Ni/Co Mo P on titania-alumina hydrodesulfurizing catalyst and process of hydrodesulfurizing using the same

In the process of hydrodesulfurizing petroleum fractions, such as petroleum distillate or petroleum resid at elevated temperatures and superatmospheric pressure by passing hydrogen and the petroleum fraction over a hydrodesulfurizing catalyst consisting of an alumina support promoted with metals of Group IV-B, Group VI-B and Group VIII, the improvement which comprises conducting the hydrodesulfurization over a high strength, abrasion-resistant catalyst having an "Abrasion Index" of less than about 10% and a "Crush Index" of less than about 10;

• the catalyst being in the form of an anhydrous pellet consisting of a substrate and catalytic promoters, the substrate being essentially an intimate mixture of dehydrated alumina and a Group IV-B metal oxide selected from anatase and zirconia;
• the catalytic promoters containing at least one Group VIII metal oxide selected from the oxides of Fe, Ni or Co;
• and a Group VI-B metal compound selected from the metals of Mo and W, which metal compound is present in the form of a metal phosphate.