| abstract |
A process for converting a charge of heavy hydrocarbons containing components boiling above 1000 DEG F. to a product containing a decreased content of components boiling above 1000 DEG F. and decreased sediment content employing a NiMo catalyst having a specified pore distribution under hydroconversion conditions is disclosed. The process includes contacting the charge of heavy hydrocarbon with hydrogen in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst supported on alumina and containing </=2.5 wt % of silica and bearing 2.2 to 6 wt % of a Group VIII metal oxide, 7 to 24 wt % of a Group VIB metal oxide and 0.3 to 2 wt % of a loaded phosphorus oxide, the phosphorous being loaded onto the catalyst as aqueous phosphoric acid. The catalyst also may be characterized by having a Total Surface Area of 175 to 205 m2/g, a Total Pore Volume of 0.82 to 0.98 cc/g, and a Pore Diameter Distribution wherein 29.6 to 33.0% of the Total Pore Volume is present as macropores of diameter greater than 250 ANGSTROM , 67.0 to 70.4% of the Total Pore Volume is present as micropores of diameter less than 250 ANGSTROM , >/=65% of the micropore volume is present as micropores of diameter +/-25 ANGSTROM about a pore mode by volume of 110 to 130 ANGSTROM , less than 0.05 cc/g of micropore volume is present in micropores with diameters less than 80 ANGSTROM . |