Abstract: Vinylidene olefin is removed from an olefin mixture containing about 1 to 55 mole percent vinylidene olefin, 0 to 20 mole percent internal olefin, and the balance vinyl olefin, by:(A) reacting the olefin mixture in the presence of a BF.sub.3 -water and/or organic promoter catalyst system so as to selectively dimerize said vinylidene olefin, and(B) separating said vinyl olefin and internal olefin from the dimerized vinylidene olefin to produce an olefin product having a reduced vinylidene olefin content compared to said olefin mixture.

Abstract: The separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from mixtures of aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbon feeds under pervaporation conditions, is improved by the control of the amount of oxygen present in the feed. The amount of oxygen in the feed, such as heavy cat naphtha or other cracked feed, should be less than 30 wppm, preferably less than 10 wppm. The oxygen level in the feed can be controlled by the addition of small amount of oxygen scavenger into the feed. Hindered phenols are representative of useful oxygen scavengers.

Abstract: A mixture of xylene isomers or a mixture of a xylene isomer(s) and ethylbenzene is brought into contact with at least one specific substituted .alpha.-cyclodextrin to form an inclusion complex(es) of the substituted .alpha.-cyclodextrin with a xylene isomer or ethylbenzene included therein, from which the xylene isomer(s) and/or ethylbenzene is then extracted to isolate, or separate, the same. Inclusion-complexing agents usable in isolation, or separation, of the xylene isomer(s) and/or ethylbenzene are substitited .alpha.-cyclodextrin in the form of .alpha.-cyclodextrin having the hydrogen atom of at least one hydroxyl group thereof substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of a glucosyl group, a maltosyl group, maltooligosaccharide residues, a hydroxyethyl group, a hydroxypropyl group, a methyl group, a sulfonic group, alkylenesulfonic groups, and carboxyalkyl groups.

Abstract: A method for preparing a catalyst precursor for methanol synthesis using copper sulfate recovered from low-cost copper etching waste solution as the source of copper, which comprises using recovered copper sulfate containing the mother liquor in the amount of 10% by weight or less, and adding a zinc or aluminum compound, and, optionally, further adding a boron compound to the recovered copper sulfate. The catalyst prepared by such method has all of the characteristics of a catalyst prepared with an expensive starting material, such as conventional metal nitrates. By using such method, the catalyst cost can be reduced to a great extent, thus rendering the method of great commercial value.

Abstract: Inner olefines are prepared by using 1-olefines having 6 to 34 carbon atoms as a starting material and isomerizing them at temperatures ranging from 130.degree. to 270.degree. C. in the presence of mordenite type zeolites. Optionally, unreacted 1-olefines can be separated and reused as a starting material.

Abstract: An improved process for the alkylation of benzene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst. The catalyst bed may be caused to move in a direction countercurrent to the movement of the benzene and olefin, or a portion of the catalyst bed is periodically removed and replaced. A regeneration step, whereby the catalyst is heated in a controlled oxygen atmosphere in order to reactivate the catalyst, is also described.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic distillation production of alkylated aromatic compounds is provided wherein the vapor pressure of the olefin may be increased while maintaining the same olefin feed rate and aromatic to olefin ratio. In one embodiment a side stream from the vapor from the second column below the catalyst and olefin feed is condensed and rerouted to the aromatic make up stream from the reflux drum. The vapor pressure of the olefin in the lower end of the first column in the catalyst bed is thus increased which increases the equilibrium concentration of the olefin in the liquid phase. In another embodiment of the invention the effective driving force for the reaction is increased by injecting the olefin at different heights within the catalyst bed. If additional olefin is injected more catalyst bed height would be required, but the additional catalyst is more that offset by the increased throughput at the same overall olefin conversion.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are described whereby a caustic-treated hydrocarbon feed mixture having a contaminating concentration of water and sulfur compounds is treated by separating the hydrocarbon feed into a first stream and a second stream. The first stream is contacted with an adsorbent material to produce a reactor feed stream having a significant reduction in the concentration of the contaminating water and sulfur compounds. The reactor feed stream is thereafter contacted in the presence of hydrogen under suitable isomerization conditions with an isomerization catalyst to produce an isomerate product.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for removing polar bodies and other contaminants, including color bodies, from unsaturated hydrocarbon streams having a boiling range between 280.degree.-310.degree. F. by contacting the unsaturated hydrocarbon stream with a neutral clay comprising an oxide state of at least one and preferably two of Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, K, Na, S, and P, particularly attapulgite clay. The process is most effective if the unsaturated hydrocarbon stream is first dried using a molecular sieve.

