A catalytic composition and process for using same. The catalyst may be utilized for an oxidation reaction, for example, for the conversion of mercaptans to disulfides. The catalyst includes a metal component, for example, cobalt phthalocyanine structure. The organic component may comprise any number of different oxidation promoters that are capable of promoting the reduction of oxygen, preferably in a caustic, environment. The organic component may comprise an unsaturated six member ring having at least five carbon atoms, and wherein the sixth member of the six member ring is either C or N, and in which at least two substituent groups are present on the six membered ring.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a reaction apparatus for olefin production, including a feed separation unit that separates a methane feed and a light hydrocarbon feed from a supplied hydrocarbon feed; an ethane cracking unit that receives the light hydrocarbon feed from the feed separation unit and performs an ethane cracking process to produce an olefin product; and a dielectric barrier reaction unit that receives the methane feed from the feed separation unit and generates a saturated hydrocarbon feed through plasma reaction, in which the saturated hydrocarbon feed is supplied into the ethane cracking unit, and an olefin product is produced from the supplied saturated hydrocarbon feed through an ethane cracking process.

Catalysts of protein-disulfide isomerization of formula: ##STR00001##
where R.sub.1 is hydrogen or COR.sub.4, where R.sub.4 is an optionally substituted aliphatic group or an optionally substituted aryl group; R.sub.2 is hydrogen or COR.sub.5, where R.sub.5 is alkyl having 1-8 carbon atoms, an alkenyl having 3-8 carbon atoms or a phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl or naphthyl group; and R.sub.3 is hydrogen or alkyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms. Protein folding buffers comprising one or more of the above compounds. Method of catalyzing, in vivo or in vitro, the isomerization of disulfide linkages in a protein or peptide employing above catalysts. Method of forming, in vivo or in vitro, disulfide linkages in a protein or peptide employing above catalysts.

The present invention discloses a process for depolymerization of lignin to yield substituted phenolic monomers using Brnsted ionic liquid as catalyst under mild reaction conditions to obtain an overall yield of monomers up to 97%.