Hydrocarbon polymerization and hydrogenation process catalyzed by nickel oxide

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE CONVERSION OF HYDROCARBONS WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF CONTACTING A FRESHLY ACTIVATED NICKEL OXIDE-CONTAINING CATALYST WITH A POLYMERIZABLE HYDROCARBON FEED UNDER POLYMERIZING CONDITIONS SO AS TO PRODUCE HYDROCARBON POLYMER; CONTINUING THE POLYMERIZING UNTIL SAID CATALYST IS PARTIALLY DEACTIVATED TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT IT IS NO LONGER ECONOMICAL TO CONTINUE THE POLYMERIZATION STEP WITHOUT REACTIVATING THE CATALYST; THEREAFTER CONTACTING SAID CATALYST IN PARTIALLY DEACTIVATED CONDITION WITH HYDROGENATABLE HYDROCARBON FEED UNDER HYDROGENATING CONDITIONS SO AS TO HYDROGENATE SAME; CONTINUING THE HYDROGENATING UNTIL SAID CATALYST IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS ACTIVE THAN AT THE START OF SAID HYDROGENATING; THEREAFTER REACTIVATING SAID CATALYST SO AS TO FORM FRESHLY ACTIVATED CATALYST; AND RECOVERING PRODUCT FROM THE POLYMERIZING STEP AND FROM THE HYDROGENATING STEP.