A method including subjecting an ultra-stable Y-type zeolite having a low silica-to-alumina molar ratio (SAR), such as in a range of 3 to 6, to acid treatment and heteroatom incorporation contemporaneously to give a framework-modified ultra-stable Y-type zeolite.

A catalyst structure includes a porous support structure, where the support structure includes an aluminosilicate material and any two or more metals loaded in the porous support structure selected from Ga, Ag, Mo, Zn, Co and Ce. The catalyst structure is used in a hydrocarbon upgrading process that is conducted in the presence of methane, nitrogen or hydrogen.

A catalyst structure includes a porous support structure, where the support structure includes an aluminosilicate material and any two or more metals loaded in the porous support structure selected from Ga, Ag, Mo, Zn, Co and Ce. The catalyst structure is used in a hydrocarbon upgrading process that is conducted in the presence of methane, nitrogen or hydrogen.

A cluster-supporting catalyst including porous carrier particles having acid sites, and catalyst metal clusters supported within the pores of the porous carrier particles. In the cluster-supporting catalyst including porous carrier particles having acid sites, and catalyst metal clusters supported within the pores of the porous carrier particles, the catalyst metal may be rhodium, the catalyst metal may be palladium, the catalyst metal may be platinum, or the catalyst metal may be copper.

A cluster-supporting catalyst including porous carrier particles having acid sites, and catalyst metal clusters supported within the pores of the porous carrier particles. The catalyst metal clusters are obtained by supporting catalyst metal clusters having a positive charge, which is formed in a dispersion liquid containing a dispersion medium and the porous carrier particles dispersed in the dispersion medium, on the acid sites within the pores of the porous carrier particles through an electrostatic interaction.

Process scheme configurations are disclosed that enable deep hydrogenation of middle distillates. The hydrogenated middle distillates are processed in a steam cracker for conversion into light olefins. Feeds to the deep hydrogenation zone include diesel range streams from a diesel hydrotreating zone, a gas oil hydroprocessing zone, and/or a vacuum residue hydrocracking zone. The deep hydrogenation zone operates under conditions effective to reduce aromatic content in a diesel range feedstream from a range of about 10-40 wt % or greater, to a hydrogenated distillate range intermediate product having an aromatic content of less than about 5-0.5 wt %.

Methods for cracking a hydrocarbon oil include contacting the hydrocarbon oil with a catalyst system in a fluidized catalytic cracking unit to produce light olefins and gasoline fuel. The catalyst system includes a FCC base catalyst and a catalyst additive. The FCC base catalyst includes a Y-zeolite. The catalyst additive includes a framework-substituted *BEA-type zeolite. The framework-substituted *BEA-type zeolite has a modified *BEA framework. The modified *BEA framework is a *BEA aluminosilicate framework modified by substituting a portion of framework aluminum atoms of the *BEA aluminosilicate framework with beta-zeolite Al-substitution atoms selected from titanium atoms, zirconium atoms, hafnium atoms, and combinations thereof. The FCC base catalyst may include a framework-substituted ultra-stable Y (USY)-zeolite as the Y-zeolite. The framework-substituted USY-zeolite has USY aluminosilicate framework modified by substituting a portion of framework aluminum atoms with titanium atoms, zirconium atoms, hafnium atoms, or combinations thereof.

A catalyst for the carbonylation of dimethyl ether to methyl acetate. The catalyst comprises a zeolite, such as a mordenite zeolite, at least one Group IB metal, such as copper, and/or at least one Group VIII metal, such as iron, and at least one Group IIB metal, such as zinc. Such a catalyst with combined metals provides enhanced catalytic activity, improved stability, and improved selectivity to methyl acetate, and does not require a halogen promoter, as compared to a metal-free or copper only zeolite.

Bimetallic catalysts for the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) conversion of lignin into useful hydrocarbons are provided. The catalysts are bifunctional bimetallic ruthenium catalysts Ru-M/X.sup.+Y comprising a metal M such as iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn), zeolite Y and cation X.sup.+ (e.g. H.sup.+) associated with zeolite Y.

Process scheme configurations are disclosed that enable deep hydrogenation of middle distillates. The hydrogenated middle distillates are processed in a steam cracker for conversion into light olefins. Feeds to the deep hydrogenation zone include diesel range streams from a diesel hydrotreating zone, a gas oil hydroprocessing zone, and/or a vacuum residue hydrocracking zone. The deep hydrogenation zone operates under conditions effective to reduce aromatic content in a diesel range feedstream from a range of about 10-40 wt % or greater, to a hydrogenated distillate range intermediate product having an aromatic content of less than about 5-0.5 wt %.