The present technology provides a process that includes heating a first mixture of elemental sulfur and particles comprising an alkali metal sulfide in a liquid hydrocarbon to a temperature of at least 150°C, to provide a sulfur-treated mixture comprising agglomerated particles; and separating the agglomerated particles from the sulfur-treated mixture to provide a desulfurized liquid hydrocarbon and separated solids. This process may be used as part of a suite of processes for desulfurizing liquid hydrocarbons contaminated with organosulfur compounds and other heteroatom-based contaminants. The present technology further provides processes for converting carbon-rich solids (e.g., petroleum coke) into fuels.
Electrochemical systems and methods for producing hydrogen. Generally, the systems and methods involve providing an electrochemical cell that includes an anolyte compartment holding an anode in contact with an anolyte, wherein the anolyte includes an oxidizable substance having a higher standard oxidation potential than water. The cell further comprises a catholyte compartment holding a cathode in contact with a catholyte that includes a substance that reduces to form hydrogen. Additionally, the cell includes an alkali cation conductive membrane that separates the anolyte compartment from the catholyte compartment. As an electrical potential passes between the anode and cathode, the reducible substance reduces to form hydrogen and the oxidizable substance oxidizes to form an oxidized product. The pH within the catholyte compartment may be controlled and maintained to a value in the range of 6 to 8. Apparatus and methods to regenerate the oxidizable substance are disclosed.
C25B 15/08 - Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
C25B 1/10 - Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals of hydrogen or oxygen by electrolysis of water in diaphragm cells
C25B 9/10 - Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof with diaphragms including an ion-exchange membrane in or on which electrode material is embedded
C25B 13/04 - Diaphragms; Spacing elements characterised by the material
A method for removing alkali metal from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising alkali metal, non-alkali metal and sulfur. The method includes separating out at least a portion of any alkali metal sulfide and a portion of any non-alkali metal from the hydrocarbon feedstock. Hydrogen sulfide can be added to the remaining hydrocarbon feedstock to form alkali hydrosulfide from any alkali metal remaining in the hydrocarbon feedstock. The alkali hydrosulfide is then separated from the hydrocarbon feedstock. Alkali metal may be removed from the alkali metal sulfide separated out from the hydrocarbon feedstock. Alkali hydrosulfide may be treated to form alkali metal sulfide, and alkali metal may also be removed from the formed alkali metal sulfide.
C10G 31/08 - Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by methods not otherwise provided for by treating with water
C01B 17/22 - Alkali metal sulfides or polysulfides
C10G 17/02 - Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, with acids, acid-forming compounds, or acid-containing liquids, e.g. acid sludge with acids or acid-containing liquids, e.g. acid sludge
C10G 19/00 - Refining hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by alkaline treatment
C10G 53/10 - Treatment of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by two or more refining processes plural serial stages only including at least one acid-treatment step
C10G 53/12 - Treatment of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by two or more refining processes plural serial stages only including at least one alkaline-treatment step
An ion conductive intercalation membrane is useful to separate anode and cathode compartments in an electrochemical cell and provide ion transport between the anode and cathode compartments. The intercalation membrane does not receive and release electrons during operation of the electrochemical cell. An electric potential and current source is connected to an anode and a cathode disposed in respective anode and cathode compartments to cause oxidation and reduction reactions to occur at the anode and cathode, to cause electrons to flow through an external circuit coupled to the anode and cathode, and to cause ions to transport through the intercalation membrane to maintain charge neutrality within the electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell operates at a current density greater than 25 mA/cm2 across the intercalation membrane.
C02F 1/461 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by electrochemical methods by electrolysis
B01D 71/00 - Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by the material; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
B01D 67/00 - Processes specially adapted for manufacturing semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus
5.
ELECTROCHEMICAL PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN WITH DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELL-BASED ANODE
Electrochemical systems and methods for producing hydrogen. Generally, the systems and methods involve providing an electrochemical cell that includes an anolyte compartment holding a photo anode in contact with an anolyte, wherein the anolyte includes an alkali metal iodide. The photo anode includes anode components of a dye-sensitized solar cell. The cell further includes a catholyte compartment holding a cathode in contact with a catholyte that includes a substance that reduces to form hydrogen. Additionally, the cell includes an alkali cation conductive membrane that separates the anolyte compartment from the catholyte compartment. As the photo anode is irradiated, iodide ions are oxidized to form molecular iodine or triiodide ions and electrons pass to the cathode form hydrogen. Apparatus and methods to regenerate the alkali metal iodide are disclosed.
