Abstract: A method for recovering a liquid diluent having a low salt content from an organic/aqueous mixture which contains significant quantities of the diluent, an alkali metal salt, and water comprises an integrated process which joins extraction and ion exchange steps and a reaction for the conversion of an alkali metal hydroxide. In the initial step the diluent is extracted from the original mixture employing a suitable extractant material. The extract from the initial step containing diluent, extractant material, along with reduced quantities of water and salt, is passed to an ion exchange column for conversion of the alkali metal salt to its hydroxide. In a following fractional distillation dewatering column the diluent begins to react with the alkali metal hydroxide to form an alkali-metal salt of aminocarboxylic acid which can pass harmlessly through the dewatering column for removal in further following fractional distillation step.

Abstract: A catalytic process for cracking vanadium-containing oils employs a physical mixture of (a) zeolite embedded in an inorganic matrix material and (b) magnesium oxide on alumina support.

Abstract: Cycloalkanes, preferably cyclohexane and/or cyclopentane, are separated from close-boiling alkanes by extractive distillation employing as solvent a mixture of (a) at least one N-hydroxyalkyl-2-pyrrolidone, preferably N-(.beta.-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone, and (b) at least one saturated C.sub.5 -C.sub.9 alcohol, preferably cyclohexanol.

Abstract: An extractive distillation process for separating at least one cycloalkane or aromatic hydrocarbon from at least one close-boiling alkane employs as solvent at least one N-mercaptoalkyl-2-pyrrolidone, preferably N-(.beta.-mercaptoethyl)-2-pyrrolidone, either alone or in admixture with about 0.1-10 weight-% water.A liquid-liquid extraction process for separating at least one cycloalkane or aromatic hydrocarbon from at least one alkane employs as solvent at least one N-mercaptoalkyl-2-pyrrolidone, preferably N-(.beta.-mercaptoethyl)-2-pyrrolidone, either alone or in admixture with about 0.1-10 weight-% water.

Abstract: Cycloalkanes (preferably cyclopentane and/or cyclohexane) are separated from close-boiling alkanes by extractive distillation employing as solvent a mixture of (a) at least one N-mercaptoalkyl-2-pyrrolidone (preferably N-mercaptoethyl-2-pyrrolidone) and (b1) at least one N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (preferably N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) and/or (b2) at least one saturated C.sub.5 -C.sub.9 alcohol (preferably cyclohexanol).

Abstract: A mixture of (a) at least one N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (preferably N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) and (b) at least one sulfolane (preferably unsubstituted sulfolane) is used as solvent in the extractive distillation of feed mixture of cycloalkane(s) (in particular cyclohexane) and close-boiling alkane(s).

Abstract: An extractive distillation process for separating at least one cycloalkane from at least one close-boiling alkane employs as solvent a mixture of (a) at least one saturated C5-C9 alcohol (preferably cyclohexanol) and (b) at least one glycol compound (preferably tetraethylene glycol).

Abstract: In a process for recovery N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone from a liquid aqueous medium (preferably a brine) by liquid-liquid extraction, the improvement comprises using a branched aliphatic C5-C7 alcohol as extractant. In a particular embodiment, the liquid aqueous medium is an effluent from a poly(arylene sulfide) process.

Abstract: A composition of matter, suitable as cracking catalyst, comprises zeolite, silica matrix and vanadium oxide(s) at a level of at least 0.2 weight-% V. A process for preparing the above composition of matter comprises the steps of contacting zeolite in a silica matrix with at least one vanadium compound and calcining the thus contacted material. A process for cracking substantially liquid hydrocarbon-containing feed streams, which contain at least about 5 ppmw vanadium, in the presence of the above composition of matter as catalyst, is provided.

Abstract: A composition of matter, suitable as cracking catalyst, comprises zeolite, silica matrix and vanadium oxide(s) at a level of at least 0.2 weight-% V. A process for preparing the above composition of matter comprises the steps of contacting zeolite in a silica matrix with at least one vanadium compound and calcining the thus contacted material. A process for cracking substantially liquid hydrocarbon-containing feed streams, which contain at least about 5 ppmw vanadium, in the presence of the above composition of matter as catalyst, is provided.

Abstract: A process is provided for converting alkanes and cycloalkanes having up to 20 carbon atoms per molecule to a product comprising hydrogen gas and dehydrogenated and/or dehydrocyclized hydrocarbons, in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising divanadium pentoxide and silica. In one embodiment, a substantially deactivated catalyst composition is regenerated by contacting it with a free oxygen containing gas under suitable regeneration conditions. In another embodiment, a catalyst composition comprising divanadium pentoxide and silica is provided.