecule, and hence the feedstock. In a preferred embodiment, the Double Bond Equivalence of the feedstock and molecule are determined, and catalysts are pre-selected based upon their known ability to work with materials of this DBE value.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for purification by elimination of chlorine in the form of hydrogen chloride and organochlorine compounds by contacting in the presence of hydrogen of at least a part of the effluent from a reforming, aromatics production, dehydrogenation, isomerisation or hydrogenation zone, said part of the effluent comprising olefins, hydrogen chloride and organochlorine compounds, on an elimination zone comprising a chain arrangement of two masses, the first mass being a mass comprising at least one metal from group VIII deposited on a mineral carrier and the second mass being a hydrogen chloride adsorbent.

Abstract: Inorganic material having at least two elementary spherical particles, each of said spherical metallic particles: a polyoxometallate with formula (XxMmOyHh)q?, where H is hydrogen, O is oxygen, X is phosphorus, silicon, boron, nickel or cobalt and M is one or more vanadium, niobium, tantalum, molybdenum, tungsten, iron, copper, zinc, cobalt and nickel, x is 0, 1, 2 or 4, m is 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 18, y is 17 to 72, h is 0 to 12 and q is 1 to 20.

Abstract: A petroleum feedstock upgrading method is provided. The method includes supplying a mixed stream that includes hydrocarbon feedstock and water to a hydrothermal reactor where the mixed stream is maintained at a temperature and pressure greater than the critical temperatures and pressure of water in the absence of catalyst for a residence time sufficient to convert the mixed stream into a modified stream having an increased concentration of lighter hydrocarbons and/or concentration of sulfur containing compounds. The modified stream is then supplied to an adsorptive reaction stage charged with a solid adsorbent operable to remove at least a portion of the sulfur present to produce a trimmed stream. The trimmed stream is then separated into a gas and a liquid streams, and the liquid stream is separated into a water stream and an upgraded hydrocarbon product stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for removing sulfur from a hydrocarbon fuel or fuel precursor feedstream, such as methods comprising contacting a hydrocarbon fuel or fuel precursor feedstream having a relatively low sulfur content with a sulfur sorbent material comprising an active copper component disposed on a zeolitic and/or mesoporous support under conditions sufficient to reduce the sulfur content by at least 20 wt % and/or to about 15 wppm or below, thus forming a hydrocarbon fuel product. In some advantageous embodiments, the contacting conditions can include a temperature of about 392° F. (about 200° C.) or less.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing sulfur from crude oils using a catalytic hydrotreating process operating at moderate temperature and pressure and reduced hydrogen consumption. The process produces sweet crude oil having a sulfur content of between about 0.1 and 1.0 wt % in addition to reduced crude density. The method employs least two reactors in series, wherein the first reactor includes a hydroconversion catalyst and the second reactor includes a desulfurization catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for catalytically reforming naphtha, comprising, in the presence of hydrogen gas, contacting naphtha with at least one reforming catalyst under the conditions of a pressure ranging from 0.15 to 3.0 MPa, a temperature ranging from 300 to 540° C., a volume space velocity ranging from 2.1 to 50 h?1, to carry out a shallow catalytic reforming reaction so as to achieve a naphthene conversion ratio of greater than 85 mass %, and a conversion ratio of paraffins to arenes and C4? hydrocarbons of less than 30 mass %.

