Demetalation and desulfurization of oil in separate catalytic zones

Claim 1

In a process for hydrodesulfurizing a petroleum oil that contains residual hydrocarbon components including metals, wherein said oil and hydrogen are passed serially through two separate catalytic zones at a space velocity of about 0.1 to 5.0 L.H.S.V., a pressure of about 500 to 3,000 p.s.i.g., and with a hydrogen circulation rate of about 1,000 to 15,000 s.c.f./bbl., and at a temperature progressively increased in both catalytic zones from a start-of-run temperature of about 650°F to an end-of-run temperature of about 800°F at which temperature the active hydrodesulfurization catalyst in the second catalytic zone becomes spent, the improvement comprising taking advantage of said spent catalyst's demetalation activity by passing said oil that contains residual hydrocarbon components, and hydrogen, at a start-of-run temperature of at least about 770°F, through said first catalytic zone containing catalyst consisting essentially of said spent catalyst from said second reaction zone, thereby forming demetallized oil; and passing said demetallized oil and hydrogen, at a start-of-run temperature of about 650°F through said second reaction zone containing active hydrodesulfurization catalyst comprisisng a Group VIB and a Group VIII metal on alumina.