Abstract: A new group of materials comprises intercalates of organometallic compounds in layered structures of water-insoluble salts comprised of a tetravalent metal cation and an acid phosphate, arsenate or vanadate anion. Related materials comprise intercalates of organometallic compounds in layered structures of uranyl and transuranyl phosphates, arsenates and vanadates. Intercalation hosts are represented either by the formula M(H.sub.1-y A.sub.y XO.sub.4).sub.2.nH.sub.2 O or by the formula H.sub.1-y A.sub.y TO.sub.2 XO.sub.4.nH.sub.

Abstract: A process for recovering oil from a subterranean formation using a modified aqueous saline heteropolysaccharide solution as mobility control agent, said aqueous solution containing at least 0.5 wt. % of inorganic salts wherein the solutions are stabilized against loss of pyruvate groups on heat treatment by a process which comprises preparing an aqueous solution containing heteropolysaccharide and inorganic salts, adding a buffer to control pH between about 6.5 and 10.0, heating to a temperature of at least 100.degree. C. and maintaining the pH at from 6.0 to 9.5 during heating, then removing cell debris. The buffered solutions do not suffer loss of pyruvate content which leads to viscosity loss.

Abstract: Alkenes, alkynes or mixtures thereof are removed from feedstreams by a process which comprises contacting the feedstream with a solution of a cuprous fluorinated acetylacetone in an organic solvent containing stabilizing agent to remove alkene, alkyne or mixture thereof by forming a first cuprous complex, decomposing the first cuprous complex whereby stabilizing agent replaces alkene or alkyne in the first cuprous complex to form a second cuprous complex, and separating the displaced component. The formation of the second cuprous complex avoids any deposition of copper metal upon heating.

Abstract: A process for recovering crude oil from a subterranean formation using aqueous saline heteropolysaccharide solutions containing at least 0.5 wt. % of inorganic salts which are stabilized against viscosity loss on heat treatment. The stabilization process comprises preparing an aqueous solution containing heteropolysaccharide and inorganic salts, removing oxygen from the saline solution, heating to a temperature of at least 100.degree. C. in an inert atmosphere, then removing cell debris. The solutions also have improved filterability and are free of cell debris.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstocks are hydrocracked by contacting the feedstock in the presence of hydrogen and under hydrocracking reaction conditions with a catalyst comprised of a metal fluoride, the metal being boron, tantalum, niobium or mixtures thereof, a fluoride containing Bronsted acid and a Group VIII noble metal hydrogenation component, the Bronsted acid being present in at least an equi-molar amount relative to the metal fluoride and sufficient to dissolve at least a portion of the metal fluoride. The presence of the noble metal hydrogenation component serves to extend the hydrocracking catalyst life of the metal fluoride and fluoride containing Bronsted acid. The catalyst can be described as a slurry or dispersion composed of a solid noble metal on a support in a liquid phase acid system.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstocks are hydrocracked by contacting the feedstock in the presence of hydrogen and under hydrocracking reaction conditions with a catalyst comprised of a metal fluoride, the metal being tantalum, niobium, boron or mixtures thereof, a fluoride containing Bronsted acid and palladium or iridium, the Bronsted acid being present in at least an equimolar amount relative to the metal fluoride and sufficient to dissolve at least a portion of the metal fluoride. The presence of palladium or iridium serves to extend the hydrocracking catalyst life of the metal fluoride and fluoride containing Bronsted acid. The catalyst can be described as a slurry or dispersion composed of the noble metal on a support in a liquid phase acid system.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon materials are converted to useful products by contacting the same at elevated temperatures with a catalyst comprising a refractory support in association with greater than 0.1 wt. % iridium, and 0.1 - 1.0 wt. % of at least one additional metal. The iridium and additional catalyst metal, preferably platinum, are present on the surface of the support preferably as highly dispersed polymetallic clusters with metal surface areas of at least 200 square meters per gram of metal. The catalyst is particularly effective for promoting naphtha reforming operations.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process for activating iridium-containing catalysts, said catalysts being inactive because of the presence of the iridium as large crystallites of low activity, and which comprises the step of contacting said catalyst with a halogen-containing gas in the presence of from 0.01 to 10% by volume oxygen, at a temperature of at least 300.degree.C. for a time sufficient to redisperse said large crystallites to crystallites having a substantially smaller particle size. Preferably, the catalyst is a reforming catalyst comprising iridium supported on alumina. In the most preferred embodiment of the instant invention an iridium: platinum on alumina catalyst, which has become deactivated by use in a reforming process wherein carbonaceous materials have deposited on the surface of the catalyst, is regenerated by (1) burning off said carbonaceous deposits by contacting said catalyst with oxygen at a temperature of at least 300.degree.C.

Abstract: High boiling hydrocarbon feeds are converted to high V.I. lube oils in high yields by hydrotreating in a first stage over a hydrogenation catalyst and then hydrocracking in a second stage over a faujasite-base catalyst, such as Pd on H-faujasite, under conditions such that less than 15 wt.% conversion, based on feed to the second stage, to products boiling below 650.degree.F. occurs.

Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide and its precursors can be selectively sorbed from gas streams containing same by contacting the gas stream at elevated temperatures with a regenerable sorbent comprising a supported or unsupported lanthanum or rare earth metal component. Subsequent to sorption, the sorbent may be desorbed and regenerated by treatment with steam (desorption) and an oxidizing gas (regeneration). The sorbent capacity may be increased by the use of alkali or alkaline earth metal components as promoters.

Abstract: Compositions comprising iridium and at least one additional metal, preferably platinum, are disclosed in which the iridium and the additional metal or metals are present on a refractory support as highly dispersed polymetallic clusters. The metallic atoms in a cluster are separated by distances of about 2.5 to 4.0A. The degree of coverage of the surface of said refractory support by said polymetallic clusters is lower than about 10% and frequently lower than about 1%. The compositions are useful as hydrocarbon conversion catalysts, and iridiumplatinum catalysts containing a halogen moiety are especially useful for promoting naphtha reforming reactions.

Abstract: Acyclic and alicyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons are isomerized by contacting the same with hydrogen in the presence of a difficultly reduceable metal halide in combination with at least a molar equivalent of hydrogen halide. The preferred catalyst system is tantalum pentafluoride, niobium pentafluoride or their mixtures in combination with at least a five-fold molar excess of hydrogen fluoride.

Abstract: Supported iridium-containing hydrocarbon conversion catalysts which are at least partially deactivated due to the deposition of carbonaceous residues thereon during contact with hydrocarbons are regenerated by contacting the catalyst, prior to contact with oxygen at elevated temperature, with a chlorine-containing reagent to increase the catalyst chlorine content to at least 1.0 wt. %, based on anhydrous catalyst, and thereafter contacting the catalyst with a gaseous mixture containing oxygen, a chlorine containing reagent, and water at a temperature of about 750.degree. to 1000.degree.F. for a time sufficient to burn at least a portion of the carbonaceous residues from the catalyst.