Methods for oxidative coupling of methane using metal oxide catalysts and a sulfur oxidant.

A catalyst for the dehydrogenation of alkanes to alkenes comprises a catalytically active material supported on a carrier, wherein the catalytically active material is a metallic sulfide (MeS) comprising Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo or W or any combination of two or more metals selected from Pb, Sn, Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo and W. The catalyst is regenerated in several steps. The dehydrogenation is carried out at a temperature between 450 and 650 C. and a pressure from 0.9 bar below ambient pressure to 5 bar above ambient pressure.

Process for dehydrogenation of alkanesor alkylbenzenes by using metal sulfide catalyst under the presence of small amounts of hydrogen sulfide.

A process is disclosed for opening naphthenic rings of naphthenic ring-containing compounds. Naphthene ring opening is achieved using a self-supported mixed metal sulfide catalyst comprising nickel sulfide, molybdenum sulfide, tungsten sulfide and an organic complexing agent. The catalyst is characterized as having a composition of metal components, in terms of molar ratios; as follows: 0.25Ni/(Ni+Mo+W)0.80; 0<Mo/(Ni+Mo+W)0.25; 0.12W/(Ni+Mo+W)0.50; and 1.5W/Mo3.0.