A selective mid-distillate hydrotreating process is provided for production of hydrocarbon fuels with an ultra-low level of sulfur in which the initial hydrocarbon feedstock is introduced into to an aromatic extraction zone to produce an aromatic-lean fraction and an aromatic-rich fraction, which contain different classes of organosulfur compounds having different reactivities when subjected to hydrotreating reactions. The aromatic-lean fraction contains primarily labile heteroatom-containing compounds, and is passed to a first hydrotreating zone operating under mild conditions to remove the sulfur heteroatom from organosulfur hydrocarbon compounds. The aromatic-rich fraction contains primarily refractory heteroatom-containing compounds, including aromatic molecules such as certain benzothiophenes (e.g., long chain alkylated benzothiophenes), dibenzothiophene and alkyl derivatives, such as sterically hindered 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene, and is passed to a hydrotreating zone operating under relatively severe conditions to remove the heteroatom from sterically hindered refractory compounds.

Deep desulfurization of hydrocarbon feeds containing undesired organosulfur compounds to produce a hydrocarbon product having low levels of sulfur, i.e., 15 ppmw or less of sulfur, is achieved by hydrotreating the feed under mild conditions, and separating the hydrotreated effluent into an aromatic-rich fraction which contains a substantial amount of the aromatic refractory and sterically hindered sulfur-containing compounds, and an aromatic-lean fraction. The aromatic-rich fraction is contacted with isomerization catalyst, and the isomerized aromatic-rich fraction is recycled to the mild hydrotreating process.

Deep desulfurization of hydrocarbon feeds containing undesired organosulfur compounds to produce a hydrocarbon product having low levels of sulfur, i.e., 15 ppmw or less of sulfur, is achieved by hydrotreating the feed under mild conditions, and separating the hydrotreated effluent into an aromatic-rich fraction which contains a substantial amount of the aromatic refractory and sterically hindered sulfur-containing compounds, and an aromatic-lean fraction. The aromatic-rich fraction is contacted with isomerization catalyst, and the isomerized aromatic-rich fraction is recycled to the mild hydrotreating process.

Methods of transporting hydrogen may include, at a first hydrocarbon processing facility, hydrogenating a C9+ aromatic compounds-containing stream to form a saturated cyclic C9+ containing effluent stream; transporting the saturated cyclic C9+ containing effluent stream to a second hydrocarbon processing facility; and at the second hydrocarbon processing facility, and passing the saturated cyclic C9+ containing effluent stream and a hydrotreated heavy naphtha stream to a catalytic reformer to form a reformate stream; and separating a hydrogen gas product stream from the reformate stream. The first hydrocarbon processing facility and the second hydrocarbon processing facility may be separated by at least 100 km. The methods for processing hydrogen may include hydrotreating a heavy naphtha stream and passing a saturated cyclic C9+ containing effluent stream and the hydrotreated heavy naphtha stream to a catalytic reformer to form a reformate stream comprising hydrogen gas; and separating hydrogen gas from the reformate stream.

A process for the treatment of oily hazardous solid materials such as for example spent bleaching earths. The process allows a safe and economical recovery of typically about 85% to 95% of the residual oil contained in such oily hazardous solid materials and transforms those ones into inert materials safe to transport, store, dispose of, or even makes them valuable for some applications. The process includes the production of a transportation slurry and at least one extraction slurry. The at least one extraction slurry is separated in at least one centrifuge decanter.

Methods of transporting hydrogen may include, at a first hydrocarbon processing facility, hydrogenating a C9+ aromatic compounds-containing stream to form a saturated cyclic C9+ containing effluent stream; transporting the saturated cyclic C9+ containing effluent stream to a second hydrocarbon processing facility; and at the second hydrocarbon processing facility, and passing the saturated cyclic C9+ containing effluent stream and a hydrotreated heavy naphtha stream to a catalytic reformer to form a reformate stream; and separating a hydrogen gas product stream from the reformate stream. The first hydrocarbon processing facility and the second hydrocarbon processing facility may be separated by at least 100 km. The methods for processing hydrogen may include hydrotreating a heavy naphtha stream and passing a saturated cyclic C9+ containing effluent stream and the hydrotreated heavy naphtha stream to a catalytic reformer to form a reformate stream comprising hydrogen gas; and separating hydrogen gas from the reformate stream.