Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method includes desulfurizing a hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of a desulfurization catalyst. A hydrocarbon product is recovered. The color of the hydrocarbon product is improved and the sulfur content of the hydrocarbon product is reduced by flash distilling the product.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process in which methanol is carbonylated in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a reaction mixture (A) comprising acetic acid, hydrogen iodide, methyl iodide, water and the catalyst. At least a part of the reaction mixture (A) is withdrawn from the reaction zone. The withdrawn part of the reaction mixture (A) is introduced into a flash zone where it is brought into contact with an alkylimidazolium iodide to form a secondary mixture (B), and where the secondary mixture (B) is separated to obtain a vapor stream (BV) which comprises the acetic acid, water and methyl iodide, and a liquid stream (BL) which comprises the catalyst, the alkylimidazolium iodide and hydrogen iodide. The vapor stream (BV) is processed to purify the acetic acid, and the liquid stream (BL) is recycled to the reaction zone.

Abstract: A method of predicting the morphological type of coke produced in a delayed coking process is provided by measuring S-values of an asphaltene containing feedstock with an S-value machine. Improved refinery operations and delayed coking operations can be obtained by virtue of the invention.

Abstract: A phosgene-free process for producing organic isocyanates reacts an organic fomamide with a diorganocarbonate and thermolyzing the reaction product to obtain the corresponding organic isocyanate. Byproducts may be cycled back to the reaction or recycled to produce additional starting materials. The process product organic isocyanates in high yield.