Mercaptan synthesis

Claim 1

THE PROCESS OF SYNTHESIZING MERCAPTANS COMPRISING, CONTACTING A MIXTURE OF A OLEFINIC HYDROCARBONS AND HYDROGEN SULFIDE WITH A FRIEDELCRAFTS CATALYST UNDER SUITABLE CONDITIONS OF TIME, TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE TO PROMOTE REACTION OF SAID OLEFINIC HYDROCARBONS AND SAID HYDROGEN SULFIDE TO MERCAPTANS, AND EFFECTING CONTACT OF SAID OLEFINIC HYDROCARBON REACTANT IN A PLURALITY OF UNITS WITH SAID CATALYST, IN EACH OF SAID UNITS OF HYDROCARBON REACTANT THE AMOUNT OF OLEFIN CONTACTED WITH THE CATALYST BEING LESS THAN HALF THE TOTAL QUANTITY OF OLEFIN THAT CAN BE PROCESSED BEFORE THE SAID CATALYST REACHES SUBSTANTIAL EXHAUSTION WITH RESPECT TO ITS ABILITY TO PROMOTE THE MERCAPTAN REACTION, SEPARATING REACTION PRODUCTS FROM THE RESULTING CATALYST COMPLEX AFTER REACTION OF EACH UNIT OF REACTANT AND BEFORE CHARGING THE NEXT SUCCESSIVE UNIT OF REACTANT TO THE REACTION ZONE, AND USING THE SAID CATALYST COMPLEX TO PROMOTE REACTION OF EACH SUCCESSIVE UNIT UNTIL THE ACTIVITY OF HE CATALYST IS TOO LOW FOR FURTHER USE.