Hydrocracking with a crystalline zeolite and the regeneration of the catalyst with hydrogen at temperatures above 400 deg. f.

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR LOW TEMPERATURE HYDROCRACKING OF A HYDROCARBON CHARGE HAVING AN INITIAL BOILING POINT OF AT LEAST ABOUT 400*F., A 50 PERCENT POINT OF AT LEAST ABOUT 500*F. AND AN END BOILING POINT OF AT LEAST ABOUT 600*F. AND CONTAINING COMPONENTS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING COKE UNDER CONDITIONS AT WHICH SAID HYDROCRACKING IS EFFECTED, IN A CYCLIC OPERATION WHICH COMPRISES CONTACTING SAID HYDROCARBON CHARGE IN THE PRESENCE OF HYDROGEN UNDER HYDROCRACKING CONDITIONS AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE ABOUT 400*F. BUT NOT EXCEEDING 790*F. WITH A HYDROCRACKING CATALYST COMPRISING A CRYSTALLINE ALUMINOSILICATE AND HAVING AN ACTIVITY SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ABOUT 20 VOLUME PERCENT CONVERSION OF SAID HYDROCARBON CHARGE TO PRODUCTS BOILING BELOW ABOUT 390*F. FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL COKE ACCUMULATES ON SAID CATALYST TO AN EXTENT NECESSITATING THE SUE OF A HIGHER TEMPERATURE THAN THE INITIAL HYDROCRACKING TEMPERATURE, BUT NOT EXCEEDING 790*F., TO OBTAIN SAID CONVERSION; DISCONTINUING THE CONTACTING OF SAID HYDROCARBON CHARGE; AND CONTACTING SAID HYDROCRACKING CATALYST, WITHOUT OXIDATIVE REGENERATION THEREOF, WITH HYDROGEN AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE FROM ABOUT 400*F. TO BELOW THE TEMPERATURE OF THERMAL INJURY TO SAID HYDROCRACKING CATALYST AND FOR A PERIOD OF TIME SUFFICIENT TO REMOVE SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE ACCUMULATED COKE FROM SAID CATALYST.