Abstract: A process for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons in an emulsion through dense phase processing. The process involves subjecting a feed of oil in an immiscible solvent emulsion to supercritical conditions to facilitate separation of the heavy hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons with greater value and more uses.

Abstract: Hydrocarbyl formates, convertible by hydrolysis into formic acid, are produced by reacting carbon dioxide and hydrogen with a compound of formula ROH wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group in the presence of a substantially insoluble compound of an element selected from Groups III to VIII of the Periodic Table, which element exhibits amphoteric or basic properties, and as catalyst a compound of a transition metal of Group VIa, VIIa or VIII of the Periodic Table, particularly rhodium, ruthenium or iridium.

Abstract: Aromatic hydrocarbons are produced from a feedstock comprising ethane and/or propane and/or butane by the steps of:(A) reacting the feedstock in the presence of a dehydrocyclodimerization catalyst to produce a product comprising aromatic hydrocarbons, hydrogen and methane,(B) separating the product of step (A) into an aromatic hydrocarbon fraction, a methane-rich gaseous fraction and a hydrogen-rich gaseous fraction,(C) feeding all or part of the methane-rich gaseous fraction separated in step (B) to a synthesis gas production unit, thereby to produce synthesis gas, and(D) contacting the synthesis gas from step (C) together with all or part of the hydrogen-rich gaseous fraction separated in step (B), thereby increasing the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio of the synthesis gas, with a Fischer-Tropsch conversion catalyst to produce a hydrocarbon product.

Abstract: Thioesters of the formula RCOSR are produced from a mercaptan of the formula RSH wherein R is a benzylic, aromatic or aliphatic moiety by reacting the mercaptan with carbon monoxide in the presence of a polyunsaturated olefinic hydrocarbon and as catalyst a metal component selected from iron, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, ruthenium, rhodium and iridium, the metal component being in free or combined form.

Abstract: Benzylic and aromatic mercaptans are desulphurized by contacting the mercaptan with carbon monoxide at elevated temperatures in the presence of an aqueous hydrocarbon and a cobalt carbonyl catalyst.

Abstract: Carbamate esters are produced by reacting at ambient or elevated temperature an amine with carbon monoxide and an alcohol in the presence of a protonic acid, a dehydrating agent, for example a molecular sieve, and a catalyst comprising (a) at least one metal selected from the group palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and cobalt, and (b) at least one of the metals copper, molybdenum and iron, the components (a) and (b) being in the form of elemental metals or compounds thereof. The presence of the dehydrating agent reduces the formation of by-product carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Carboxylic acid esters are produced by reacting an unsaturated hydrocarbon, for example an olefin or an alkyne, with carbon monoxide and an alcohol in the presence of a protonic acid and as catalyst (a) at least one of the metals palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and cobalt, and (b) copper. In a modification of the invention carboxylic acids are produced by omitting the alcohol reactant and replacing it with water in an amount up to 8 mole equivalents based on the unsaturated hydrocarbon and a solvent other than an alochol, for example tetrahydrofuran.

Abstract: Carboxylic acid esters are produced by reacting an olefinic hydrocarbon with an ester of formic acid in the presence of both carbon monoxide and oxygen at a temperature of up to 200.degree. and a pressure of up to 300 bar in the presence of water, typically in an amount of from 0.01 to 5% w/w, a source of protons, which is preferably a mineral acid or a tectometallosilicate in the hydrogen form, and as catalyst (a) a source of palladium, and (b) a source of copper.

Abstract: Carboxylic acids and/or esters thereof are produced by reacting either a benzylic or an aromatic mercaptan with carbon monoxide and either water or an aqueous alcohol at elevated temperature, suitably in the range from 100.degree. to 300.degree. C., in the presence as catalyst of a cobalt carbonyl, the product using water as the reactant being a carboxylic acid and using aqueous alcohol as the reactant a carboxylic acid ester, mixtures of acids and esters being formed using aqueous alcohols having high water concentrations.

Abstract: Carboxylic acid esters are produced by reacting (i) carbon monoxide, (ii) a compound of the formula M(OR).sub.x wherein M is either boron, silicon, aluminum, titanium or zirconium, x is the valency of M and R is a hydrocarbyl group and (iii) a hydrocarbyl halide, wherein the halide moiety is bromide, chloride or iodide, in the presence of a catalyst comprising one or more of the metals rhodium, iridium and cobalt in either elemental or compound form. When M is boron, silicon or aluminum and the halide moiety is chloride, there is preferably added a source of iodide.

Abstract: Lactones are produced by reacting an unsaturated alcohol capable of intramolecular esterification to form a lactone ring with carbon monoxide in the presence of a protonic acid and a catalyst comprising (a) at least one of the metals palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and cobalt, and (b) at least one of the metals copper, molybdenum and iron, the metals (a) and (b) being in the form of either the elemental metal or a compound thereof.

Abstract: A C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 monohaloalkane is converted to hydrocarbons having a greater number of carbon atoms than the monohaloalkane reactant, in particular to aliphatic hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range, by contacting the monohaloalkane at elevated temperature with a clay containing either hydrogen ions and/or metal cations introduced either by exchange and/or by deposition. Preferred as catalysts are the layered clays including stabilized pillared layered clays.

Abstract: Terminal carbon-carbon double bonds of olefinic hydrocarbons are converted to carbonyl groups by reacting the olefin with oxygen in the presence of (a) a catalyst comprising (i) one or more of the metals palladium, rhodium, ruthenium or iridium, and (ii) copper, (b) a diluent comprising two liquid phases, and (c) a surfactant, provided that when the metal is palladium no alkali or alkaline earth metal is present and the surfactant is dodecyltrimethylammonium or cetyltrimethylammonium chloride or bromide.

Abstract: A mixture of the alcohol and ketone derivatives of alkanes is produced by reacting the alkane with a hydrocarbyl hydroperoxide, eg t-butyl hydroperoxide, at ambient or elevated temperature and pressure in the presence as catalyst of an iron or manganese square planar complex having heterocyclic nitrogen-donor ligands, e.g. a porphyrin or phthalocyanine complex, which complex has either no axial ligands, eg the lower valency or cationic complex, or an axial ligand which is non-coordinating or weakly-coordinating.