Method for enhancing catalytic activity

Claim 1

A process for reducing the pour point of a waxy hydrocarbon fuel oil that boils in the range of about 350° to about 1025° F. and that contains a catalytically deleterious impurity, which process comprises: contacting said hydrocarbon oil with a sorbent comprising a first molecular sieve zeolite having a Constraint Index of about 1 to 12 and a dried crystal density in the hydrogen form of not less than about 1.6 grams per cubic centimeter, said contacting being under sorption conditions effective to remove a substantial fraction of said deleterious impurity and thereby forming a refined waxy oil; contacting said refined waxy oil and hydrogen gas under dewaxing conditions that include a temperature of about 725° to 1000° F. with a catalyst consisting of a second molecular sieve zeolite having a Constraint Index of about 1 to 12 and a dried crystal density in the hydrogen form of not less than about 1.6 grams per cubic centimeter, thereby forming a dewaxed fuel oil admixed with a gasoline fraction having a clear research octane number greater than about 86; and recovering separately said dewaxed fuel oil and said gasoline fraction.