Selective hydrogenation of aromatics and olefins in hydrocarbon fractions

A method for hydrogenating a hydrocarbon fraction boiling between about 200.degree. and about 700.degree.F. and containing aromatic and olefinic components, comprising contacting said hydrocarbon fraction with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst under conditions sufficient to cause hydrogenation of at least a portion of the aromatics and olefinics contained in said hydrocarbon fraction, said catalyst comprising about 0.2 to about 1 percent by weight each of platinum and palladium in a mole ratio of platinum to palladium of between about 1 to 2 and about 1 to 6 and prepared by:

• a. contacting an inert gamma alumina carrier with an aqueous acidic solution containing both chloroplatinic acid and palladium (ous) chloride in solution;
• b. drying the resultant mixture;
• c. calcining the dried mixture in an inert atmosphere at a temperature between about 842.degree. and about 1,022.degree.F;
• and
• d. reducing said dried mixture;