Abstract: A method for preparing a metal-impregnated, carbon-supported catalyst composition is provided. The method comprises providing a carbon support particle having a smallest dimension of greater than 0.5 millimeters; contacting the carbon support particle with a basic aqueous impregnation solution comprising abase having a pKb of at most 9 and at least one first metal-containing compound, wherein the first metal-containing compound comprises at least one first metal selected from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table, to form a first metal-impregnated carbon support particle; and drying the first metal-impregnated carbon support particle.

Abstract: A method for preparing a metal-impregnated, carbon-supported catalyst composition is provided. The method comprises providing a carbon support particle having a smallest dimension of greater than 0.5 millimeters; contacting the carbon support particle with an organic impregnation solution comprising an organic solvent and at least one first metal-containing compound, wherein the first metal-containing compound comprises at least one first metal selected from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table, to form a first metal-impregnated carbon support particle; and drying the first metal-impregnated carbon support particle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of 1,4-BDO and THF from furan, said process comprising: (i) contacting furan with hydrogen and water in a reactor in the presence of a catalytic composition, wherein the furan and water are contacted in the presence of a solvent, said solvent being selected from one or more of THF, 1,4-BDO and NBA, and converting at least a portion of said furan to 1,4-BDO and THF; (ii) producing a reactor product stream comprising gases, water, THF, 1,4-BDO and furan; (iii) separating gases from the reactor product stream; (iv) then separating at least a portion of each of the THF and 1,4-BDO from said reactor product stream; and (v) recycling the remainder of the reactor product stream, comprising water, optionally furan, and at least one of THF, 1,4-BDO and NBA, to the reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran said process comprising contacting furan with hydrogen and water in the presence of a supported catalytic composition comprising at least one first metal selected from those in groups 8 to 10 of the periodic table and a further metal selected from manganese, molybdenum, niobium and tungsten.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing mercaptans from a gas stream. A first mercaptan-comprising gas stream is contacted counter-currently with an absorption medium comprising a substituted disulphide and a nitrogen-containing base to obtain a second mercaptan-depleted gas stream. The substituted disulphinde preferably is RII—SS—RIII wherein: RII and RIII are the same and are selected from: —(CH2)n-X, wherein n=2 or 3, and wherein X=OR, and wherein R=H or —(CH2O)nH or —(CH2O)nCH3 and n=1 or 2. Absorption medium is regenerated and recycled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran said process comprising contacting furan with hydrogen and water in the presence of a supported catalytic composition comprising at least one first metal selected from those in groups 8 to 10 of the periodic table and a further metal selected from manganese, molybdenum, niobium and tungsten.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of 1,4-BDO and THF from furan, said process comprising: (i) contacting furan with hydrogen and water in a reactor in the presence of a catalytic composition, wherein the furan and water are contacted in the presence of a solvent, said solvent being selected from one or more of THF, 1,4-BDO and NBA, and converting at least a portion of said furan to 1,4-BDO and THF; (ii) producing a reactor product stream comprising gases, water, THF, 1,4-BDO and furan; (iii) separating gases from the reactor product stream; (iv) then separating at least a portion of each of the THF and 1,4-BDO from said reactor product stream; and (v) recycling the remainder of the reactor product stream, comprising water, optionally furan, and at least one of THF, 1,4-BDO and NBA, to the reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran said process comprising contacting furan with hydrogen and water in the presence of a supported catalytic composition comprising rhenium and palladium in a weight ratio of at least 1:1 and a total combined weight rhenium and palladium in the catalyst composition in the range of from 0.01 to 20 wt %.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the treatment of a liquid first furan stream comprising furan and carbon monoxide, said process comprising the steps of: i) contacting said first furan stream with a CO-lean first gaseous stream; and ii) stripping at least a portion of the carbon monoxide in the first furan stream into the first gaseous stream to produce a second furan stream comprising less carbon monoxide than the first furan stream and a CO-enriched second gaseous stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the recovery of 1,4-butanediol and at least one co-product selected from ?-butyrolactone, n-butanol and tetrahydrofuran from an aqueous stream, said process comprising the steps of providing the aqueous stream, providing a first solvent stream, combining said aqueous stream with said first solvent stream and recovering at least a portion of the 1,4-butanediol and at least a portion of at least one of the co-products by liquid-liquid extraction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of furan, said process comprising the steps of: i) contacting furfural with a decarbonylation catalyst in a decarbonylation reactor to produce a gaseous decarbonylation reaction product stream comprising furan and carbon monoxide; ii) contacting said gaseous decarbonylation reaction product stream with a solvent stream comprising furfural; iii) absorbing at least a portion of the furan present in the gaseous decarbonylation reaction product stream into the solvent stream to provide a furan-containing solvent stream and a gaseous stream comprising carbon monoxide; iv) separating the furan from the furan containing solvent stream by distillation to provide a first furan stream; and v) using at least a portion of the remaining solvent stream comprising furfural as at least a portion of the furfural provided to the decarbonylation reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of n-butanoland 1,4-butanediol, said process comprising contacting furan with hydrogen and water in the presence of a catalytic composition, comprising at least one element selected from those in groups 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the periodic table on a solid support comprising an amorphous or crystalline aluminosilicate in an acidic form, wherein the catalyst does not contain metals selected from those in groups 6 and 7 of the periodic table.