Abstract: An intermediate pore size molecular sieve supported catalyst includes a platinum group component and a gallium, zinc, indium, iron, tin or boron component. It is used for reforming and aromatization during which it produces a para-xylene enriched product. It comprises an intermediate pore size molecular sieve support, a platinum group component and a component selected from the group consisting of gallium, zinc, indium, iron, tin or boron. One form of the catalyst is first coked and is then contacted with hydrogen. The catalyst is useful in reforming and aromatizing operations.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for enhanced oil recovery which comprises two steps. In the first step, an oil-mobilizing agent comprising (a) a gas and an alkyl aromatic sulfonate or (b) an organic solvent is injected into the reservoir formation sufficient to reduce the oil concentration in at least a portion of the formation. Then in the second injection, steam and an oil-sensitive surfactant effective in forming a steam blocking foam in formations of lower oil concentration. Preferred oil-sensitive surfactants are alpha-olefin sulfonate dimer or alpha-olefin sulfonate surfactants used to form a foam in the oil depleted portions of the formation and to assist the movement of steam and hydrocarbons through the higher oil concentration portions of the formation.

Abstract: A method of enhanced oil recovery using foam to improve the effectiveness of steam to mobilize viscous crude, either for steam stimulation in a single well or for steam drive between wells. A new surfactant composition having branched alkyl aromatic sulfonates as the effective agent for the steam foamer is used because of its ability to foam in the presence of substantial pore volumes of residual oil and thereby mobilize significant amounts of producible oil by diverting steam to less-permeable zones.

Abstract: An improved cyclic steam injection process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The process includes the use of alpha-olefin sulfonate dimer surfactants in the steam to form a foam-steam drive medium which is injected into the formation through an injection well to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons from said well when it is in a production well mode of operation.

Abstract: An improved non-condensible gas injection process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The process includes the use of alpha-olefin sulfonate monomer and alpha-olefin sulfonate dimer surfactants along with the gas to form a gas-foam drive medium which is injected into the formation through at least one injection well to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons from at least one production well.

Abstract: An improved non-condensible gas injection process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The process includes the use of alpha-olefin sulfonate surfactants along with the non-condensible gas to form a gas-foam drive medium which is injected into the formation through at lest one injection well to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons from at least one production well.

Abstract: An improved steam injection process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The process includes the use of alpha-olefin sulfonate dimer surfactants in the steam to form a foam-steam drive medium which is injected into the formation through at least one injection well to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons from at least one production well.

Abstract: In the reaction of 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol with aqueous formaldehyde forming isomeric alkene-1,5-diols, particularly 3-methylene-1,5-pentanediol and 3-methyl-2-pentene-1,5-diol, it has been found that yields of the diols surprisingly are substantially increased if the reaction is effected in the presence of added isobutene and the mol ratio of 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol to formaldehyde is at least 1:1.

Abstract: An alkenediol is produced from an alkenol by contacting the alkenol with formaldehyde at a pH maintained between about 4 and 7. Preferably this pH range is maintained by adding a buffering agent composed of a weak acid and the salt of a weak acid. Particularly advantageous buffering agents are the lower organic polycarboxylic acids with disodium or dipotassium hydrogen phosphate and sodium or potassium dihydrogen phosphate with disodium or dipotassium hydrogen phosphate.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenation of esters to alcohols which comprises contacting the ester with hydrogen and a catalyst comprising cobalt, zinc and copper under catalytic hydrogenation conditions including a temperature between 150.degree. and 450.degree. C. and a pressure of 500-10,000 psig.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol and methanol are prepared in one step by contacting carbon monoxide, hydrogen and formaldehyde in the presence of an alcohol solvent and a catalyst comprising a rhodium compound.

Abstract: A process for producing 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol from 3-methyl-2-pentene-1,5-diol which comprises heating 3-methyl-2-pentene-1,5-diol at a temperature between 200.degree. and 450.degree. C. in the presence of isobutene.According to a preferred embodiment, the heating step and a distillation step to separate 3-methyl-2-pentene-1,5-diol from 3-methylene-1,5-pentanediol is incorporated into a citric acid synthesis method to increase the yield of citric acid from isobutene plus formaldehyde.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenation of esters to alcohols which comprises contacting the ester with hydrogen and a catalyst comprising cobalt, zinc and copper under catalytic hydrogenation conditions including a temperature between 150.degree. and 450.degree. C and a pressure of 500-10,000 psig.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol ethers are prepared by hydroformylation of formaldehyde with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cobalt carbonyl, and rhodium.

Abstract: A process for producing 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol from 3-methyl-2-pentene-1,5-diol which comprises heating 3-methyl-2-pentene-1,5-diol at a temperature between 200.degree. and 450.degree. C in the presence of isobutene.According to a preferred embodiment, the heating step and a distillation step to separate 3-methyl-2-pentene-1,5-diol from 3-methylene-1,5-pentanediol is incorporated into a citric acid synthesis method to increase the yield of citric acid from isobutene plus formaldehyde.

Abstract: A process for dehydrogenating an alkane which comprises contacting the alkane under dehydrogenation conditions including a temperature between 400 and 800.degree. C with a catalyst comprising platinum, chromium, lithium and alumina.Preferably the catalyst comprises 0.1 to 1 weight percent platinum, 0.1 to 1 weight percent chromium, 0.1 to 1 weight percent lithium, and 97 to 99.7 weight percent alumina.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of citric acid which comprises contacting an unsaturated compound selected from 3-methylene-1,5-pentanediol and its esters with a nitric acid solution in an amount of 2 to 50 mols of nitric acid feed per mol of unsaturated compound feed, and at least 0.005 mol percent nitrogen dioxide based on nitric acid, at a temperature between -10.degree. and 120.degree. C., to thereby oxidize said unsaturated compound to citric acid. Preferably the contacting of the unsaturated compound so as to synthesize citric acid is carried out in the absence of any substantial amount of vanadium as the presence of vanadium catalysts has been found to effectively prevent the recovery of good yields of citric acid from the process.The citric acid synthesis preferably is carried out by an overall process wherein isobutene is reacted with two mols of formaldehyde to produce 3-methylene-1,5-pentanediol, which is then converted to citric acid by reaction with nitrogen dioxide/nitric acid.

Abstract: A process for preparing a substituted or unsubstituted dihydrofuran from a substituted or unsubstituted butadiene monoxide which comprises contacting the butadiene monoxide with a catalyst comprising a hydrogen halide selected from the group consisting of hydrogen iodide or bromide and a Lewis acid.