Abstract: A catalytic reforming process using a halided zeolite catalyst containing platinum in a metal-coated reactor system where, prior to catalyst loading and reforming, halide acid is removed from the catalyst. The process comprises providing a reforming reactor system having a metal coating; providing a halided zeolite catalyst containing platinum prepared by a method which includes removing volatile halide acid; loading said catalyst into said reactor system; and catalytically reforming hydrocarbons to aromatics, wherein metal from the metal-coated reactor system does not deactivate the catalyst. The coating metal preferably comprises tin and the zeolite catalyst is preferably a platinum L-zeolite catalyst. The invention is also a method for reducing catalyst contamination from a metal which was used to coat a reactor system. The method comprises pretreating a halided catalyst with hydrogen to remove volatile halide acid.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process wherein austenitic stainless steel portions that are subject to halide stress-corrosion cracking conditions, such as the colder portions of the process equipment including effluent coolers, knockout drums, accumulation drums, and piping low points, are provided with a protective layer having improved halide stress-corrosion cracking resistance. The method comprises applying a metal cladding, plating, paint or other coating to a stressed portion of austenitic stainless steel hydrocarbon conversion process equipment, optionally curing the coated steel to form intermetallic compounds to protect the steel portions; converting hydrocarbons utilizing a halided catalyst or under conditions where a halogen-containing compound is added or evolved or both; and subjecting the protected steel portion to halide stress-corrosion cracking conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for dehydrogenation in reactor systems of improved resistance to carburization under dehydrogenation conditions.

Abstract: A improved hydrocarbon conversion process, comprising applying a plating, cladding, paint or other coating to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon conversion reactor system which is used to convert hydrocarbons to products in the presence of steam, said coating being effective to reduce the amount of undesirable by-products in said process; and operating the hydrocarbon conversion process at a steam to hydrocarbon ratio that is lower than the steam to hydrocarbon ratio at which said process was operated prior to applying said coating. Preferred hydrocarbon conversion process includes steam cracking of hydrocarbons to produce ethylene and dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene.

Abstract: A process for the alkylation of an aromatic hydrocarbon which comprises contacting the aromatic hydrocarbon with a C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 olefin alkylating agent under at least partial liquid phase conditions, and in the presence of a catalyst comprising zeolite SSZ-25. The invention also provides a process for producing a reduced benzene content gasoline blend stock. A benzene-containing light hydrocarbon stream having less than 50 weight present benzene is contacted with a C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 olefin stream in an alkylation zone containing an SSZ-25 catalyst under alkylation conditions to produce an alkylated light hydrocarbon stream with reduced benzene content. The alkylated light hydrocarbon stream is then usable as gasoline blend stock.

Abstract: I disclose a method for upgrading low-grade uintaite to high-grade uintaite having a desired meltpoint. It comprises dissolving the uintaite in a medium polarity solvent, mixing the dissolved uintaite with a nonpolar saturated hydrocarbon solvent at a volume-to-volume ratio that determines the meltpoint of the upgraded uintaite product, separating residual asphaltenes from the mixture, and recovering the medium polarity solvent and nonpolar saturated hydrocarbon to produce an upgraded uintaite having the desired meltpoint.

Abstract: A water-based drilling mud additive comprising a pre-blended combination of about 2 parts of high softening point uintaite, about 1 part of a lower softening point uintaite, about 1 part of causticized lignite, and a strongly lipophilic, non-ionic surfactant is disclosed. This composition decreases shale sloughing and borehole instability during drilling of wells.