The present invention relates to the processing of hydrocarbon-containing feedstreams in the presence of an interstitial metal hydride comprised of at least one chemical element selected from Groups 3-11 (including the lanthanides, atomic numbers 58 to 71), and at least one chemical element selected from Groups 13-15 from the IUPAC Periodic Table of Elements. These interstitial metal hydrides, their catalysts and processes using these interstitial metal hydrides and catalysts of the present invention improve overall hydrogenation, product conversion, as well as sulfur reduction in hydrocarbon feedstreams.

Compositions can include compounds having a formula: Co.sub.yW.sub.1-xMx0.sub.4 (I), wherein M is Mo, V, or Nb; 0.5x0; and 1<y4; and wherein the compound has an X-ray powder diffraction pattern including characteristic diffraction peaks having d-spacing values of about 2.90 , 2.56 , and 1.73 . Methods can include making a bulk catalyst composition including (i) combining tungstic acid and cobalt carbonate and (ii) reacting the tungstic acid and cobalt carbonate to form a catalyst composition, wherein the cobalt carbonate has an X-ray powder diffraction pattern including characteristic diffraction peaks having d-spacing values of about 10.03 , 5.91 , 4.35 , and 4.21 .

A heterogeneous catalyst composition for para-hydrogen induced polarization includes ligand-capped nanoparticles dispersed in water. The ligand-capped nanoparticles include metal nanoparticles that are surface functionalized with organic ligands, a molecular weight of the organic ligands is no greater than 300 g/mol, and the organic ligands each includes multiple binding moieties as coordinates sites for binding to a nanoparticle surface.