Abstract: A catalytic conversion process for increasing the cetane number barrel of diesel, in which contacting the feedstock oil with a catalytic cracking catalyst having a relatively homogeneous activity containing mainly the large pore zeolites in a catalytic conversion reactor, wherein the reaction temperature, residence time of oil vapors and weight ratio of the catalyst/feedstock oil are sufficient to obtain a reaction product containing from about 12 to about 60% by weight of a fluid catalytic cracking gas oil relative to the weight of the feedstock oil and containing a diesel; the reaction temperature ranges from about 420° C. to about 550° C.; the residence time of oil vapors ranges from about 0.1 to about 5 seconds; the weight ratio of the catalytic cracking catalyst/feedstock oil is about 1-about 10. The fluid catalytic cracking gas oil is fed into other unit for further treatment or is fed back to the initial catalytic conversion reactor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a treated hydrocarbon containing stream for use as a feed to a hydrogen plant having a steam methane reformer in which an untreated hydrocarbon containing stream is introduced into two reaction stages connected in series to hydrogenate olefins and to convert organic sulfur species to hydrogen sulfide. The second of the two stages can also be operated in a pre-reforming mode to generate additional hydrogen through introduction of the oxygen and steam into such stage. A sulfur tolerant catalyst is used in both stages to promote hydrogenation and oxidation reactions. Sulfur is removed between stages by adsorption of the hydrogen sulfide to prevent deactivation of the catalyst in the second of the stages that would otherwise occur during operation of the second reaction stage in a pre-reforming mode of operation.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more polynuclear aromatics from at least one reformate stream from a reforming zone. The PNAs may be removed using an adsorption zone. The adsorption zone can include first and second vessels each vessel containing an activated carbon adsorbent. Generally, the process includes passing the at least a portion of an effluent of the reforming zone through the first vessel containing a first activated carbon adsorbent wherein the first activated carbon adsorbent comprises iron.

Abstract: A petroleum feedstock upgrading method is provided. The method includes supplying a mixed stream that includes hydrocarbon feedstock and water to a hydrothermal reactor where the mixed stream is maintained at a temperature and pressure greater than the critical temperatures and pressure of water in the absence of catalyst for a residence time sufficient to convert the mixed stream into a modified stream having an increased concentration of lighter hydrocarbons and/or concentration of sulfur containing compounds. The modified stream is then supplied to an adsorptive reaction stage charged with a solid adsorbent operable to remove at least a portion of the sulfur present to produce a trimmed. The trimmed stream is then separated into a gas and a liquid streams, and the liquid stream is separated into a water stream and an upgraded hydrocarbon product stream.

Abstract: A fuel processing system and method for a sulfur bearing fuel include a hydrodesulfurization reactor followed by an adsorbent bed for removing sulfur or sulfur containing species from the fuel. In certain embodiments, the adsorbent bed is a ZnO bed. In another embodiment, a fuel processing system and method for a sulfur bearing fuel include a steam reformer, a hydrodesulfurization reactor, and an adsorbent bed.

Abstract: A guard bed or absorber is placed upstream of a transalkylation reactor to avoid deposition of halide and/or halogen species on the catalysts in said reactor.

Abstract: A process for the hydrodesulfurization of gasoline is disclosed, the process including: feeding (1) a cracked naphtha containing mercaptans and other organic sulfur compounds and (2) hydrogen to a first hydrodesulfurization reactor containing one or more beds of a hydrodesulfurization catalyst; contacting sulfur compounds comprising the other organic sulfur compounds in the cracked naphtha with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrodesulfurization catalyst to convert a portion of the other organic sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide; withdrawing from the hydrodesulfurization reactor an effluent comprising hydrocarbons and hydrogen sulfide. The effluent from the hydrodesulfurization reactor is fed to a membrane separation system containing a membrane for partitioning the hydrocarbons from the hydrogen sulfide. For example, the membrane may be selective to hydrogen sulfide, to separate a permeate fraction comprising hydrogen sulfide from a residue fraction comprising the hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for reforming a hydrocarbon stream in a reforming unit can include passing a gas including a halogen-containing material from a product separation zone through an adsorption zone to remove at least some of the halogen-containing material before the gas enters a first reforming stage having at least one fixed bed reaction zone.

Abstract: Process for catalytic conversion in the presence of hydrogen with regeneration of the catalyst that comprises a stage for reduction of said catalyst by the hydrogen that is obtained from the catalytic conversion stage, whereby this hydrogen is purified in advance of impurities that it contains by running it over adsorbent masses, whereby said adsorbent masses are regenerated by an increase in temperature that is provided by the effluent from the reduction stage of the catalyst. Application to the processes for regenerative reforming or dehydrogenation of paraffins and naphthenes and most generally to any moving-bed process that operates in the presence of hydrogen.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering product from catalytically converted product streams. Gaseous unstabilized naphtha from an overhead receiver from a main fractionation column is compressed in a compressor. Liquid unstabilized naphtha from the overhead receiver and liquid naphtha fraction from the compressor are sent to a naphtha splitter column upstream of a primary absorber. Consequently, less naphtha is circulated in the gas recovery system.

