Hydrodesulfurization of hydrocarbon feed utilizing a silica stabilized alumina composite catalyst

Abstract

A hydrodesulfurization process (and catalyst) wherein a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon feed is contacted, in the presence of hydrogen, with a catalyst having greater than 50 percent of its total pore volume of absolute diameter ranging from about 70A to about 160A. Preferably, the total pore volume of the catalyst contains greater than 70 percent of its total pore volume within the 70A to 160A pore diameter range, and more preferably greater than 90 percent of its total pore volume is within the 70A to 160A pore diameter range, with pore diameters below 70A and above 160A being minimized. The pore volume of such catalysts range between about 0.3 cc/g and 1.0 cc/g (B.E.T.), and preferably from about 0.4 cc/g to about 0.8 cc/g. The surface area of such catalysts range between about 150 m.sup.2 /g and 450 m.sup.2 /g, preferably from about 200 m.sup.2 /g to about 400 m.sup.2 /g.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.