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran said process comprising contacting furan with hydrogen and water in the presence of a supported catalytic composition comprising rhenium and palladium in a weight ratio of at least 1:1 and a total combined weight rhenium and palladium in the catalyst composition in the range of from 0.01 to 20 wt %.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the treatment of a liquid first furan stream comprising furan and carbon monoxide, said process comprising the steps of: i) contacting said first furan stream with a CO-lean first gaseous stream; and ii) stripping at least a portion of the carbon monoxide in the first furan stream into the first gaseous stream to produce a second furan stream comprising less carbon monoxide than the first furan stream and a CO-enriched second gaseous stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of furan, said process comprising the steps of: i) contacting furfural with a decarbonylation catalyst in a decarbonylation reactor to produce a gaseous decarbonylation reaction product stream comprising furan and carbon monoxide; ii) contacting said gaseous decarbonylation reaction product stream with a solvent stream comprising furfural; iii) absorbing at least a portion of the furan present in the gaseous decarbonylation reaction product stream into the solvent stream to provide a furan-containing solvent stream and a gaseous stream comprising carbon monoxide; iv) separating the furan from the furan containing solvent stream by distillation to provide a first furan stream; and v) using at least a portion of the remaining solvent stream comprising furfural as at least a portion of the furfural provided to the decarbonylation reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation wherein an internal olefin sulfonate composition is used, which comprises an internal olefin sulfonate and a second surfactant which is selected from the group consisting of: (1) a compound of the formula (I) R—O—[R?—O]x—X wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group, R?—O is an alkylene oxide group, x is the number of alkylene oxide groups R?—O, and X is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a hydrogen atom; (ii) a group comprising a carboxylate moiety; and (iii) a group comprising a sulfonate moiety; (2) an alpha olefin sulfonate; and (3) an alkyl aromatic sulfonate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an internal olefin sulfonate composition, which comprises an internal olefin sulfonate and a second surfactant which is selected from the group consisting of: (1) a compound of the formula (I) R—O—[R?—O]x—X wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group, R?—O is an alkylene oxide group, x is the number of alkylene oxide groups R?—O, and X is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a hydrogen atom; (ii) a group comprising a carboxylate moiety; and (iii) a group comprising a sulfonate moiety; (2) an alpha olefin sulfonate; and (3) an alkyl aromatic sulfonate; and wherein the weight ratio of the second surfactant to the internal olefin sulfonate is below 1:1. Further, the invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation wherein said internal olefin sulfonate composition is used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing mercaptans from a gas stream. First, a gas stream comprising at least a mercaptan of the general formula R1—SH, wherein R1 is an alkyl group comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms, may be contacted with an absorption medium comprising a solvent, a substituted disulfide of the general formula R2—SS—R3 wherein R2 and R3 are carbon comprising substituents of which the corresponding R2—SH and R3—SH thiols have a vapour pressure below the vapour pressure of any R1—SH thiol and at least one of R2 and R3 is an electron withdrawing group; and at least a catalytic amount of a base. The absorption medium may be retrieved and regenerated in a regeneration unit. The regenerated absorption solution may be recycled and subjected to oxidation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising: a) providing an aqueous composition which comprises i) a surfactant of the formula R—O—[R?—O]x—X wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group, R?—O is an alkylene oxide group, x is the number of alkylene oxide groups R?—O, x is 0 or greater than 0, and X is a sulfate moiety; ii) an acid which has a pKa between 6 and 12; and iii) the conjugate base of the acid mentioned under ii), to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, by combining the aqueous composition with a hydrocarbon removal fluid to produce an injectable fluid, wherein the hydrocarbon removal fluid comprises 1) water and 2) divalent cations in a concentration of 100 or more parts per million by weight (ppmw), and injecting the injectable fluid into the hydrocarbon containing formation; and b) allowing the surfactant from the injectable fluid to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for regenerating a catalyst used in the decarbonylation of an aldehyde, wherein the catalyst is a heterogeneous, supported catalyst containing a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt and mixtures thereof, and wherein the catalyst is subjected to a gas stream comprising hydrogen at a temperature of from 200 to 600° C., wherein substantially no oxygen is used in the regeneration process.