Abstract: A process and a device for the hydrodesulphurisation of an olefin and hydrogen-containing feed gas utilizes a feed gas which can be mixed with further hydrogen and subdivided into at least two feed streams. The first feed stream is introduced separately into the reactor and is passed through a first catalyst bed which contains the catalyst pellets deposited on a suitable support or grid. The feed stream is heated in the hydrogenation reaction. Downstream of first catalyst bed, further feed gas is supplied which serves to cool the reaction gas permitting that the gas can then be passed through a second catalyst bed. Downstream of the second catalyst bed there may be further catalyst beds and further feed gas supply devices. The catalyst beds can be provided in the reactor in any number, type and shape. These process conditions ensure that a product gas be obtained which essentially contains no other sulphur compound than hydrogen sulphide.

Abstract: A feedstream to a hydrocracking unit is treated to remove or reduce the content of polynuclear aromatics and nitrogen-containing compounds by contacting the feedstream with an adsorbent compound selected from attapulgus clay, alumina, silica gel and activated carbon in a fixed bed or slurry column and separating the treated feedstream that is lower in the undesired compounds from the adsorbent material. The adsorbent can be mixed with a solvent for the undesired compounds and stripped for re-use.

Abstract: The recovery of solids, and particularly solid particulates used as catalysts in slurry hydroprocessing, from asphaltene containing hydrocarbons is improved by controlling asphaltene precipitation. The formation of agglomerates of the solid particulates, having an increased diameter, results in the presence of precipitated asphaltenes, possibly due to flocculation. Asphaltene precipitation is controlled by varying process parameters or introducing additional diluent or flush streams that change the polarity of an asphaltene containing liquid product recovered from an effluent of a slurry hydroprocessing reaction zone.

Abstract: The invention concerns an improved hydrocracking process with a recycle having a step for eliminating polyaromatic compounds from at least a portion of the recycled fraction by adsorption on a particular adsorbent based on alumina-silica with a controlled macropore content.

Abstract: The invention concerns an improved hydrocracking process having a step for eliminating polyaromatic compounds from at least a portion of a recycled fraction by adsorption on a particular adsorbent based on alumina-silica with a limited macropore content.

Abstract: An improved process and a zone reactor for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into higher hydrocarbons is provided. A first zone in the reactor contains both a material capable of releasing hydrogen halide (HX) and a carbon-carbon coupling catalyst; a second zone is initially empty or contains a halogenation and/or oxyhalogenation catalyst; and a third zone contains both a carbon-carbon coupling catalyst and a material capable of capturing HX. Air or oxygen is introduced into the first zone, a feedstock is introduced into the second zone, and products are produced in the third zone. HX produced during the reaction is reversibly captured and released in zones 1 and 3.

Abstract: Improved hydroprocessing processes for upgrading refinery streams via the use of rapid cycle pressure swing absorption having a cycle time of less than 30 s for increasing the concentration of hydrogen in the vapor phase product recycled to the hydroprocessing zone.

Abstract: A process for reforming a hydrocarbon stream in a reforming unit can include passing a gas including a halogen-containing material from a product separation zone through an adsorption zone to remove at least some of the halogen-containing material before the gas enters a first reforming stage having at least one fixed bed reaction zone.

Abstract: A process for upgrading a liquid petroleum or chemical stream wherein said feedstream flows countercurrent to the flow of a treat gas, such as a hydrogen-containing gas, in at least one reaction zone. The feedstream is treated so that it is substantially free of particulate matter and foulant precursors.

Abstract: A membrane process for the removal of sulfur species from a naphtha feed, in particular, a FCC light cat naphtha, without a substantial loss of olefin yield is disclosed. The process involves contacting a naphtha feed stream with a membrane having sufficient flux and selectivity to separate a sulfur deficient retentate fraction from a sulfur enriched permeate fraction, preferably, under pervaporation conditions. Sulfur deficient retentate fractions are useful directly into the gasoline pool. Sulfur-enriched permeate fractions are rich in sulfur containing aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons and are further treated with conventional sulfur removal technologies, e.g. hydrotreating, to reduce sulfur content. The process of the invention provides high quality naphtha products having a reduced sulfur content and a high content of olefin compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for eliminating halogenated compounds that are contained in a gas or a liquid that comprises hydrogen and unsaturated hydrocarbons, in which the gas or the liquid is successively brought into contact with: at least one catalyst for hydrogenation, then at least one adsorbent of halogenated compounds. This gas or this liquid can be obtained from. a regenerative-type catalytic reforming.

