Abstract A resid hydrocarbon is converted to lower boiling hydrocarbons and/or desulfurized by contacting, in the presence of hydrogen, said resid with a bed of catalyst particles, substantially all of said particles having a surface-to-volume ratio ranging between about 100 and about 250 l/inches, and wherein substantially all points within each of said particles are less than about 0.015 inch from the particle''s surface. When one of these particles is circumscribed by a right circular cylinder having an altitude equal to that of the particle, the particle contacts the sidewall of the cylinder at at least three elements and occupies from about 70 to about 90 percent of the cylinder''s volume. Preferred particle shapes are clover-leaf, cross, ring and C-shape.
The particle of claim 1 having a crushing strength of at least about 10 pounds and an abrasion loss of not more than about 5 percent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
10 words
The particle of claim 1 generally having a ring shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The particle of claim 1 generally having a clover-leaf shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
The particle of claim 1 generally having a cross shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
9 words
The particle of claim 1 generally having a C-shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The particle of claim 1 wherein said catalytically active composition comprises a hydrogenation metal compound of a metal selected from the group consisting of Group VIB, Group VIII of the Periodic Table and mixtures thereof supported on an inorganic cracking matrix.