Abstract: A novel catalytic composite comprising a platinum group metal component; a modifier metal component selected from the group consisting of a tin component, germanium component, rhenium component and mixtures thereof; an optional alkali or alkaline earth metal component or mixtures thereof, an optional halogen component, and an optional catalytic modifier component on a refractory oxide support having a nominal diameter of at least about 850 microns. The distribution of the platinum group metal component is such that the platinum group component is surface-impregnated where substantially all of the platinum group metal component is located at most within a 400 micron exterior layer of the support. The effective amount of the modifier metal component is uniformly dispersed throughout the refractory oxide support.

Abstract: This invention relates to a catalytic composite effective in oxidizing mercaptans contained in a sour petroleum distillate to disulfides. The catalytic composite comprises a metal chelate, an onium compound and optionally an alkali metal hydroxide. The onium compound may be selected from the group consisting of phosphonium, arsonium, stibonium, oxonium and sulfonium compounds, with phosphonium, oxonium and sulfonium compounds preferred. Additionally, metal phthalocyanines are a preferred class of metal chelates. This invention also relates to an improved process for treating a sour petroleum distillate, wherein the improvement comprises using the catalytic composite described above.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons may be subjected to a dehydrogenation reaction in which the hydrocarbons such as ethylbenzene are treated with a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising a modified iron catalyst in the presence of steam. The reaction mixture containing unconverted ethylbenzene, styrene, hydrogen and steam is then contacted with an oxidation catalyst in a second zone whereby hydrogen is selectively oxidized to the substantial exclusion of oxidation of the hydrocarbon. The selective oxidation catalyst which is employed will comprise a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table, a metal of Group IVA and, if so desired, a metal of Group IA or IIA composited on a porous inorganic support such as alumina.

Abstract: A novel catalytic composite comprising a platinum group metal component; a modifier metal component selected from the group consisting of a tin component, germanium component, rhenium component and mixtures thereof; an optional alkali or alkaline earth metal component or mixtures thereof, an optional halogen component, and an optional catalytic modifier component on a refractory oxide support having a nominal diameter of at least about 850 microns. The distribution of the platinum group metal component is such that the platinum group component is surface-impregnated where substantially all of the platinum group metal component is located at most within a 400 micron exterior layer of the support. The effective amount of the modifier metal component is uniformly dispersed throughout the refractory oxide support.

Abstract: This invention relates to a non-oxidative method of sweetening a sour hydrocarbon fraction. The method comprises treating a sour hydrocarbon fraction containing mercaptans with an acid-type catalyst in the presence of an unsaturated hydrocarbon at reaction conditions thereby converting said mercaptans to thioethers. Acid type catalysts which may be used include polymeric sulfonic acid resins, intercalate compounds, sollid acid catalysts and acidic inorganic oxide catalysts.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons may be subjected to a dehydrogenation reaction in which the hydrocarbons are treated with a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising a modified iron catalyst in the presence of steam in a multicatalyst bed system. The reaction mixture containing unconverted hydrocarbons, dehydrogenated hydrocarbons, hydrogen and steam is then contacted with an oxidation catalyst whereby hydrogen is selectively oxidized. The selective oxidation catalyst which is used will comprise a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table, a metal of Group IVA and, if so desired, a metal of Group IA or IIA composited on a porous inorganic support. The inorganic support will comprise an alumina precursor which possesses and ABD less than about 0.6 g/cc, a pore volume greater than about 0.5 cc/g, and a pore distribution such that between 10% and 70% of the pore volume is present as pores whose diameters are greater than about 300 Angstroms. After peptizing and calcination at a temperature of about 900.degree.

Abstract: Unsaturated hydrocarbons may be prepared by subjecting a dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon to dehydrogenation in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst. The effluent stream from this step, comprising unconverted hydrocarbons, dehydrogenated hydrocarbons, hydrogen and steam, may then be passed to a selective oxidation step in which the hydrogen is selectively oxidized in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas to the substantial exclusion of the oxidation of the hydrocarbons. The oxidation catalyst which is employed will comprise a Group VIII noble metal, a Group IVA metal and a Group IA or IIA metal composited on a metal oxide support. The metal oxide support such as alumina will possess a particular configuration having one or more open channels such as a tubular or cartwheel particle having an outside to inside diameter ratio of the channels ranging from 1.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for treating a sour hydrocarbon stream comprising extracting the mercaptans contained in said hydrocarbon stream with an alkaline solution in an extraction zone, oxidizing the mercaptans to disulfides in the presence of an oxidation catalyst, separating said disulfide from said alkaline solution, reducing the residual disulfides in said alkaline solution to mercaptans and recycling said alkaline solution to the extraction zone. Two ways are disclosed to effect the reduction of the disulfides to mercaptans: (1) hydrogenation with a supported metal catalyst and (2) electrochemical reduction.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons may be subjected to a dehydrogenation reaction by treating the hydrocarbons in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising an alkaline metal-promoted iron compound. The effluent is then subjected to a selective oxidation step in which the hydrogenation produced from the first reaction is oxidized in preference to the dehydrogenated and unconverted hydrocarbons. The catalyst which is used to effect this selective oxidation comprises a Group VIII noble metal, a Group IVA metal and a Group IA or IIA metal composited on a metal oxide support. The present invention is concerned with the use of a cerium-containing alumina as a support for this selective oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: Unsaturated hydrocarbons may be prepared by subjecting dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon to dehydrogenation in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst. The effluent stream from this step, comprising unconverted hydrocarbons, dehydrogenated hydrocarbons, hydrogen and steam, may then be passed to a selective oxidation step in which the hydrogen is selectively oxidized in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas to the substantial exclusion of the oxidation of the hydrocarbons. The oxidation catalyst which is employed will comprise a Group VIII noble metal, a Group IVA metal and a Group IA or IIA metal composited on a metal oxide support. The metal oxide support such as alumina will possess a particular configuration such as a polylobular particle containing from 3 to about 8 lobes and having a ratio of exterior surface to catalyst volume greater than [4D+2L] in which D is the largest representative diameter and L is the length of the particle.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons may be subjected to a dehydrogenation reaction in which the hydrocarbons are treated with a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising a modified iron compound in the presence of steam in a multicatalyst bed system. The reaction mixture containing unconverted hydrocarbons, dehydrogenated hydrocarbons, hydrogen and steam is then contacted with an oxidation catalyst whereby hydrogen is selectively oxidized in preference to carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons. The selective oxidation of hydrogen will improve the combustion thereof and supply the necessary heat which is required for a subsequent dehydrogenation treatment. The selective oxidation catalyst which is used will comprise a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table and, if so desired, a metal of Group IA or IIA of the Periodic Table composited on a porous inorganic support. The inorganic support will have been calcined prior to impregnation thereof at a temperature in the range of from about 900.degree.