Abstract: A process for converting methane to methanol using a homogeneous catalyst has been developed. The catalyst is a metal compound having an empirical formula of MxXm where M is a metal such as Pd, Cu, Co, and Mn, X is an anion such as acetate, trifluoroacetate, sulfate, propionate, “m” is the oxidation state of M, and “x” is the anion valence of X. Generally the process involves contacting a gas stream containing methane with the homogeneous catalyst and an oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide at oxidation conditions to produce methyl trifluoroacetate. Finally, the methyl trifluoroacetate is hydrolyzed to give a methanol product stream.

Abstract: A method of determining a surface property of a plurality of solids by contacting the solids with a fluid, measuring the radiation emitted, absorbed, or altered during desorption of the fluid using a detector, and then determining at least one surface property of the solids from the radiation measurements has been invented. The invention is particularly useful in combinatorial applications in order to evaluate a plurality of solids or mixtures of solids to determine at least one surface property of each of the solids.

Abstract: A process for the cyclical regeneration of an adsorbent bed containing sulfur-oxidated compounds. The adsorbent bed is used to adsorb and separate sulfur-oxidated compounds from a hydrocarbonaceous stream to produce an adsorbent having adsorbed sulfur-oxidated compounds.

Abstract: A process and catalyst for preparing organic hydroperoxides by oxidizing hydrocarbon compounds in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas and a catalyst containing a transition metal on a solid support.

Abstract: A process and catalyst for preparing organic hydroperoxides by oxidizing hydrocarbon compounds in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas and a catalyst containing a transition metal on a solid support.

Abstract: A method of determining a surface property of solids in a plurality by contacting the solids with a fluid, measuring the radiation emitted, absorbed, or altered during adsorption of the fluid using a detector, and then determining at least one surface property of the solids from the radiation measurements has been invented. The invention is particularly useful in combinatorial applications in order to evaluate a plurality of solids or mixtures of solids to determine at least one surface property of each of the solids.

Abstract: A method of determining a surface property of a plurality of solids by contacting the solids with a fluid, measuring the radiation emitted, absorbed, or altered during desorption of the fluid using a detector, and then determining at least one surface property of the solids from the radiation measurements has been invented. The invention is particularly useful in combinatorial applications in order to evaluate a plurality of solids or mixtures of solids to determine at least one surface property of each of the solids.

Abstract: A method of determining a surface property of a plurality of solids by contacting the solids with a fluid, measuring the radiation emitted, absorbed, or altered during desorption of the fluid using a detector, and then determining at least one surface property of the solids from the radiation measurements has been invented. The invention is particularly useful in combinatorial applications in order to evaluate a plurality of solids or mixtures of solids to determine at least one surface property of each of the solids.

Abstract: A method of determining a surface property of solids in a plurality by contacting the solids with a fluid, measuring the radiation emitted, absorbed, or altered during adsorption of the fluid using a detector, and then determining at least one surface property of the solids from the radiation measurements has been invented. The invention is particularly useful in combinatorial applications in order to evaluate a plurality of solids or mixtures of solids to determine at least one surface property of each of the solids.

Abstract: A novel process effective for the removal of organic sulfur compounds from liquid hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process more specifically addresses the removal of thiophenes and thiophene derivatives from a number of petroleum fractions, including gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene. In the first step of the process, the liquid hydrocarbon is subjected to oxidation conditions in order to oxidize at least some of the thiophene compounds to sulfones. Then, these sulfones can be catalytically decomposed to hydrocarbons (e.g. hydroxybiphenyl) and volatile sulfur compounds (e.g. sulfur dioxide). The hydrocarbon decomposition products remain in the treated liquid as valuable blending components, while the volatile sulfur compounds are easily separable from the treated liquid using well-known techniques such as flash vaporization or distillation.

Abstract: A process for separating one chiral compound from a mixture of chiral compounds is disclosed. The separation process involves using a chiral stationary phase (CSP) which comprises a chiral organic material deposited on an amorphous silica support having a unimodal distribution of pore sizes in the range of about 300 .ANG. to about 25,000 .ANG. and a surface area of less than about 30 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: Chiral stationary phases perform well when the underlying support for the chiral organic material is coated onto a silica pore widened by a hydrothermal treatment. The resulting silica is amorphous with a unimodal distribution of large pores. A variety of chiral stationary phases perform well and are distinguished, inter alia, by the treatment, if any, prior to coating the chiral organic material.

