Hydrocracking process using co-extruded nickel-on-silica-alumina

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR HYDROCRACKING A HYDROCARBONACEOUS CHARGE STOCK WHICH COMPRISES REACTING SAID CHARGE STOCK WITH HYDROGEN IN CONTACT WITH A CATALYTIC COMPOSITE OF COEXTRUDED PARTICLES OF A CARRIER MATERIAL CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A SILICAALUMINA AMORPHOUS REFRACTORY INORGANIC OXIDE IN WHICH THE SILICA IS PRESENT IN AN AMOUNT OF FROM ABOUT 10.0 TO ABOUT 90.0% BY WEIGHT AND FROM ABOUT 6.5 TO ABOUT 10.5% BY WEIGHT OF A NICKEL COMPONENT, CALCULATED AS THE ELEMENTAL METAL, SAID PARTICLES BEING PREPARED BY COEXTRUDING A MULLED ACIDIC ADMIXTURE OF A POWDERED PREFORMED CARRIER MATERIAL CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A SILICA-ALUMINA AMORPHOUS REFRACTORY INORGANIC OXIDE AND A POWDERED NICKEL SALT, SAID COEXTRUDED PARTICLES BEING CALCINED AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE ABOUT 1200*F., REDUCED, AND SULFIDED PRIOR TO CONTACT THEREOF WITH SAID HYDROCARBONACEOUS CHARGE STOCK; SAID REACTION CONDITIONS INCLUDING A MIXIMUM CATALYST BED TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 600* TO ABOUT 900*F., A PRESSURE OF ABOUT 500 PSIG. TO ABOUT 5000 PSIG., A LIQUID HOURLY SPACE VELOCITY OF ABOUT 0.1 HR. -1 TO ABOUT 10 HR. -1 AND A HYDROGEN CONCENTRATION IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 1000 TO ABOUT 50,000 SCF./BBL.