Process for solid separation from hydroprocessing liquid product

A process for separating finely divided solid particles having a particle size of at least 0.1 microns in diameter from a hydrocracked liquid product consisting essentially of:

• (a) providing a petroleum derived hydrocarbon feedstock characterized by a high degree of asphaltene content of greater than about 10 wt. %;
• (b) adding a solid catalyst additive to said petroleum derived hydrocarbon feedstock in a concentration of between 0.1 wt. % to 10 wt. % wherein said solid additive has a particle size of at least 0.1 microns in diameter;
• (c) hydrocracking said petroleum dervied hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of said solid catalyst additive in a hydrocracking reactor under high severity conditions wherein asphaltene conversion levels are greater than 60% so as to obtain an unstable product characterized by an asphaltene content of at least 1 wt. % and polymerized unsaturated radicals which promote the agglomeration of said solid catalyst particles;
• (d) removing said unstable product from said hydrocracking reactor;
• (e) mixing said unstable product with solvent in a solvent to unstable product ratio of between 5/1 to 10/1 so as to obtain an unstable product/solvent mixture wherein said solvent is a hydrocarbon cut having a boiling range of between 50.degree. to 350.degree. C. with a paraffinic content of greater than 50 wt. %;
• (f) feeding said unstable product/solvent mixture to a first precipitating zone;
• and
• (g) precipitating the agglomerated solid catalyst particles in said first precipitating zone wherein greater than 80 wt. % of said solid particles are removed.