Abstract: Acetaldehyde is produced from ethane by contacting ethane in the absence of added chlorine or hydrogen chloride with a molten mixture of the higher and lower valent form of a multivalent metal chloride and the oxychloride of the metal, such as a mixture of cuprous chloride, cupric chloride and copper oxychloride, in the presence of ethylene and ethyl chloride and optionally also vinyl chloride. Acetaldehyde is produced with no net production of ethyl chloride and ethylene, and if vinyl chloride is present, no net production of vinyl chloride.

Abstract: Coke is desulfurized by calcining coke at a temperature of 1600.degree. - 2200.degree. F. in admixture with sodium carbonate, followed by direct contact with phosgene or a mixture of carbon monoxide and chlorine at a temperature of 1200.degree. - 1800.degree. F. to produce coke having sulfur contents of less than 0.5 percent.

Abstract: Coal is hydroliquefied with the hydrogen consumption being limited to that required for effective liquefaction and/or deashing. Ash is removed and the liquid coal product hydrotreated in a second stage to produce synthetic crude.