Process and catalyst for upgrading heavy hydrocarbon

Abstract

A catalyst for use in a process for steam conversion of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock includes the steps of: providing a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock; providing a catalytically active phase comprising a first metal and a second metal wherein said first metal is a non-noble Group VIII metal and said second metal is an alkali metal; and contacting said feedstock with steam at a pressure of less than or equal to about 300 psig in the presence of said catalytically active phase so as to provide a hydrocarbon product having a reduced boiling point. The catalyst may be supported on a support material or mixed directly with the feedstock and comprises a first metal selected from the group consisting of non-noble Group VIII metals and mixtures thereof and a second metal comprising an alkali metal wherein said catalyst is active to convert said heavy hydrocarbon at a pressure of less than or equal to about 300 psig.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.