Abstract: Carbonic acid esters are important compounds as a gasoline extender, an octane number improver, an organic solvent and a reacting agent in place of phosgene for production of isocyanates, polycarbonates and various intermediates of agricultural chemicals and pharmaceuticals.According to the present invention, carbonic acid esters can be prepared by reacting an alcohol with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a copper halide and a tertiary organophosphorus compound having phenyl group or alkyl group.

Abstract: Carbonic acid esters are important compounds as a gasoline extender, an octane number improver, an organic solvent and a reacting agent in place of phosgene for production of isocyanates, polycarbonates and various intermediates of agricultural chemicals and pharmaceuticals.According to the present invention, carbonic acid esters can be prepared by reacting an alcohol with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a copper halide and a tertiary organophosphorus compound having phenyl group or alkyl group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of hydrogen sulfide by reacting sulfur and hydrogen which comprises two hydrogenation reactions. The first hydrogenation reaction of the present invention comprises the steps of supplying hydrogen gas in a reactor containing sulfur at least a part of which is in a liquid phase at a temperature of not lower than 250.degree. C., and reacting the liquid sulfur and the hydrogen gas to produce a crude hydrogen sulfide effluent gas in the reactor. The sulfur vapor contained in the effluent gas is further reacted with fleshly added hydrogen gas in the second hydrogenation reaction to further concentrate the resulting hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: It has been believed that the Claus reaction in water without additive gives no more than very low conversion and some additive such as buffer or catalyst must be used to attain satisfactory H.sub.2 S conversion.However, it was discovered that when H.sub.2 S and SO.sub.2 are introduced in water simultaneously and continuously for hours, the conversion increased gradually and became steady at high level. The present invention was accomplished base on this inventive knowledge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a gas rich in methane by subjecting two varieties or more of hydrocarbons having more than 2 carbon atoms per molecule and different mean molecular weights to steam-reforming process comprising at least two stages, wherein a mixture consisting of hydrocarbons whose means molecular weight is relatively small and steam is introduced to the nickel-containing catalyst bed for the first stage at a temperature in the range of 350.degree. to 550.degree.C, and subsequently, the resulting product is mixed with hydrocarbons whose mean molecular weight is larger than that of the preceding hydrocarbon -- along with steam, if necessary -- and is introduced to the nickel-containing catalyst bed at a temperature in the range of 300.degree. to 550.degree.C for the second stage.