Abstract: Deactivated or partially deactivated hydrocarbon conversion catalysts comprising (a) one or more Lewis acids of the formula MX.sub.n where M is a component selected from Group IIIA, IVB, V, VIB or VIII Elements of the Periodic Table or their mixtures, X is a halogen, and n is the atomic ratio of halogen to M and varies from 1 to 8, and (b) a strong Bronsted acid, may be regenerated by contacting said catalysts with a halogen selected from the group consisting of fluorine or chlorine. If a portion of the catalyst has been hydrolyzed, the catalyst may be regenerated via halogenation as above or by contact with a hydrogen halide selected from the group consisting of hydrogen fluoride or hydrogen chloride and then fluorine. The preferred Lewis acid is a metal halide, preferably tantalum pentafluoride, niobium pentafluoride or mixtures thereof. The preferred Bronsted acid is a hydrogen halide, preferably hydrogen fluoride.

Abstract: High octane alkylates are prepared by selectively alkylating paraffinic hydrocarbons with other paraffinic hydrocarbons at alkylation conditions in the presence of hydrogen and of a catalyst comprising a metal pentafluoride selected from the group consisting of tantalum pentafluoride, niobium pentafluoride and mixtures thereof and a hydrogen halide. The product obtained is a mixture containing primarily C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 isomerized paraffins.

Abstract: Acyclic and alicyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons are isomerized to form a product of enhanced octane by contacting same, in a reaction zone and in the presence of hydrogen, with a catalyst comprising a difficultly reducible metal halide in combination with at least a molar equivalent of hydrogen halide, said reaction zone comprising at least one temperature zone, the temperature in at least one zone being controlled by using said hydrogen halide as an autorefrigerant. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the autorefrigerant evolved from the reaction zone is condensed and used to extract at least a portion of the metal halide component of the catalyst from at least a portion of the hydrocarbon product. A preferred catalyst is tantalum pentafluoride, niobium pentafluoride or their mixtures in combination with at least a five-fold molar excess of hydrogen fluoride.

Abstract: Organic sulfur compounds are removed from hydrocarbon feedstocks by contacting said feedstocks with a catalyst system comprising a difficultly reducible metal halide and a hydrogen halide, said contacting being done in the presence of hydrogen. The preferred metal halide is tantalum pentafluoride, niobium pentafluoride or mixtures thereof. The preferred hydrogen halide is hydrogen fluoride.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstocks are hydrocracked by contacting the feedstock in the presence of hydrogen and under hydrocracking reaction conditions with a catalyst comprised of a metal fluoride, the metal being boron, tantalum, niobium or mixtures thereof, a fluoride containing Bronsted acid and a Group VIII noble metal hydrogenation component, the Bronsted acid being present in at least an equi-molar amount relative to the metal fluoride and sufficient to dissolve at least a portion of the metal fluoride. The presence of the noble metal hydrogenation component serves to extend the hydrocracking catalyst life of the metal fluoride and fluoride containing Bronsted acid. The catalyst can be described as a slurry or dispersion composed of a solid noble metal on a support in a liquid phase acid system.

Abstract: High octane alkylates are prepared by selectively alkylating paraffinic hydrocarbons with a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of paraffins and olefins at alkylation conditions in the presence of hydrogen and of a catalyst comprising (a) one or more Lewis acids of the formula MX.sub.n where M is selected from the Group IIIA, IVB, V or VIB elements of the Periodic Table, X is a halogen, n is the ratio of halogen atoms to atoms of M and varies from 1-8, and (b) a hydrogen halide.

Abstract: A process in which organic sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen compounds are essentially quantitatively removed from hydrocarbon feedstocks by contacting said feedstocks with liquid hydrogen fluoride in the presence of hydrogen. Preferred feedstocks are those boiling in the range of from about -185.degree.C to about 345.degree.C wherein the sulfur content ranges from about 0.001 to about 10 wt. %, preferably 0.001 to about 3 wt. %.

Abstract: Acyclic and alicyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons are isomerized by contacting the same with hydrogen in the presence of a difficultly reduceable metal halide in combination with at least a molar equivalent of hydrogen halide. The preferred catalyst system is tantalum pentafluoride, niobium pentafluoride or their mixtures in combination with at least a five-fold molar excess of hydrogen fluoride.