Hydrotreating process employing thermactivated catalysts comprising catalytic metals-free crystalline zeolitic molecular sieve particles dispersed in a gel matrix

Claim 1

A hydrotreating process, which comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feed in a reaction zone under hydrotreating conditions with hydrogen and a catalyst comprising: A. a gel matrix comprising: a. at least 15 weight percent silica, b. alumina, in an amount providing an alumina-to-silica weight ratio of 15/85 to 80/20, c. nickel or cobalt, or the combination thereof, in the form of metal, oxide, sulfide, or any combination thereof, in an amount of 1 to 10 weight percent of said matrix, calculated as metal, d. molybdenum or tungsten, or the combination thereof, in the form of metal, oxide, sulfide or any combination thereof, in an amount of 5 to 25 weight percent of said matrix, calculated as metal; B. a crystalline zeolitic molecular sieve substantially in the ammonia or hydrogen form, substantially free of any catalytic loading metal or metals, said sieve further being in particulate form and being dispersed through said matrix; said catalyst composite being further characterized by an average pore diameter below 100 Angstroms and a surface area above 200 square meters per gram; said catalyst composite being further characterized by hydrocracking activities and stabilities developed therein by heating said catalyst composite in an oxygen-containing gas stream at temperatures in the range 1200° F. to 1600° F. for 0.25 to 48 hours; and recovering hydrotreated products from said reaction zone.