In a process for the synthesis of a crystalline molecular sieve material having the EUO framework type, a synthesis mixture is provided suitable for the formation of an EUO framework type molecular sieve and comprising N,N,N,N′,N′,N′-hexamethylhexanediammonium, Q, cations and a colloidal suspension of seed crystals of an EUO framework type molecular sieve. The synthesis mixture is crystallized and an EUO framework type molecular sieve in the form individual crystals and/or aggregates of crystals having an average size, d.sub.50, as measured by laser scattering, of less than 15 μm is recovered from the synthesis mixture.

In a process for the synthesis of a crystalline molecular sieve material having the EUO framework type, a synthesis mixture is provided suitable for the formation of an EUO framework type molecular sieve and comprising N,N,N,N′,N′,N′-hexamethylhexanediammonium, Q, cations and a colloidal suspension of seed crystals of an EUO framework type molecular sieve. The synthesis mixture is crystallized and an EUO framework type molecular sieve in the form individual crystals and/or aggregates of crystals having an average size, d.sub.50, as measured by laser scattering, of less than 15 μm is recovered from the synthesis mixture.

According to one or more embodiments described, a zeolite supported catalyst may be synthesized by a process that includes combining a colloidal mixture with a metal oxide support material to form a support precursor material, processing the support precursor material to form a support material, and impregnating the support material with one or more metals to form the zeolite supported catalyst. The colloidal mixture may include nano-sized zeolite crystals, and the nano-sized zeolite crystals may have an average size of less than 100 nm.

A method of producing a regenerated hydrotreating catalyst, including a first step of preparing a hydrotreating catalyst that has been used for hydrotreatment of a petroleum fraction and has a metal element selected from Group 6 elements of the periodic table; a second step of performing regeneration treatment for part of the catalyst prepared in the first step, then performing X-ray absorption fine structure analysis for the catalyst after the regeneration treatment, and obtaining regeneration treatment conditions in which a ratio IS/IO of a peak intensity IS of a peak attributed to a bond between the metal element and a sulfur atom to a peak intensity IO of a peak attributed to a bond between the metal element and an oxygen atom is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 in a radial distribution curve obtained from an extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectrum.

A method of producing a regenerated hydrotreating catalyst, including a first step of preparing a hydrotreating catalyst that has been used for hydrotreatment of a petroleum fraction and has a metal element selected from Group 6 elements of the periodic table; a second step of performing regeneration treatment for part of the catalyst prepared in the first step, then performing X-ray absorption fine structure analysis for the catalyst after the regeneration treatment, and obtaining regeneration treatment conditions in which a ratio IS/IO of a peak intensity IS of a peak attributed to a bond between the metal element and a sulfur atom to a peak intensity IO of a peak attributed to a bond between the metal element and an oxygen atom is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 in a radial distribution curve obtained from an extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectrum.

Catalytic system which can be used in processes for the hydroconversion of heavy oils by means of hydrotreatment in slurry phase, characterized in that it comprises: a catalyst, having the function of hydrogenating agent, containing MoS.sub.2 or WS.sub.2 or mixtures thereof in lamellar form or an oil-soluble precursor thereof; a co-catalyst, having nanometric or micronic particle-sizes, selected from cracking and/or denitrogenation catalysts. The co-catalyst preferably consists of zeolites having small-sized crystals and with a low aggregation degree between the primary particles, and/or oxides or sulfides or precursors of sulfides of Ni and/or Co in a mixture with Mo and/or W.

Catalytic system which can be used in processes for the hydroconversion of heavy oils by means of hydrotreatment in slurry phase, characterized in that it comprises: a catalyst, having the function of hydrogenating agent, containing MoS.sub.2 or WS.sub.2 or mixtures thereof in lamellar form or an oil-soluble precursor thereof; a co-catalyst, having nanometric or micronic particle-sizes, selected from cracking and/or denitrogenation catalysts. The co-catalyst preferably consists of zeolites having small-sized crystals and with a low aggregation degree between the primary particles, and/or oxides or sulfides or precursors of sulfides of Ni and/or Co in a mixture with Mo and/or W.

Methods are provided for forming noble metal catalysts comprising both platinum and a second Group VIII metal, such as palladium, with improved aromatic saturation activity. Instead of impregnating a catalyst with both platinum and another Group VIII metal at the same time, a sequential impregnation can be used, with the Group VIII metal being impregnated prior to platinum. It has been discovered that by forming a Group VIII metal-impregnated catalyst first, and then impregnating with platinum, the distribution of platinum throughout the catalyst can be improved. The improved distribution of platinum can result in a catalyst with enhanced aromatic saturation activity relative to a catalyst with a similar composition formed by simultaneous impregnation.

Methods are provided for forming noble metal catalysts comprising both platinum and a second Group VIII metal, such as palladium, with improved aromatic saturation activity. Instead of impregnating a catalyst with both platinum and another Group VIII metal at the same time, a sequential impregnation can be used, with the Group VIII metal being impregnated prior to platinum. It has been discovered that by forming a Group VIII metal-impregnated catalyst first, and then impregnating with platinum, the distribution of platinum throughout the catalyst can be improved. The improved distribution of platinum can result in a catalyst with enhanced aromatic saturation activity relative to a catalyst with a similar composition formed by simultaneous impregnation.

Methods of catalytic hydrogenation, including methods that may be used to hydrogenate an unsaturated reactant to produce an at least partially saturated product that may be a solid at 20° C. Systems for catalytic hydrogenation that may include a reactor bed containing one or more activated carbon monolith catalysts. At least 97% of unsaturated bonds may be saturated by the methods and systems.