The present invention provides a process for upgrading a Fischer-Tropsch product by hydrocracking in the presence of a hydrocracking catalyst in a reactor, wherein the process is initiated by a series of steps (i) to (iv). The hydrocracking catalyst is (i) contacted with a hydrogen-containing stream having a feed temperature of from 360 C. to 420 C.; (ii) the feed temperature of the hydrogen-containing stream is reduced to a temperature of from 220 C. to 280 C.; (iii) the catalyst is contacted with a Fischer-Tropsch product stream having a feed temperature of from 220 C. to 280 C., which is co-fed with the hydrogen-containing stream; and (iv) the catalyst is co-fed with a Fischer-Tropsch product stream and hydrogen-containing stream having feed temperatures of from 380 C. and 400 C. for at least four days and wherein the hydrocracking catalyst is not activated by sulfiding.

The invention relates to a process for producing benzene, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hydrocracking feed stream comprising C5-C12 hydrocarbons, (b) contacting the hydrocracking feed stream in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrocracking catalyst comprising 0.01-1 wt-% hydrogenation metal in relation to the total catalyst weight and a zeolite having a pore size of 5-8 ? and a silica (SiO.sub.2) to alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) molar ratio of 5-200 under process conditions including a temperature of 425-580? C., a pressure of 300-5000 kPa gauge and a Weight Hourly Space Velocity of 0.1-15 h.sup.?1 to produce a hydrocracking product stream comprising benzene, toluene and C8+ hydrocarbons, (c) separating benzene, toluene and the C8+ hydrocarbons from the hydrocracking product stream and (d) selectively recycling back at least part of the toluene from the separated products of step (c) to be included in the hydrocracking feed stream.

The invention relates to a process for producing benzene, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hydrocracking feed stream comprising C5-C12 hydrocarbons, (b) contacting the hydrocracking feed stream in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrocracking catalyst comprising 0.01-1 wt-% hydrogenation metal in relation to the total catalyst weight and a zeolite having a pore size of 5-8 ? and a silica (SiO.sub.2) to alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) molar ratio of 5-200 under process conditions including a temperature of 425-580? C., a pressure of 300-5000 kPa gauge and a Weight Hourly Space Velocity of 0.1-15 h.sup.?1 to produce a hydrocracking product stream comprising benzene, toluene and C8+ hydrocarbons, (c) separating benzene, toluene and the C8+ hydrocarbons from the hydrocracking product stream and (d) selectively recycling back at least part of the toluene from the separated products of step (c) to be included in the hydrocracking feed stream.

A process for upgrading vacuum residuum and vacuum gas oil hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process may include: contacting a heavy distillate hydrocarbon fraction and hydrogen with a zeolite selective hydrocracking catalyst in a first ebullated bed hydrocracking reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the vacuum gas oil to lighter hydrocarbons. Contacting a residuum hydrocarbon fraction and hydrogen with a non-zeolite base metal hydroconversion catalyst in a second ebullated bed hydroconversion reaction zone may produce a vapor stream containing unconverted hydrogen, acid gases and volatilized hydrocarbons which may be fed along with the vacuum gas oil in the first ebullated bed hydrocracking zone.

A process for upgrading vacuum residuum and vacuum gas oil hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process may include: contacting a heavy distillate hydrocarbon fraction and hydrogen with a zeolite selective hydrocracking catalyst in a first ebullated bed hydrocracking reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the vacuum gas oil to lighter hydrocarbons. Contacting a residuum hydrocarbon fraction and hydrogen with a non-zeolite base metal hydroconversion catalyst in a second ebullated bed hydroconversion reaction zone may produce a vapor stream containing unconverted hydrogen, acid gases and volatilized hydrocarbons which may be fed along with the vacuum gas oil in the first ebullated bed hydrocracking zone.

A process for preparing a hydrocarbon conversion catalyst that comprises a specially made silica-alumina composition and a metal or metal compound selected from Group VIB and Group VIII metals. The silica-alumina composition is made by preparing an aqueous mixture containing aluminum sulfate followed by adding alkali metal aluminate to the mixture to enhance the pH to within specified range and then adding aluminum sulfate to the mixture to lower the pH. Then alkali metal silicate is added followed by several other pH swings to provide a mixture containing silica-alumina. The resulting mixture is treated with an alkaline solution to provide a precipitate solid that is recovered to obtain a silica-alumina composition containing of from 30 to 70% wt silica and of from 70 to 30% wt of alumina.

A process for preparing a hydrocarbon conversion catalyst that comprises a specially made silica-alumina composition and a metal or metal compound selected from Group VIB and Group VIII metals. The silica-alumina composition is made by preparing an aqueous mixture containing aluminum sulfate followed by adding alkali metal aluminate to the mixture to enhance the pH to within specified range and then adding aluminum sulfate to the mixture to lower the pH. Then alkali metal silicate is added followed by several other pH swings to provide a mixture containing silica-alumina. The resulting mixture is treated with an alkaline solution to provide a precipitate solid that is recovered to obtain a silica-alumina composition containing of from 30 to 70% wt silica and of from 70 to 30% wt of alumina.

The invention relates to a process for producing benzene, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hydrocracking feed stream comprising C5-C12 hydrocarbons, (b) contacting the hydrocracking feed stream in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrocracking catalyst comprising 0.01-1 wt-% hydrogenation metal in relation to the total catalyst weight and a zeolite having a pore size of 5-8 ? and a silica (SiO.sub.2) to alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) molar ratio of 5-200 under process conditions including a temperature of 425-580? C., a pressure of 300-5000 kPa gauge and a Weight Hourly Space Velocity of 0.1-15 h.sup.?1 to produce a hydrocracking product stream comprising benzene, toluene and C8+ hydrocarbons, (c) separating benzene, toluene and the C8+ hydrocarbons from the hydrocracking product stream and (d) selectively recycling back at least part of the toluene from the separated products of step (c) to be included in the hydrocracking feed stream.

The invention relates to a process for producing benzene, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hydrocracking feed stream comprising C5-C12 hydrocarbons, (b) contacting the hydrocracking feed stream in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrocracking catalyst comprising 0.01-1 wt-% hydrogenation metal in relation to the total catalyst weight and a zeolite having a pore size of 5-8 ? and a silica (SiO.sub.2) to alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) molar ratio of 5-200 under process conditions including a temperature of 425-580? C., a pressure of 300-5000 kPa gauge and a Weight Hourly Space Velocity of 0.1-15 h.sup.?1 to produce a hydrocracking product stream comprising benzene, toluene and C8+ hydrocarbons, (c) separating benzene, toluene and the C8+ hydrocarbons from the hydrocracking product stream and (d) selectively recycling back at least part of the toluene from the separated products of step (c) to be included in the hydrocracking feed stream.

The invention relates to a process for producing benzene, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hydrocracking feed stream comprising C5-C12 hydrocarbons, (b) contacting the hydrocracking feed stream in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrocracking catalyst comprising 0.01-1 wt-% hydrogenation metal in relation to the total catalyst weight and a zeolite having a pore size of 5-8 A and a silica (SiO2) to alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) molar ratio of 5-200 under process conditions including a temperature of 425-580? C., a pressure of 300-5000 kPa gauge and a Weight Hourly Space Velocity of 0.1-15 h.sup.?1 to produce a hydrocracking product stream comprising benzene, toluene and C8+ hydrocarbons, (c) separating benzene, toluene and the C8+ hydrocarbons from the hydrocracking product stream and (d) selectively recycling back at least part of the toluene from the separated products of step (c) to be included in the hydrocracking feed stream process for producing benzene from a c5-c12 hydrocarbon mixture