Abstract: A process for converting solid plastic materials, preferably waste materials, into usable lower molecular weight hydrocarbonaceous materials by reacting such plastic materials at elevated temperatures in effective contact with an acidic catalyst comprising at least one zeolite having acid activity.

Abstract: This invention makes possible substantially continuous flow of uniformly distributed hydrogen and hydrocarbon liquid across a densely packed catalyst bed to fill substantially the entire volume of a reactor vessel by introducing the fluids as alternate annular rings of gas and liquid at a rate insufficient to levitate the bed and with catalyst selected by a density, shape and size at a design feed rate of liquids and gas to prevent ebulation of the packed bed at the design feed rates. Catalysts are selected by measuring bed expansion in a large pilot plant run with hydrocarbon, hydrogen, and catalyst at the design pressures and flow velocities. The liquid and gas components of the feed flow into the bed in alternate annular rings across the full area of the bed.

Abstract: The aromatic hydrocarbons rich in benzene, toluene and xylene are prepared from a hydrocarbon feed having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms by feeding the hydrogen in admixture with hydrogen in a ratio ranging from 0 to less than 1 mole with respect to each mole of the hydrocarbon, into contact with a catalyst prepared by depositing at least one metal belonging to group VIII of the periodic table on a macroporous zeolite treated with a halogenated compound. The aromatic hydrocarbons rich in benzene, toluene and xylene are useful as a base for high octane number gasoline or as petrochemical raw materials.

Abstract: Continuous methylation of tetralin with methanol over several solid acid catalysts affords a mixture of 5-methyltetralin and 6-methyltetralin with selectivity of better than 65% at high conversions. Zeolite .beta. is a particularly effective catalyst insofar as it catalyzes the reaction at a temperature approximately 100.degree. C. lower than that required for silica-aluminas. However, the reaction temperature is quite sensitive to the concentration of methanol in the feedstock.

Abstract: Process for the isomerization of a hydrocarbon feed containing hydrocarbons comprising at least 4 carbon atoms, which process comprises isomerizing a hydrocarbon stream; separating the isomerisate thus obtained into a hydrogen-containing gas and a hydrocarbon effluent; separating from the hydrocarbon effluent a product stream containing branched hydrocarbons, leaving non-product hydrocarbons, and passing at least part of these hydrocarbons again to the isomerization step, in which process at least part of the feed is added to at least part of the isomerisate before the isomerisate is separated into the hydrogen-containing gas and the hydrocarbon effluent.

Abstract: The instant invention comprises a process for concurrently dealuminating and ion exchanging an acid stable sodium ion-containing zeolite by contacting the zeolite with an about 0.5 M to about 3 M nitric acid solution containing ammonium nitrate in an amount sufficient to fully exchange the sodium ions for ammonium and hydrogen ions at a temperature of at least about -10.degree. C. The instant invention also relates to the zeolites thus prepared by the instant process and catalysts prepared utilizing these zeolites.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the recovery of aromatic hydrocarbons from the extract phase of aromatic-selective solvent extraction processes which involve withdrawing a vapor side-cut fraction containing aromatic hydrocarbons and solvents from a stripping zone and passing the side-cut fraction to a rectification zone which can be refluxed with aromatic hydrocarbons or aqueous condensate.

Abstract: A composition useful for processing hydrocarbonaceous feedstocks is disclosed comprising a mixture of a calcium/magnesium-containing material and a magnesium-containing material. The preferred calcium/magnesium-containing material is dolomite and the preferred magnesium-containing material is sepiolite.

Abstract: There is provided a method for pillaring a layered silicate, such as kenyaite, with polymeric oxide by using a single step treatment with a mixture of swelling agent and pillar precursor. The swelling agent may be an organic cation, such as a cetyltrimethylammonium cation, and the pillar precursor may be a compound which is capable of hydrolyzing to form a polymeric oxide. Tetraethylorthosilicate is an example of such a pillar precursor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing 1,1-diarylethanes expressed by the following general formula (III): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 -R.sup.5 each stand for a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms. This method comprises the reaction of styrenes expressed by the following general formula (I) with an alkylbenzene expressed by the following general formula (II), and is characterized in that the catalyst used is an H-L type zeolite with a SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio of at least 4, or a zeolite modified by exchanging said H-L type zeolite with a bi- or tri-valent metal ion. ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 -R.sup.5 have the same meanings as defined above.

Abstract: There is provided a process for converting methane to hydrocarbons having at least two carbon atoms. The process involves contacting methane with an oxidizing agent, such as oxygen, at a relatively moderate temperature of less than about 700.degree. C. and a relatively high pressure of greater than about 20 atmospheres.