Abstract: Small pore silicas serving as the inert core support in chiral stationary phases show a surprising increase in column capacity relative to conventional chiral stationary phases having large pore silicas as the inert core support. This affords increased productivity and lower overall costs for chiral resolutions using a chiral stationary phase as adsorbent and an achiral liquid as eluant.

Abstract: Tertiary phosphine sulfonic acids are important ligands for transition metals where the complex is effective in catalyzing the oligomerization of alpha-olefins. An improved method of preparation utilizes inverse addition of lithiated aryl sulfonate salts to dihalophosphines at a rate which maintains a homogeneous reaction mixture, then alkylating the product of this reaction--a monohalo secondary phosphine sulfonate--with an organometallic compound, such as a Grignard reagent or an organolithium species.

Abstract: Ethylene is effectively oligomerized to linear alpha-olefins using catalyst systems based on transition metal compounds. It has been found that when the reaction is conducted in a polar organic liquid as solvent, incorporation of water into the solvent at levels of 1 to 10 weight percent increases alpha-olefin purity and also influences the Schulz-Flory distribution.

Abstract: A process for the production of diisopropyl ether where acid is removed, without extraction, from the reactor effluent before being recycled to the reactor or being passed to downstream processing units has been developed. The process involves (1) reacting propylene and water to produce isopropyl alcohol in a reactor and reacting the isopropyl alcohol with propylene to produce diisopropyl ether in the presence of an acidic ion exchange resin catalyst to afford a reactor effluent stream containing at least water, isopropyl alcohol, diisopropyl ether, propylene, and acid, (2) passing the reactor effluent to an acid removal zone to produce an acid-depleted stream, (3) dividing the acid-depleted stream into two portions, and (4) recycling a portion to the reactor and collecting a portion.

Abstract: An adsorptive process to separate the components of a solution of linear and branched hydrocarbons into a linear hydrocarbon portion and a branched hydrocarbon portion where the adsorbent is an alkylene-bridged polysilsesquioxane has been developed. The hydrocarbon components to be separated may be alkanes, alkenes, or alkynes, and the alkylene-bridging group of the adsorbent may contain from about 2 to about 14 carbon atoms. A specific embodiment of the invention is one where the process is operated in the simulated moving bed mode.

Abstract: A process of effecting an acid catalyzed reaction wherein a reactant capable of undergoing an acid catalyzed reaction is contacted with an acid functionalized organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane catalyst where all of the acid functionality is covalently bonded to the organic portion of an organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane framework has been developed. The acid functionalized organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane is formed by polymerizing a monomer through sol-gel processing to form an organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane, reacting an acid group onto the organic portion of the organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane, and recovering the acid functionalized product. An embodiment of the invention is where the acid catalyzed reaction is the hydration of olefins, alkylation, acylation, isomerization, or aldol condensation/elimination.

Abstract: A process to separate at least two classes of hydrocarbons of a solution using an alkylene-bridged polysilsesquioxane adsorbent has been developed. The classes of hydrocarbons to be separated may be saturated hydrocarbons, unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons. The alkylene-bridging group may contain from about 2 to about 14 carbon atoms. A specific embodiment of the invention is one where the components of a solution of aromatic, unsaturated aliphatic, and saturated hydrocarbons are separated into an aromatic hydrocarbon portion, an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon portion, and a saturated hydrocarbon portion where the adsorbent is an alkylene-bridged polysilsesquioxane.

Abstract: A process for forming a solid acid catalyst where all of the add functionality is covalently bonded to the organic portion of an organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane framework has been developed. The process involves polymerizing a monomer through sol-gel processing to form an organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane, reacting an acid group onto the organic portion of the organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane, and recovering the acid functionalized product. The invention also includes the product acid functionalized organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane catalyst of the process described. The catalyst is unique in that the acid functionality is incorporated within an organic-inorganic hybrid framework as opposed to being attached to pendant organic groups.