Mesophase pitch compositions may be obtained by subjecting isotropic pitch compositions to heat-treatment. Methods for producing mesophase pitch compositions may comprise heat treating an isotropic pitch composition comprising two or more aromatic classes linked with at least one methylene bridge between each aromatic classes, at a temperature of about 300? C. to about 500? C. to produce a mesophase pitch composition having a weight average molecular weight of about 300 g/mol to about 2,000 g/mol, a softening point of about 100? C. or greater, a mesophase content of about 0.01 vol % to 100 vol %, based on the total volume of the mesophase pitch composition, and a micro carbon residue of about 25 wt % or greater, based on the total weight of the mesophase pitch composition; wherein heat treating induces cyclization between at least two of the two or more aromatic classes to form one or more 5-membered rings and/or 6-membered rings.

Gasoline blends and methods for producing gasoline blends containing high concentrations of a butanol isomer and having good cold start and warm-up driveability characteristics are disclosed.

Disclosed herein is a method of reducing the vapor pressure of a processed crude oil, wherein such vapor pressure reduction is sufficient to allow safe transportation of the oil. After high-pressure processing for off gassing and subsequent low-pressure separation of water, a processed crude oil may still have sufficient vapor pressure to create hazardous conditions if the oil is transported. This disclosure reports that as little as 10 ppb of certain siloxane polymers applied to such processed crude oils results in treated oils with reduced vapor pressure. Vapor pressure reduction is typically about 1 psi to 10 psi after the application of the disclosed siloxane polymers.

The object of the invention is a method for producing naphthenic process oils that have a high content of naphthenic carbon atoms of 20-60 wt % and a low content of polycyclic aromatics of less than 3 wt %, determined in accordance with IP 346, by the hydrogenation of a process oil educt that has a high content of polycyclic aromatics. The method in accordance with the invention enables secondary extracts, such as are formed in the production of label-free process oils, even in a mixture with primary extracts, to be utilized in an economically meaningful way. The resulting process oils are likewise label-free, so that the use of PCA-containing process oils can be reduced and less of these substances will get into the environment. Through this the environment and in particular health are less stressed. In addition, the starting substances in this way can lead to a different use and no longer have to be added to heating oil. By avoiding heating oil, CO.sub.2 emissions are also reduced. Also, through the direct hydrogenation of DAE, high value naphthenic process oils are obtained by the method in accordance with the invention. The process oils that are obtained contain surprisingly high amounts of naphthenic hydrocarbon compounds. In addition, an object of the invention is the use of the process oils produced in accordance with the invention as a plasticizer or extender oil for natural and synthetic rubber mixtures or thermoplastic elastomers.

Integrated gas oil separation plant systems and methods are disclosed. Systems and methods include treating a crude oil inlet feed stream with a high pressure production trap (HPPT), a low pressure production trap (LPPT), a low pressure degassing tank (LPDT), a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a LPPT recycle water stream, a fresh wash water supply stream, and a LPDT recycle water stream, where the LPDT recycle water stream is operable to supply recycle water from the LPDT to an output stream from the HPPT to form the LPPT inlet feed stream.

A method and an apparatus for processing wood wastes and producing valuable products that are safe and have economic value is disclosed. The apparatus includes a continuous converter (3) for a feed material that includes wood wastes containing contaminants. The continuous converter includes a reaction chamber (5) for producing a solid carbon-containing product, a gas product, and optionally a liquid oil product and a separate water-based condensate product in the chamber, via pyrolysis or other reaction mechanisms.

An improved MFI zeolite having low aluminum occupation at intersection sites characterized by an ortho-xylene to para-xylene uptake ratio of 0.1 to about 0.55. Processes for converting hydrocarbon or oxygenate to a product comprising light olefins and/or aromatics using the improved MFI zeolite as catalyst are also disclosed. Para-xylene in the product may be greater than about 24% of the xylenes.

A multi-stage process for the production of an ISO8217 compliant Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil from ISO 8217 compliant Feedstock Heavy Marine Fuel Oil involving a core process under reactive conditions in a Reaction System composed of one or more reaction vessels, wherein one or more of the reaction vessels contains one or more catalysts in the form of a structured catalyst bed and is operated under reactive distillation conditions. The Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil has a sulfur level has a maximum sulfur content (ISO 14596 or ISO 8754) between the range of 0.05 mass % to 1.0 mass. A process plant for conducting the process for conducting the process is disclosed.

A multi-stage process for transforming a high sulfur ISO 8217 compliant Feedstock Heavy Marine Fuel Oil involving a core desulfurizing process that produces a Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil that can be used as a feedstock for subsequent refinery process such as anode grade coking, needle coking and fluid catalytic cracking. The Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil exhibits multiple properties desirable as a feedstock for those processes including a sulfur level has a maximum sulfur content (ISO 14596 or ISO 8754) between the range of 0.05 mass % to 1.0 mass. A process plant for conducting the process is also disclosed.

A multi-stage process for reducing the environmental contaminants in an ISO8217 compliant Feedstock Heavy Marine Fuel Oil involving a core desulfurizing process and a Detrimental Solids removal unit as either a pre-treating step or post-treating step to the core process. The Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil complies with ISO 8217 for residual marine fuel oils and has a sulfur level has a maximum sulfur content (ISO 14596 or ISO 8754) between the range of 0.05 mass % to 1.0 mass and a Detrimental Solids content less than 60 mg/kg. A process plant for conducting the process is also disclosed.