It has been discovered that contaminants such as metals and/or amines can be transferred from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase in an emulsion breaking process by using a composition that contains water-soluble C5-C12 polyhydroxy carboxylic acids, ammonium salts thereof, alkali metal salts thereof, and mixtures of all of these. The composition may also optionally include a mineral acid to reduce the pH of the desalter wash water. The method permits transfer of metals and/or amines into the aqueous phase with little or no hydrocarbon phase under-carry into the aqueous phase. Resolving the emulsion into the hydrocarbon phase and the aqueous phase occurs in a refinery desalting process using electrostatic coalescence. The composition is particularly useful in treating crude oil emulsions, and in removing calcium and other metals therefrom. The polyhydroxy carboxylic acid additionally inhibits metal corrosion of metal pipe or other equipment used in a crude unit.

A process for making mesophase and/or isotropic pitch. An aromatic rich liquid is charged at high temperature and pressure to a first thermal polymerization reactor to produce an isotropic pitch rich liquid which is flashed. Residual liquid is charged to a second thermal reactor to produce mesophase pitch. The reactors can be either tubular reactors or CSTRs.

The present disclosure generally relates to scavenging hydrogen sulfide. The disclosure pertains to non-aqueous and non-volatile compositions that include a monolignol alcohol and hydrogen sulfide scavenging compound. The hydrogen sulfide scavenging compound may be hexamine in some aspects. The compositions may also include a C.sub.2-8 polyol. The compositions disclosed are stable and can be used, for example, in removing hydrogen sulfide from hot asphalt.

The present disclosure generally relates to scavenging hydrogen sulfide. The disclosure pertains to non-aqueous and non-volatile compositions that include a monolignol alcohol and hydrogen sulfide scavenging compound. The hydrogen sulfide scavenging compound may be hexamine in some aspects. The compositions may also include a C.sub.2-8 polyol. The compositions disclosed are stable and can be used, for example, in removing hydrogen sulfide from hot asphalt.

Scavenging compounds and compositions useful in reducing sulfide emissions from polymer treated asphalt, such as polyphosphoric acid, are disclosed. The scavengers include hexamethyl-enetetramine, water-free triazine, and water-free 1,3,5-triazine derivatives of formula I. Methods of using the compositions to reduce hydrogen sulfide emissions from asphalt are also disclosed.

A method and apparatus are provided for processing hydrocarbon coal slurry feeds. The method and apparatus enhance the conversion of the coal feeds into useful conversion products, such as high melting and high carbon containing pitch products. In particular, the present techniques utilize a specially designed self-cleaning and wall-catalyzed preheater-reactor systems.

The present disclosure relates to methods for preparing materials from heavy feedstocks. In particular, the disclosure provides a chemical process to convert heavy feedstocks with predominant polyaromatic hydrocarbon molecules or species, including the residues of petrochemical refining or extraction, into thermoset or thermoplastic materials that can be used alone or as a component in a composite material.

A system for upgrading asphaltenes includes an asphaltene treatment line, a series of asphaltene upgrade units, a series of carbon fiber production units, an aqueous collection unit, and a gaseous collection unit. The series of carbon fiber production unit includes a demetallizing unit that includes a first supercritical water (SCW) treatment unit and a first centrifugation unit, a desulfurizing unit that includes a second SCW treatment unit and a second centrifugation unit, and a polycondensation unit that includes a third SCW treatment unit and a third centrifugation unit. A method for mesophase pitch production from an asphaltene feedstock and a method for manufacturing carbon fibers from asphaltene feedstock are also described.

A method and apparatus are provided for processing hydrocarbon coal slurry feeds. The method and apparatus enhance the conversion of the coal feeds into useful conversion products, such as high melting and high carbon containing pitch products. In particular, the present techniques utilize a specially designed self-cleaning and wall-catalyzed preheater-reactor systems.

A method and an apparatus for processing and recovering bitumen (42) and aggregate (41) from asphalt (40), in which: a) the asphalt (40) is mechanically comminuted; b) the comminuted asphalt is introduced into an evacuated or evacuatable processing chamber (1); c) the processing chamber (1) is evacuated by adjusting the pressure in the processing chamber (1) to a pressure lower than ambient pressure, preferably 200 mbar or lower; d) the processing chamber (1) is then charged at least once with a liquid organic solvent; e) the liquid organic solvent is then extracted from the processing chamber (1); and then f1) the organic solvent is fed into the evacuated processing chamber (1) in the vapor phase at the reduced pressure, at a temperature at or above the flash point of the organic solvent; and/or f2) liquid organic solvent is fed into the treatment chamber (1).