Abstract: A novel high sulfur capacity adsorbent capable of high rates of sulfur adsorption from process streams, which is readily regenerable by simple gas stripping. The adsorbent is characterized as a spinel compound of the formula M[N.sub.x Al.sub.2-x ]O.sub.4, where M is one or more divalent cations selected from the group consisting of copper, Group II-B, i.e., zinc, cadmium, and mercury, and chromium, and Iron Group metals, i.e., iron, cobalt, and nickel, and magnesium, N is one or more trivalent cations selected from the group consisting of Group VI-B, i.e., chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten, manganese, and Iron Group metals, i.e., iron, cobalt and nickel, x is a positive number of value greater than 0 and less than 2.0, and the total cationic charge of M[N.sub.x Al.sub.2-x ] is 8. The sorbent readily adsorbes sulfur, e.g., organosulfur compounds and hydrogen sulfide, from gas streams.

Abstract: In a process wherein, in a series of reforming zones, or reactors, each of which contains a bed, or beds of a sulfur-sensitive polymetallic platinum-containing catalyst, the beds of catalyst are contacted with a hydrocarbon or naphtha feed, and hydrogen, at reforming conditions to produce a hydrocarbon, or naphtha product of improved octane, the improvement wherein, at start-up, sulfur is added to the tail reactor of the series, and excluded from the lead reactor. Increased hydrogen purity, aromatics, and C.sub.5 + liquid yields are obtained, and there is less gas make.

Abstract: A process utilizing a sorbent in a manner which provides a greater and more efficient utilization of the sorbent for the removal of sulfur, or sulfur-containing compounds, from a process streamwherein a sulfur-containing process stream is passed through a fixed-bed of sorbent from one side of the bed to the opposite side, sulfur removed, and passage of the sulfur-containing process stream through said fixed-bed of sorbent continued to breakthrough of sulfur from the exit side of the bed. Then the direction of flow of the sulfur-containing process stream is reversed without desorption of the sulfur from the sorbent, and passage of the sulfur-containing process stream in said reverse direction through the bed again continued until breakthrough of sulfur from the side of the sorbent bed opposite the former entry side. In a preferred embodiment, two or more of the fixed-beds of sorbent are staged, or placed in series.

Abstract: A process for regenerating, and reactivating, coked noble metal catalysts, especially platinum-containing polymetallic catalysts. A gas is employed for burning coke from the coked catalyst comprising an admixture of from about 0.1 percent to about 10 percent oxygen, and at least about 20 percent carbon dioxide, preferably from about 40 percent to about 99 percent, and more preferably from about 50 percent to about 99 percent carbon dioxide. Regeneration time can be considerably shortened, the frequency of reactor regeneration increased, and compression costs lowered by increasing, or maximizing, the carbon dioxide content of the gas used in the coke burnoff. The higher heat capacity of the carbon dioxide permits the use of a higher oxygen content regeneration gas, particularly during the primary coke burn, as contrasted with the regeneration gas used in conventional catalyst regeneration processes which contain large amounts of nitrogen and flue gas as inert gases.

Abstract: A two-stage naphtha hydrorefining process is provided with interstage removal of hydrogen sulfide and light gaseous hydrocarbons. Fresh hydrogen-containing treat gas is introduced only into the second hydrorefining stage and the hydrogen-containing gaseous effluent of the second hydrorefining stage is recycled to the first hydrorefining stage.