The invention relates to a method of preparing a catalytic composition comprising at least one non-noble metal from group VIII and at least one metal from group VIB of the periodic table. The invention also relates to the catalytic composition thus produced, which has a high specific activity in reactions involving the hydroprocessing of light and intermediate fractions, preferably in reactions involving the hydrotreatment of hydrocarbon streams, including hydrodesulphurisation (HDS), hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) and hydro-dearomatisation (HDA).

The invention relates to a method of preparing a catalytic composition comprising at least one non-noble metal from group VIII and at least one metal from group VIB of the periodic table. The invention also relates to the catalytic composition thus produced, which has a high specific activity in reactions involving the hydroprocessing of light and intermediate fractions, preferably in reactions involving the hydrotreatment of hydrocarbon streams, including hydrodesulphurisation (HDS), hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) and hydro-dearomatisation (HDA).

A broad embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a process for removal of at least 20%, 40% or 80% of the aromatics content of the fraction boiling above 190° C. from a heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock comprising at least 30 wt % aromatics, at least 3000 wt ppm nitrogen and at least 0.5 wt % oxygen said method being carried out in a single stage in which no intermediate stream is withdrawn and comprising the steps of a. providing a hydrotreater feed by combining said heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock with excess hydrogen, providing a hydrotreater feed, b. providing a hydrotreated hydrocarbon product comprising less than 30 wt ppm nitrogen, less than 20 wt ppm nitrogen or less than 10 wt ppm nitrogen by hydrotreating said hydrotreater feed by contacting it with a material catalytically active in hydrotreatment under hydrotreatment conditions, c. providing a hydrotreated product either as the hydrotreated hydrocarbon product of step b or by fractionation as a fraction of said hydrotreated hydrocarbon product, with the associated benefit of a process providing a low level of nitrogen in the hydrocarbon product also providing a high potential for dearomatization. The aromatics content of the heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock may typically be between 30 wt % aromatics and 90 wt % aromatics. The nitrogen content of the heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock may typically be between 3000 wt ppm and 10000 wt ppm. The oxygen content of the heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock may typically be between 0.5 wt % and 10 wt %. The removal of aromatics content from the fraction boiling above 190° C. may be from 20%, 40% or 80% to 99% or 100%.

A broad embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a process for removal of at least 20%, 40% or 80% of the aromatics content of the fraction boiling above 190° C. from a heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock comprising at least 30 wt % aromatics, at least 3000 wt ppm nitrogen and at least 0.5 wt % oxygen said method being carried out in a single stage in which no intermediate stream is withdrawn and comprising the steps of a. providing a hydrotreater feed by combining said heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock with excess hydrogen, providing a hydrotreater feed, b. providing a hydrotreated hydrocarbon product comprising less than 30 wt ppm nitrogen, less than 20 wt ppm nitrogen or less than 10 wt ppm nitrogen by hydrotreating said hydrotreater feed by contacting it with a material catalytically active in hydrotreatment under hydrotreatment conditions, c. providing a hydrotreated product either as the hydrotreated hydrocarbon product of step b or by fractionation as a fraction of said hydrotreated hydrocarbon product, with the associated benefit of a process providing a low level of nitrogen in the hydrocarbon product also providing a high potential for dearomatization. The aromatics content of the heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock may typically be between 30 wt % aromatics and 90 wt % aromatics. The nitrogen content of the heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock may typically be between 3000 wt ppm and 10000 wt ppm. The oxygen content of the heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock may typically be between 0.5 wt % and 10 wt %. The removal of aromatics content from the fraction boiling above 190° C. may be from 20%, 40% or 80% to 99% or 100%.

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.

Process for hydrogenation of aromatic compounds in a feedstock comprising hydrocarbons having at least five carbon atoms, comprising: a) contacting feedstock, a hydrogen gas, and a nickel or platinum hydrogenation catalyst at 100 to 400° C., 0.5 to 8 MPa, and a feedstock flow rate 0.5 to 5 h.sup.−1, as to produce a partially-hydrogenated hydrocarbon feedstock and gas; and b) contacting the partially-hydrogenated feedstock, and a nickel or platinum hydrogenation catalyst at 100 and 400° C., a pressure of between 0.5 and 8 MPa, with a flow rate of the partially-hydrogenated feedstock between 0.3 and 8 h.sup.−1, a ratio between the volume of hydrogen and the volume of the partially-hydrogenated feedstock between 0.3 and 3 Nm.sup.3/m.sup.3, and a ratio between the superficial mass flow rate of the partially-hydrogenated feedstock and the superficial mass flow rate of gas (Ul/Ug) at the inlet of the reactor between 50 and 500.

Process for hydrogenation of aromatic compounds in a feedstock comprising hydrocarbons having at least five carbon atoms, comprising: a) contacting feedstock, a hydrogen gas, and a nickel or platinum hydrogenation catalyst at 100 to 400° C., 0.5 to 8 MPa, and a feedstock flow rate 0.5 to 5 h.sup.−1, as to produce a partially-hydrogenated hydrocarbon feedstock and gas; and b) contacting the partially-hydrogenated feedstock, and a nickel or platinum hydrogenation catalyst at 100 and 400° C., a pressure of between 0.5 and 8 MPa, with a flow rate of the partially-hydrogenated feedstock between 0.3 and 8 h.sup.−1, a ratio between the volume of hydrogen and the volume of the partially-hydrogenated feedstock between 0.3 and 3 Nm.sup.3/m.sup.3, and a ratio between the superficial mass flow rate of the partially-hydrogenated feedstock and the superficial mass flow rate of gas (Ul/Ug) at the inlet of the reactor between 50 and 500.

A method of making highly an active mixed transition metal oxide material has been developed. The method may include sulfiding the metal oxide material to generate metal sulfides which are used as catalyst in a conversion process such as hydroprocessing. The hydroprocessing may include hydrodenitrification, hydrodesulfurization, hydrodemetallation, hydrodesilication, hydrodearomatization, hydroisomerization, hydrotreating, hydrofining, and hydrocracking.

Integrated processes for upgrading crude shale-derived oils, such as those produced by oil shale retorting or by in situ extraction or combinations thereof. Processes disclosed provide for a split-flow processing scheme to upgrade whole shale oil. The split flow concepts described herein, i.e., naphtha and kerosene hydrotreating in one or more stages and gas oil hydrotreating in one or more stages, requires additional equipment as compared to the alternative approach of whole oil hydrotreating. While contrary to conventional wisdom as requiring more capital equipment to achieve the same final product specifications, the operating efficiency vis a vis on-stream time efficiency and product quality resulting from the split flow concept far exceed in value the somewhat incrementally higher capital expenditure costs.