LOW PRESSURE INTEGRATED HYDROFINING-HYDROCRACKING PROCESS

1,263,289. Hydrofining; hydrocracking. ESSO RESEARCH & ENG. CO. 25 April, 1969 [24 May, 1968], No. 21325/69. Heading C5E. An integrated low pressure hydrofining- hydrocracking process comprises the steps of (a) passing a feed mixture of hydrogen and a nitrogen-containing petroleum fraction boiling in the range of 300‹ to 1000‹ F. over a bed of hydrofining catalyst comprising a hydrogenation component selected from the group consisting of Group VI-B metal salts (according to the U.S. version of the Periodic Table), Group VIII metal salts and mixtures thereof distended on a suitable support material, at a pressure in the range of 200-1000 p.s.i.g. and a temperature in the range of 500‹ to 1000‹ F.; (b) passing the total effluent from step (a) at a pressure and temperature range substantially the same as that of step (a) over a bed of a hydrocracking catalyst comprising a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having uniform pore diameters, a faujasite crystal structure and a silica-to-alumina mole ratio greater than about 3, said crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having associated therewith a hydrogenation component comprising nickel and tungsten; and (c) recovering a liquid product containing at least 10 volume per cent aromatic hydrocarbons. The feedstock may be a catalytic cycle oil, virgin gas oil fraction, coker gas oil or vis-breaking fraction and may also contain sulphur. The first stage catalyst may include salts of Co, Mo, Ni, and W on alumina, silicaalumina, bauxite or kieselguhr. The catalysts of both stages may be regenerated by passing thereover a mixture of air with steam or an inert gas.