Abstract: A process for the selective hydrogenation and simultaneous isomerization of hydrocarbons in a feed stream (12) containing a mixture of hydrocarbons of varying degrees of unsaturation and having 4 or more carbon atoms. The process comprises contacting the mixture with hydrogen gas under hydrogenating and isomerizing conditions in the presence of a suitable catalyst (2, 3, and 4) in a multistage packed bed catalytic reactor (1). The process comprises supplying the hydrogen gas (20) in increasing molar ratio amounts relative to the remaining unreacted diolefin concentration in at least three points (24, 26 and 28) spaced apart along the flow direction of the feed stream through the reactor.

Abstract: A first mixture of carbonaceous fuel and air is passed into the presence of a catalyst for essentially adiabatic combustion at a temperature above the instantaneous auto-ignition temperature of the mixture but below about 3,000.degree. F., thus avoiding nitrogen-oxide-forming temperatures. The gaseous effluent of this combustion is mixed with an additional fuel-containing component, which differs from the first mixture and which may utilize a different fuel, and the resulting mixture is homogeneously combusted at a temperature above the catalyst temperature, and above about 2,500.degree. F., to produce a gaseous effluent for use as a source of heat or power.