Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing aromatic hydrocarbon from a feedstock comprising C.sub.3 /C.sub.4 hydrocarbons mixed with C.sub.2 hydrocarbons, especially ethane. The mixed feedstock is contacted at a temperature below 580.degree. C. with a catalyst composition comprising an aluminosilicate in which the molar ratio of silica to alumina is at least 5:1.The product is rich in aromatics and can be used as a gasoline blending component.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of improving the catalytic activity of a freshly made zeolite loaded with gallium ions by first treating with steam and then with hydrogen. Steam and hydrogen treatment may be carried out before or after loading with gallium simultaneously or successively. It has been found that a combination of steam and hydrogen treatments gives high conversions of hydrocarbon feeds and high selectivity to aromatics.

Abstract: Ethanol is produced by reacting methanol with carbon dioxide and hydrogen at a temperature in the range 150.degree. to 250.degree. C., a pressure in the range 100 to 300 bars and a residence time in the range 10 minutes to 8 hours in the presence of:(i) a cobalt-containing catalyst optionally promoted with iodine, bromine or an organo-phosphorus compound and optionally in the presence of a stabilizer and,(ii) an additive which may be a monocarboxylic acid and/or a derivative thereof and, optionally, a non-polar solvent such as an alkane, benzene or an alkyl-substituted benzene.The preferred additives are acetic acid and methyl acetate. The presence of the additive increases the total realizable yield and selectivity to ethanol.

Abstract: Ethanol is produced by reacting methanol with hydrogen and carbon monoxide at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst comprising cobalt, and iodide or a bromide and a compound having X(A)(B)(C) in which formula X is a nitrogen or phosphorus and A, B and C are individually monovalent organic radicals, or X is phosphorus and any two of A,B and C together form an organic divalent cyclic ring system bonded to the X atom, or X is nitrogen and all of A,B and C form an organic trivalent cyclic ring system bonded to the X atom, and in the additional presence of an added inert liquid which is characterized as a compound capable of forming, under normal conditions of temperature and pressure, a separate phase in the presence of methanol containing up to 20% w/w water, which compound contains in its structure bonds other than carbon/carbon and carbon/hydrogen.

Abstract: Ethanol and/or acetaldehyde is (are) produced by reacting methanol and synthesis gas at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst consisting of (a) cobalt, (b) an iodide or a bromide and (c) a polydentate ligand wherein the donor atoms are selected from nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony and bismuth, ethanol being the predominant product when the donor atoms are exclusively nitrogen or phosphorus, particularly phosphorus, and acetaldehyde being the major product when the donor atoms are exclusively arsenic, antimony or bismuth. A particularly effective polydentate ligand is one having the formula:(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)X--[C(R.sup.5)(R.sup.6)].sub.n --Y(R.sup.3)(R.sup.4) (II)in which X and Y are independently nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony or bismuth; n is an integer; (R.sup.1), (R.sup.2), (R.sup.3) and (R.sup.4) are independently saturated monovalent organic radicals containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Acetaldehyde is produced by reacting methanol with hydrogen and carbon monoxide at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst cobalt, an iodide or a bromide and one of the elements arsenic, antimony or bismuth, in the form of a compound thereof, and in the additional presence of one or more of the following additives:(i) an inert liquid such as chlorobenzene, decanoic acid, a polydimethylsiloxane fluid or a methyl phenyl silicone fluid,(ii) an acid and/or an acid derivative such as acetic acid, acetic anhydride, propionic acid, phenylacetic acid, benzoic acid, methyl acetate or butyl acetate.(iii) and oxygen-containing organic compound such as 1,4-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, di-n-propylether, diphenylether, acetone, acetaldehyde, n-propanol or n-butanol.(iv) a non-polar solvent such as an alkane, benzene or an alkyl-substituted benzene.The presence of the additive suppresses by-product formation and thereby improves the yield and selectivity to acetaldehyde.

Abstract: Ethanol is produced by reacting methanol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen at temperatures in the range 150.degree. to 250.degree. C. and pressures greater than 100 bar in the presence of a cobalt catalyst and an additive which is miscible with methanol containing up to 20% w/w water, which additive is an alcohol, an aldehyde, a ketone or an ether. Particular additives are n-propanol, n-butanol, acetone, acetaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, di-n-propylether and diphenyl ether. Optionally the catalyst is promoted with iodine or bromine or preferably both iodine or bromine and an organo-phosphorous compound. Other additives such as non-polar solvents, acids and derivatives thereof and inert liquids can be incorporated in the reaction mixture.