In accordance with the present invention, disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for removing CO.sub.2 from products by using a first acid gas absorber and a second acid gas absorber, which are both a part of a single acid gas removal unit.

In accordance with the present invention, disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for removing CO.sub.2 from products by using a first acid gas absorber and a second acid gas absorber, which are both a part of a single acid gas removal unit.

Processes and systems for upgrading resid hydrocarbon feeds are disclosed. The process system may operate in two different operating modes, maximum conversion and maximum quality effluent. The process system may be reversibly transitioned between the different operating modes. The system has the ability to reversibly transition between the two modes without shutting down the system or losing production.

Process scheme configurations are disclosed that enable conversion of crude oil feeds with several processing units in an integrated manner into petrochemicals. The designs utilize minimum capital expenditures to prepare suitable feedstocks for the steam cracker complex. The integrated process for converting crude oil to petrochemical products including olefins and aromatics, and fuel products, includes mixed feed steam cracking and fluid catalytic cracking. Feeds to the mixed feed steam cracker include light products and naphtha from hydroprocessing zones within the battery limits, recycle streams from the C3 and C4 olefins recovery steps, and raffinate from a pyrolysis gasoline and FCC naphtha aromatics extraction zone within the battery limits.

Protic asphaltene ionic liquids comprising chemically modified asphaltenes are provided. The asphaltenes are modified via carboxylation and formation of alkyl and/or aryl imidazole derivatives. Chemical modification of the asphaltenes results in their stabilization e.g. in heavy petroleum crude, and prevents their aggregation and precipitation.

Process scheme configurations are disclosed that enable conversion of crude oil feeds with several processing units in an integrated manner into petrochemicals. The designs utilize minimum capital expenditures to prepare suitable feedstocks for the steam cracker complex. The integrated process for converting crude oil to petrochemical products including olefins and aromatics, and fuel products, includes mixed feed steam cracking and fluid catalytic cracking. Feeds to the mixed feed steam cracker include light products and naphtha from hydroprocessing zones within the battery limits, recycle streams from the C3 and C4 olefins recovery steps, and raffinate from a pyrolysis gasoline and FCC naphtha aromatics extraction zone within the battery limits.

An integrated process that is operated to create both a higher value pipelineable crude and a higher value carbon fiber product from a lower value common heavy hydrocarbon feedstock where the feedstock is processed in a thermal reactor followed by a solvent deasphalting unit with the liquids being gathered and processed to reduce olefins for pipeline transport and the solids are processed to generate a marketable carbon fiber product with any gases generated throughout the entire process reused in the process or sold.

A method for removing contaminants from a process stream that includes the use of reticulated material to filter the process stream. The reticulated material also facilitate process stream flow distribution in process units. The reticulated material can be packed with a void space between a substantial number of the reticulated material that can be varied to enhance filtration and flow distribution. The method of filtering also provides a method of removing contaminants leaving process equipment. The methods can be used on a variety of process streams and process equipment. The reticulated material can include ceramics, metallic materials, and chemical vapor deposition elements. The reticulated material can be of various shapes and sizes, and can also be catalytically active.

A method for removing contaminants from a process stream that includes the use of reticulated material to filter the process stream. The reticulated material also facilitate process stream flow distribution in process units. The reticulated material can be packed with a void space between a substantial number of the reticulated material that can be varied to enhance filtration and flow distribution. The method of filtering also provides a method of removing contaminants leaving process equipment. The methods can be used on a variety of process streams and process equipment. The reticulated material can include ceramics, metallic materials, and chemical vapor deposition elements. The reticulated material can be of various shapes and sizes, and can also be catalytically active.

Solvent deasphalting (SDA) in series is used to extract deasphalted oil from heavier hydrocarbons in series. Instead of stripping the pitch material of solvent in the second stage which can stick in the pitch stripper and inhibit flow, a dryer is used to vaporize solvent for recycle to the second SDA unit and produce pitch solids.