Start up procedure for catalytic hydrogen treatment of hydrocarbons

Claim 1

IN THE STARTING UP OF A PROCESS COMPRISING HYDROGEN TREATMENT OF A LIQUID HYDROCARBON AT A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN ABOUT 450* AND 900*F., AT A PRESSURE BETWEEN ABOUT 250 AND 10,000 P.S.I. IN THE PRESENCE OF A METAL SULFIED HYDROGENATION CATALYST AND IN WHICH PROCESS HYDROGEN AND LIQUID HYDROCARBON CHARGE STOCK ARE CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCED INTO A REACTOR CONTAINING SAID CATALYST, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES CAUSING HYDROGEN TO FLOW THROUGH THE REACTOR CONTAINING SAID SULFIDE CATALYST, INCREASING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE CATALYST TO REACTION TEMPERATURE, INTRODUCING LIQUID HYDROCARBON STOCK INTO THE REACTOR BEFORE THE REACTOR IS HEATED ABOVE ABOUT 275* TO 300*F. IN AMOUNTS SUFFICIENT TO COMPLETELY WET THE CATALYST WITH THE LIQUID HYDROCARBON, CONTINUING INTRODUCTION OF THE HYDROGEN WHILE MAINTAINING THE CATALYST IN WETTED CONDITION UNTIL REACTION HYDROGEN AND HYDROREACHED AND THEREAFTER INTRODUCING HYDROGEN AND HYDROCARBON CHARGE STOCK AT REACTION TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE.