Waste plastics are mixed with heavy crude and vacuum residues at temperature within the range from 180-220 C. and the resulting mixture are hydroprocessed to produce lighter products. The hydrodemetallization, asphaltene conversion and hydrocracking activities of the resulting mixture have been tested in an autoclave batch reactor. This process provides a very cheap material and method to upgrade problematic feeds to produce transportation fuels.

Processes for converting methane and/or other hydrocarbons to synthesis gas (i.e., a gaseous mixture comprising H.sub.2 and CO) are disclosed, in which at least a portion of the hydrocarbon(s) is reacted with CO.sub.2. At least a second portion of the methane may be reacted with H.sub.2O (steam), thereby improving overall thermodynamics of the process, in terms of reducing endothermicity (H) and the required energy input, compared to pure dry reforming in which no H.sub.2O is present. Such dry reforming (reaction with CO.sub.2 only) or CO.sub.2-steam reforming (reaction with both CO.sub.2 and steam) processes are advantageously integrated with Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to yield liquid hydrocarbon fuels. Further integration may involve the use of a downstream finishing stage involving hydroisomerization to remove FT wax. Yet other integration options involve the use of combined CO.sub.2-steam reforming and FT synthesis stages (optionally with finishing) for producing liquid fuels from gas streams generated in a number of possible processes, including the hydropyrolysis of biomass.

Processes for converting methane and/or other hydrocarbons to synthesis gas (i.e., a gaseous mixture comprising H.sub.2 and CO) are disclosed, in which at least a portion of the hydrocarbon(s) is reacted with CO.sub.2. At least a second portion of the methane may be reacted with H.sub.2O (steam), thereby improving overall thermodynamics of the process, in terms of reducing endothermicity (H) and the required energy input, compared to pure dry reforming in which no H.sub.2O is present. Such dry reforming (reaction with CO.sub.2 only) or CO.sub.2-steam reforming (reaction with both CO.sub.2 and steam) processes are advantageously integrated with Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to yield liquid hydrocarbon fuels. Further integration may involve the use of a downstream finishing stage involving hydroisomerization to remove FT wax. Yet other integration options involve the use of combined CO.sub.2-steam reforming and FT synthesis stages (optionally with finishing) for producing liquid fuels from gas streams generated in a number of possible processes, including the hydropyrolysis of biomass.

A method for upgrading a petroleum feedstock using a supercritical water petroleum upgrading system includes introducing the petroleum feedstock, water and an auxiliary feedstock. The method includes operating the system to combine the petroleum feedstock and the water to form a mixed petroleum feedstock and introducing separately and simultaneously into a lower portion of an upflowing supercritical water reactor. The auxiliary feedstock is introduced such that a portion of a fluid contained within the upflowing reactor located proximate to the bottom does not lack fluid momentum. An embodiment of the method includes operating the supercritical water petroleum upgrading system such that the upflowing reactor product fluid is introduced into an upper portion of a downflowing supercritical water reactor. The supercritical water petroleum upgrading system includes the upflowing supercritical water reactor and optionally a downflowing supercritical water reactor.

A method for upgrading a petroleum feedstock using a supercritical water petroleum upgrading system includes introducing the petroleum feedstock, water and an auxiliary feedstock. The method includes operating the system to combine the petroleum feedstock and the water to form a mixed petroleum feedstock and introducing separately and simultaneously into a lower portion of an upflowing supercritical water reactor. The auxiliary feedstock is introduced such that a portion of a fluid contained within the upflowing reactor located proximate to the bottom does not lack fluid momentum. An embodiment of the method includes operating the supercritical water petroleum upgrading system such that the upflowing reactor product fluid is introduced into an upper portion of a downflowing supercritical water reactor. The supercritical water petroleum upgrading system includes the upflowing supercritical water reactor and optionally a downflowing supercritical water reactor.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, petrochemicals may be produced from crude oil by a process which includes passing the crude oil and hydrogen into a hydroprocessing reactor, separating the hydrotreated oil into a lesser boiling point fraction and a greater boiling point fraction, passing the lesser boiling point fraction to a pyrolysis section of a steam cracker to produce a pyrolysis effluent comprising olefins, aromatics, or both, passing the greater boiling point fraction to a gasifier, where the gasifier produces hydrogen, and passing at least a portion of the hydrogen produced by the gasifier to the hydroprocessing reactor.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, petrochemicals may be produced from crude oil by a process which includes passing the crude oil and hydrogen into a hydroprocessing reactor, separating the hydrotreated oil into a lesser boiling point fraction and a greater boiling point fraction, passing the lesser boiling point fraction to a pyrolysis section of a steam cracker to produce a pyrolysis effluent comprising olefins, aromatics, or both, passing the greater boiling point fraction to a gasifier, where the gasifier produces hydrogen, and passing at least a portion of the hydrogen produced by the gasifier to the hydroprocessing reactor.

Disclosed is a method for producing olefins and aromatic compounds from a hydrogen lean carbon containing feed, the method comprising hydropyrolyzing the hydrogen lean carbon containing feed in the presence of a hydrogen donor feed under reaction conditions sufficient to produce a product comprising olefins and aromatic compounds or a hydrocarbonaceous stream, wherein the hydrocarbonaceous stream is further processed into olefins and aromatic compounds, wherein the olefins and aromatic compounds from (i) or the hydrocarbonaceous stream from (ii) are each obtained by hydrogenation of the hydrogen lean carbon containing feed with the hydrogen donor feed and cracking of carbonaceous compounds comprised in the hydrogenated feed, and wherein the hydrogen donor feed comprises a compound that donates hydrogen to carbonaceous compounds in the hydrogen lean feed.

A supercritical water separation process and system is disclosed for the removal of metals, minerals, particulate, asphaltenes, and resins from a contaminated organic material. The present invention takes advantage of the physical and chemical properties of supercritical water to effect the desired separation of contaminants from organic materials and permit scale-up. At a temperature and pressure above the critical point of water (374 C., 22.1 MPa), nonpolar organic compounds become miscible in supercritical water (SCW) and polar compounds and asphaltenes become immiscible. The process and system disclosed continuously separates immiscible contaminants and solids from the supercritical water and clean oil product solution. The present invention creates a density gradient that enables over 95% recovery of clean oil and over 99% reduction of contaminants such as asphaltenes and particulate matter depending on the properties of the contaminated organic material.

A supercritical water separation process and system is disclosed for the removal of metals, minerals, particulate, asphaltenes, and resins from a contaminated organic material. The present invention takes advantage of the physical and chemical properties of supercritical water to effect the desired separation of contaminants from organic materials and permit scale-up. At a temperature and pressure above the critical point of water (374 C., 22.1 MPa), nonpolar organic compounds become miscible in supercritical water (SCW) and polar compounds and asphaltenes become immiscible. The process and system disclosed continuously separates immiscible contaminants and solids from the supercritical water and clean oil product solution. The present invention creates a density gradient that enables over 95% recovery of clean oil and over 99% reduction of contaminants such as asphaltenes and particulate matter depending on the properties of the contaminated organic material.