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 invention provides a process for the recovery of 1,4-butanediol 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 by liquid-liquid extraction.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing mercaptans from a gas stream gas stream, comprising the steps: a) providing a first mercaptan-comprising 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; and b) contacting the mercaptan-comprising gas stream with an absorption medium comprising a substituted disulphide and a nitrogen-containing base to obtain a second mercaptan-depleted gas stream, wherein: the substituted disulphide is 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 vapor pressure below the vapor pressure of any R1—SH thiol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing mercaptans from a gas stream. In the process, a first mercaptan-comprising 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, and an acid component is contacted with an absorption medium to obtain a mercaptan-depleted gas stream. The absorption medium includes a substituted disulphide and a base. The substituted disulphide is 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 vapor pressure below the vapor pressure of any R1—SH thiol, and at least one of R2 and R3 is an electron withdrawing group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing mercaptans from a gas stream gas stream, comprising the steps: a) providing a first mercaptan-comprising 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; and b) contacting the mercaptan-comprising gas stream with an absorption medium comprising a substituted disulphide and a nitrogen-containing base to obtain a second mercaptan-depleted gas stream, wherein: the substituted disulphide is 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing mercaptans from a gas stream. In the process, a first mercaptan-comprising 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, and an acid component is contacted with an absorption medium to obtain a mercaptan-depleted gas stream. The absorption medium includes a substituted disulphide and a base. The substituted disulphide is 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the selective oxidation of hydrogen sulphide in a hydrogen sulphide-containing hydrocarbon and/or hydrogen feed gas to elemental sulphur in a reaction zone containing a Claus catalyst, comprising the steps of: i) reacting in the reaction zone the hydrogen sulphide in the hydrogen sulphide-containing hydrocarbon and/or hydrogen feed gas with sulphur dioxide at a pressure in the range of from 4 to 200 bar (absolute) and a temperature in the range of from 120 and 160° C., such that the elemental sulphur formed is essentially in liquid form; ii) contacting the catalyst with a reducing atmosphere at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the selective oxidation of hydrogen sulphide in a hydrogen sulphide-containing hydrocarbon and/or hydrogen feed gas to elemental sulphur in a reaction zone containing a Claus catalyst, comprising the steps of: i) reacting in the reaction zone the hydrogen sulphide in the hydrogen sulphide-containing hydrocarbon and/or hydrogen feed gas with sulphur dioxide at a pressure in the range of from 4 to 200 bar (absolute) and a temperature in the range of from 120 and 160° C., such that the elemental sulphur formed is essentially in liquid form; ii) contacting the catalyst with a reducing atmosphere at elevated temperatures.