Abstract: Lower monobasic or dibasic alcohols are produced by the following steps:a) reacting a starting material with a metallic halide (wherein the metal is in the higher of two possible valence states) to obtain a reaction product, a corresponding metallous halide (wherein the metal is in the lower of the two possible valence states) and hydrohalic acid, andb) reacting the reaction product of step (a) and hydrohalic acid with magnesium oxide to form the corresponding lower monobasic or dibasic alkanol;wherein the starting material for forming a lower monobasic alcohol is a lower alkane, from which the corresponding lower alkanol is obtained; and the starting material for forming a lower dibasic alcohol is either a lower alkanol or a lower alkene, from which the corresponding lower glycol is obtained. Two continuous fluidized-bed systems are provided for conducting the necessary reactions.

Abstract: Lower alkanols are prepared from corresponding alkanes by reacting the lower alkane with a metal halide to produce a lower alkyl halide which, in turn, is reacted with magnesium oxide to form the corresponding lower alkanol. A continuous fluidized-bed system is provided for conducting the necessary reactions.

Abstract: Controlled ratios of ethylene to propylene are obtained in almost quantitative yields from catalytic dehydration of methanol when selected molecular sieve zeolites are used as catalysts and the methanol starting material is diluted with varying amounts of steam or inert gas.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon is converted to a higher-molecular-weight hydrocarbon having greater unsaturation in compact and efficient apparatus, which provides for recirculating materials in a continuous process.

Abstract: A process for the selective separation of alkenes and/or alkynes from gases obtained by cracking of petroleum products comprising: (a) treating said gases containing at least one alkene and/or at least one alkyne with a macroporous strongly acidic cation exchange resin in its hydrogen form to selectively adsorb said at least one alkene and/or said at least one alkyne; and (b) introducing water, oxygen or an acid in vapor form to simultaneously desorb said at least one alkene and/or said at least one alkyne and to form at least one alcohol, aldehyde, oxide or ester.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the vapor phase alkylation of alkanes or aromatic hydrocarbons comprising (a) adsorbing an alkene on a dry cation exchange resin in its hydrogen form and (b) reacting said adsorbed alkene with at least one alkane or at least one aromatic hydrocarbon.