Hydrofining process

Claim 1

In a hydrofining process wherein hydrogen, and a feed characterized as an admixture of hydrocarbons which contains organic sulfur, or organic nitrogen, or both, having a high end point boiling below about 370° C. and a low end boiling point above about 150° C., and contains up to about 2 weight percent sulfur, and up to about 500 ppm nitrogen, is contacted over a hydrofining catalyst and hydrofined at hydrofining conditions inclusive of an initial temperature ranging between about 275° C. and about 450° C., and the temperature gradually raised during the operation to maintain catalyst activity, deterioration of said feed occurring as manifested by increased discoloration of the reaction product mixture, and sulfur as hydrogen sulfide, or nitrogen as ammonia, or both, are separated from the hydrofined reaction product, the improvement wherein said hydrofined product from which sulfur, or nitrogen, or both, have been removed is contacted as a feed, in the presence of hydrogen, over a catalyst comprised of elemental iron and one or more alkali or alkaline-earth metals components at a temperature ranging from about 225° C. to about 430° C. and hydrogen partial pressure ranging from about 0 psig to about 1000 psig sufficient to reduce the discoloration of said feed, and increase the length of the operating cycle.