Abstract: Severely contaminated white mineral oils which fail the RCS specification are treated using an acid-treated bentonite clay, such as TONSIL CO 630G. The white oil products produced in the treatment may be a USP grade white oil.

Abstract: An adsorption arrangement in combination with a catalytic hydrocarbon conversion process suspends non-hydrocarbon materials that act to enhance the operation of the conversion zone by using an adsorption zone arrangement to keep the compounds in recirculation about the reaction zone and integrates the adsorption zone arrangement with a chiller to increase the recovery of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons. The process of this invention is particularly useful for the isomerization of hydrocarbons wherein the adsorption zone arrangement operates to maintain chloride compounds in the reaction zone and to prevent contamination of product streams with the chloride compounds while increasing the recovery of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons. This invention can be used in combination with traditional adsorptive methods of removing contaminant from feedstreams that enter reaction zones.

Abstract: The yield and quality of products secured from cracking units is increased by the process of subjecting the product stream secured from such cracking unit to a selective aromatics removal process and recycling the recovered aromatics lean (saturates rich) stream to the cracking unit whereby such saturates rich stream is subjected to increased conversion to higher value desired products.

Abstract: Acidic halides, especially chlorides, in two phase (vapor and hydrocarbon liquid) reactor effluent are separated and at least the halides in the vapor fraction neutralized in a vapor/liquid separator with an alkaline neutralization medium such as an alumina treater impregnated with NaOH. The treater may remove halides from both the vapor and liquid phase within the separator.

Abstract: Acidic halides, especially chlorides, are removed from dry process vapor and liquid hydrocarbon streams by contact with solid caustic, such as a bed of NaOH. Salt deposits from form on the solid caustic, which are periodically removed by passing a liquid hydrocarbon continuous phase containing a minor amount of dissolved or entrained water over the solid caustic. Salts may be removed from the liquid hydrocarbon by extraction with water, which also saturates the liquid hydrocarbon so that it may be used to remove additional salt deposits.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) plants are debottlenecked by replacing air feed to the cracking catalyst regenerator with oxygen and carbon dioxide exhaust from the catalyst regenerator and removing methane and hydrogen from the wet gas stream leaving the main fractionator overhead receiver prior to its introduction into a wet gas compressor system. Nitrogen is removed from the exhaust gas and methane and hydrogen are removed from the wet gas in the same pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plant. During air replacement, exhaust gas is processed in the PSA plant and when the desired amount of nitrogen is removed from the exhaust gas, feed of exhaust gas to the PSA plant is terminated and flow of wet gas to the PSA plant is initiated.

Abstract: A process for improving the quality of lubricating base oils, which process comprises contacting a lubricating base oil with dry activated carbon.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock is catalytically reformed to effect dehydrocyclization of paraffins in a process combination comprising a first reforming zone, a sulfur-removal zone containing a mixed reforming catalyst and sulfur sorbent comprising a manganese component to preclude sulfur from the feed to a second reforming zone. The process combination shows substantial benefits over prior art processes in achieving reforming-catalyst stability.

Abstract: The daylight stability, foaming characteristics, color, engine performance test behavior, oxygenates content, and thermal stability of wax isomerate oils and/or hydrocarbon synthesis liquid products are improved by the process of contacting the aforesaid wax isomerate oil and/or hydrocarbon synthesis liquid products with a silica adsorbent, said silica adsorbent being characterized by possessing a pore size of at least about 100 .ANG., preferably at least about 125 .ANG., most preferably at least about 150 .ANG., an alkali/alkaline earth ion concentration, excluding sodium, of greater than about 125 ppm, an iron content of less than about 40 ppm and a zirconium content of less than about 130 ppm.

