Hydrocarbon-soluble molybdenum catalyst precursors and methods for making same

A molybdenum catalyst precursor composition suitable for forming a molybdenum sulfide catalyst in situ for use in hydrocracking heavy oil, comprising:

• an oil soluble molybdenum salt, the molybdenum salt comprising:
• a plurality of cationic molybdenum atoms;
• and
• a plurality of organic anions comprising oxygen atoms such that only oxygen atoms are bonded with the cationic molybdenum atoms,
• wherein at least a portion of the molybdenum atoms are bonded with 3 organic anions and have an oxidation state of 3+ such that the plurality of molybdenum atoms have an average oxidation state of less than 4+.

A molybdenum catalyst precursor composition suitable for forming a molybdenum sulfide catalyst in situ for use in hydrocracking heavy oil, comprising:

• an oil soluble molybdenum salt, the molybdenum salt comprising:
• a plurality of cationic molybdenum atoms;
• and
• a plurality of organic anions each having an acid group,
• wherein at least a portion of the molybdenum atoms are bonded with 3 organic anions and have an oxidation state of 3+ such that the plurality of molybdenum atoms have an average oxidation state of less than 4+.

A molybdenum catalyst precursor composition for hydrocracking heavy oil manufactured according to a process comprising:

• providing a plurality of molybdenum atoms;
• providing an organic agent comprising a plurality of organic molecules having at least one carboxyl group that is reactive with the molybdenum atoms;
• and
• reacting the plurality of molybdenum atoms with the organic agent in the presence of a reducing agent and in a molar ratio of molybdenum atoms to organic molecules of less than 1:4 to yield the molybdenum catalyst precursor composition comprised of a molybdenum salt having a plurality of molybdenum atoms with an average oxidation state of less than 4+.

A molybdenum catalyst precursor composition suitable for forming a molybdenum sulfide catalyst in situ for use in hydrocracking heavy oil, comprising:

• an oil soluble molybdenum salt, the molybdenum salt comprising:
• a plurality of cationic molybdenum atoms;
• and
• a plurality of organic anions,
• wherein at least a portion of the molybdenum atoms are bonded with 3 organic anions and have an oxidation state of 3+ such that the plurality of molybdenum atoms have an average oxidation state of less than 4+;
• and
• heavy oil blended with the oil soluble molybdenum salt.

A molybdenum catalyst precursor composition suitable for forming a molybdenum sulfide catalyst in situ for use in hydrocracking heavy oil, comprising:

• an oil soluble molybdenum salt, the molybdenum salt comprising:
• a plurality of cationic molybdenum atoms;
• and
• a plurality of organic anions,
• wherein at least a portion of the molybdenum atoms are bonded with 3 organic anions and have an oxidation state of 3+ such that the plurality of molybdenum atoms have an average oxidation state of less than 4+;
• and
• a hydrocarbon oil diluent comprising at least one of gas oil or vacuum gas oil blended with the oil soluble molybdenum salt.

A method of forming a blended heavy oil composition, comprising:

• providing a molybdenum catalyst precursor composition suitable for forming a molybdenum sulfide catalyst in situ for use in hydrocracking heavy oil, comprising:
• an oil soluble molybdenum salt, the molybdenum salt comprising:
• a plurality of cationic molybdenum atoms;
• and
• a plurality of organic anions,
• wherein at least a portion of the molybdenum atoms are bonded with 3 organic anions and have an oxidation state of 3+ such that the plurality of molybdenum atoms have an average oxidation state of less than 4+;
• and
• blending the molybdenum catalyst precursor composition with a heavy oil feedsotck.

A method of forming a catalyst precursor mixture, comprising:

• providing a molybdenum catalyst precursor composition suitable for forming a molybdenum sulfide catalyst in situ for use in hydrocracking heavy oil, comprising:
• an oil soluble molybdenum salt, the molybdenum salt comprising:
• a plurality of cationic molybdenum atoms;
• and
• a plurality of organic anions,
• wherein at least a portion of the molybdenum atoms are bonded with 3 organic anions and have an oxidation state of 3+ such that the plurality of molybdenum atoms have an average oxidation state of less than 4+;
• and
• blending the molybdenum catalyst precursor composition with a hydrocarbon oil diluent.