C25B 1/04 - Hydrogen or oxygen by electrolysis of water
C25B 9/10 - Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof with diaphragms including an ion-exchange membrane in or on which electrode material is embedded
C25B 13/04 - Diaphragms; Spacing elements characterised by the material
C25B 15/08 - Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
6.
MULTI-STAGE SODIUM HEAT ENGINE FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEAT PRODUCTION
A multi-stage sodium heat engine is provided to convert thermal energy to electrical energy, the multi-stage sodium heat engine including at least a first stage, a second stage, and an electrical circuit operatively connecting the first stage and the second stage with an electrical load. One or more methods of powering an electrical load using a multi-stage sodium heat engine are also described.
F01K 25/12 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided for; Plants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for using special vapours the vapours being metallic, e.g. mercury
H01M 14/00 - Electrochemical current or voltage generators not provided for in groups ; Manufacture thereof
40 - Treatment of materials; recycling, air and water treatment,
Goods & Services
desulphurization and upgrading of oil to produce bunker fuels for use in the shipping industry; treatment of materials, namely, the desulphurization of refinery bottoms, intermediate streams, heavy oil, oil shale and bitumen; treatment of materials to remove of metals and acids from oil and to increase the API gravity of oil
9.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TREATING PETROLEUM FEEDSTOCK CONTAINING ORGANIC ACIDS AND SULFUR
Methods and systems of treating petroleum feedstock contaminated with naphthenic acids and sulfur are disclosed. The methods and systems include heating the petroleum feedstock to decompose the naphthenic acids, pressurizing to minimize the portion in the vapor phase, sweeping water vapor and carbon dioxide into a headspace with a non-oxidizing gas, removing water vapor and carbon dioxide from the headspace, reacting the sulfur with an alkali metal and a radical capping gas to convert the sulfur into alkali sulfides, and removing the alkali sulfides. Also disclosed is reacting the naphthenic acid with water and an oxide or hydroxide of an alkaline earth element to convert the naphthenic acid into naphthenates, removing water, ketonizing, removing oxides or carbonates, reacting the sulfur with an alkali metal and a radical capping gas to convert the sulfur into alkali sulfides, and removing the alkali sulfides.
A process to facilitate gravimetric separation of alkali metal salts, such as alkali metal sulfides and polysulfides, from alkali metal reacted hydrocarbons. The disclosed process is part of a method of upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock by removing heteroatoms and/or one or more heavy metals from the hydrocarbon feedstock composition. This method reacts the oil feedstock with an alkali metal and an upgradant hydrocarbon. The alkali metal reacts with a portion of the heteroatoms and/or one or more heavy metals to form an inorganic phase containing alkali metal salts and reduced heavy metals, and an upgraded hydrocarbon feedstock. The inorganic phase may be gravimetrically separated from the upgraded hydrocarbon feedstock after mixing at a temperature between about 350°C to 400°C for a time period between about 15 minutes and 2 hours.
C10G 31/06 - Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by methods not otherwise provided for by heating, cooling, or pressure treatment
11.
Electrochemical process for the production of synthesis gas using atmospheric air and water
A process is provided for synthesizing synthesis gas from carbon dioxide obtained from atmospheric air or other available carbon dioxide source and water using a sodium-conducting electrochemical cell. Synthesis gas is also produced by the coelectrolysis of carbon dioxide and steam in a solid oxide fuel cell or solid oxide electrolytic cell. The synthesis gas produced may then be further processed and eventually converted into a liquid fuel suitable for transportation or other applications.
C25B 9/00 - Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
C25B 1/04 - Hydrogen or oxygen by electrolysis of water
C25B 9/08 - Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof with diaphragms
C25B 9/16 - Cells or assemblies of cells comprising at least one electrode made of particles; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
C25B 9/18 - Assemblies comprising a plurality of cells
C25D 17/00 - Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
C25C 7/00 - Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells; Servicing or operating of cells
C25B 1/00 - Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
C25B 9/20 - Assemblies comprising a plurality of cells of the filter-press type
H01M 8/124 - Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte characterised by the process of manufacturing or by the material of the electrolyte
12.
Electrochemical cell for production of synthesis gas using atmospheric air and water
A method is provided for synthesizing synthesis gas from carbon dioxide obtained from atmospheric air or other available carbon dioxide source and water using a sodium-conducting electrochemical cell. Synthesis gas is also produced by the coelectrolysis of carbon dioxide and steam in a solid oxide fuel cell or solid oxide electrolytic cell. The synthesis gas produced may then be further processed and eventually converted into a liquid fuel suitable for transportation or other applications.
C25B 9/00 - Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
C25B 9/06 - Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
C25D 17/00 - Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