Abstract: The buildup of heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds in a hydrocracking system is controlled by contacting at least a portion of the recycle oil to the hydrocracker with a porous solid that has been treated with an acid. The porous solid serves as a support for the acid, thereby presenting the recycle oil with a high surface area for contact with the acid, which extracts the heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds from the recycle oil. A preferred acid-treated support is an amorphous silica that has been impregnated with sulfuric acid.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing residual sulfur from a hydrotreated naphtha feedstock. The feedstock is contacted with molecular hydrogen under reforming conditions in the presence of a less sulfur sensitive reforming catalyst to convert trace sulfur compounds to H.sub.2 S, and to form a first effluent. The first effluent is contacted with a solid sulfur sorbent to remove the H.sub.2 S and form a second effluent. The second effluent is then contacted with a highly selective reforming catalyst under severe reforming conditions. Also disclosed is a method using a potassium containing sulfur sorbent made from nitrogen-free potassium compounds.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock is catalytically reformed to effect dehydrocyclization of paraffins in a process combination comprising a first reforming zone containing a mixed reforming catalyst and sulfur sorbent and a sulfur-removal zone utilizing a manganese component to preclude sulfur from the feed to a second reforming zone. The process combination shows substantial benefits over prior art processes in achieving reforming-catalyst stability.

Abstract: A process for recovering hydrogen-rich gases and increasing the recovery of liquid hydrocarbon products from a hydrocarbon conversion zone effluent is improved by a particular arrangement of a refrigeration zone, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) zone, and up to two separation zones. The admixing of at least a portion of the tail gas from the PSA zone with a hydrogen-rich gas stream recovered from a first vapor-liquid separation zone results in significantly improved hydrocarbon recoveries and the production of a high purity hydrogen product. The process is especially beneficial in the integration of the catalytic reforming process with vapor hydrogen consuming processes such as catalytic hydrocracking in a petroleum refinery.

Abstract: A process for the elimination of mercury from an overall steam cracking installation, characterized in that regeneration is terminated by the injection of regeneration gas onto an active demercurizing mass, such that there is substantially no trace of mercury in the air or liquids leaving the installation. The process involves the use of three demercurizing masses, namely two upstream of the installation which are in series and one downstream, which latter is demercurized by at least one of the upstream masses. The use more particularly applies to the depollution of steam cracking installations which are already polluted by mercury.

Abstract: A process for removing residual sulfur from a hydrotreated naphtha feedstock is disclosed. The feedstock is contacted with molecular hydrogen under reforming conditions in the presence of a less sulfur sensitive reforming catalyst, thereby converting trace sulfur compounds to H.sub.2 S, and forming a first effluent. The first effluent is contacted with a solid sulfur sorbent, removing the H.sub.2 S and forming a second effluent. The second effluent is contacted with a highly selective reforming catalyst under severe reforming conditions.

Abstract: A process for separation and removal of stable polycyclic aromatic dimer foulants from refinery process streams by selectively adsorbing the foulants while eluting non-fouling smaller-ringed aromatics. Synchronous Scanning Fluorescence may be used in the identification and monitoring of the stable polycyclic aromatic dimers.

Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process which minimizes the fouling of the process unit with 11.sup.+ ring heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds by means of partially condensing the hydrocarbon effluent from the hydrocracking zone to produce an unconverted hydrocarbon stream comprising trace quantities of 11.sup.+ ring heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds and contacting the unconverted hydrocarbon stream with an adsorbent which selectively retains the 11.sup.+ ring heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds before the unconverted hydrocarbon stream is recycled to the hydrocracking zone.

Abstract: The present invention is a catalytic hydrocracking process which minimizes the fouling of the process unit with 11.sup.+ ring heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds by means of hydrogenating and converting at least a portion or slipstream of the hydrocarbon effluent from the hydrocracking zone containing trace quantities of 11.sup.+ ring heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds in a 11.sup.+ ring heavy polynuclear aromatic compound conversion zone containing a hydrogenation catalyst having a hydrogenation component at hydrogenation conditions to selectively reduce the concentration of 11.sup.+ ring heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds before the hydrocracking zone effluent is cooled below about 400.degree. F. At least a portion of the effluent from the 11.sup.+ ring heavy polynuclear aromatic compound conversion zone is cooled and separated to produce at least a portion of the unconverted recycle stream.

Abstract: Fused polynuclear aromatic compounds (PNAs) are continuously removed from a recycle oil stream in a hydrocracking process. An adsorption bed removes the PNAs from the recycle oil, a desorbing reagent removes the PNAs from the bed, and a regenerating agent regenerates the bed, all steps being performed simultaneously and continuously.