Abstract: A hydrocarbon aromatization process comprising adding a nitrogenate, an oxygenate, or both to a hydrocarbon stream to produce an enhanced hydrocarbon stream, and contacting the enhanced hydrocarbon stream with an aromatization catalyst, thereby producing an aromatization reactor effluent comprising aromatic hydrocarbons, wherein the catalyst comprises a non-acidic zeolite support, a group VIII metal, and one or more halides. Also disclosed is a hydrocarbon aromatization process comprising monitoring the presence of an oxygenate, a nitrogenate, or both in an aromatization reactor, monitoring at least one process parameter that indicates the activity of the aromatization catalyst, modifying the amount of the oxygenate, the nitrogenate, or both in the aromatization reactor, thereby affecting the parameter.

Abstract: A process and catalyst blend for selectively producing mercaptans and sulfides from alcohols. The alcohol is reacted with hydrogen sulfide, in the presence of a catalyst blend containing a hydrotreating catalyst and a dehydration catalyst to convert the alcohol to mercaptan or sulfide in one-pass. The alcohols can include primary and secondary alcohols. The mercaptan or sulfide having less than about 30% unreacted alcohol contained therein.

Abstract: A process for selectively making 2-thiols from alpha olefins is described. The process includes contacting a linear or branched alpha olefin having with H2S in the presence of a catalyst and recovering the 2-thiol from a product mixture. The catalyst includes a support and at least one metal selected from Group IIIA-VIIIA and the branched olefin is branched at the 3-position or higher with respect to the olefin double bond. Compositions wherein the 2-thiols are substantially free of 1 -thiol and 3-thiol isomers are also described.

Abstract: Thiol ester compositions, methods of making the thiol ester compositions, and methods of using the thiol ester compositions are provided. In some embodiments, the thiol ester compositions include thiol esters, hydroxy thiol esters and cross-linked thiol esters. The thiol ester composition can be used to produce cross-linked thiol esters, sulfonic acid-containing esters, sulfonate containing esters and thioacrylate containing esters. The thiol ester compositions can be used to produce polythiourethanes. The polythiourethanes can be used in fertilizers and fertilizer coatings.

Abstract: Removing impurities from a heptane stream by contacting the heptane stream with an acidic catalyst, wherein the contacting reduces a concentration of one or more close boiling impurities, one or more olefins, or both. The impurities are isomerized via contact with the acidic catalyst into species that possess lower octane levels or that do not possess boiling points as near to the boiling point of n-heptane, which promotes separation of the impurities via distillation. Close boiling impurities may include such compounds as cis-1,2-dimethylcyclopentane and methylcyclohexane or may be compounds having boiling points at a standard pressure of 760 Torr in the range of about 96.5 to about 100.5 degrees Celsius including such compounds as cis-1,2-dimethylcyclopentane and methylcyclohexane. The concentration of cis-1,2-dimethylcyclopentane and methylcyclohexane may be reduced by at least about 25 and 10 percent by weight, respectively.