Processes and catalyst systems are disclosed for performing Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis to produce C.sub.4.sup.+ hydrocarbons, such as gasoline boiling-range hydrocarbons and/or diesel boiling-range hydrocarbons. Advantageously, catalyst systems described herein have additional activity (beyond FT activity) for in situ hydroisomerization and/or hydrocracking of wax that is generated according to the distribution of hydrocarbons obtained from the FT synthesis reaction. This not only improves the yield of hydrocarbons (e.g., C.sub.4-19 hydrocarbons) that are useful for transportation fuels, but also allows for alternative reactor types, such as a fluidized bed reactor.

The invention is directed to a CO to CO.sub.2 combustion promoter comprising microsphere sized porous silica and/or alumina comprising particles further comprising on or more Group VIII noble metals wherein the noble metal is distributed in the particle as an eggshell such that a higher content of noble metal is present in the outer region of the particle as compared to the content of noble metal in the center of the particle.

The invention is directed to a CO to CO.sub.2 combustion promoter comprising microsphere sized porous silica and/or alumina comprising particles further comprising on or more Group VIII noble metals wherein the noble metal is distributed in the particle as an eggshell such that a higher content of noble metal is present in the outer region of the particle as compared to the content of noble metal in the center of the particle.

A process to catalytically transform natural gas liquid (NGL) into higher molecular weight hydrocarbons includes providing an NGL stream, catalytically dehydrogenating at least a portion of the NGL stream components to their corresponding alkene derivatives, catalytically oligomerizing at least a portion of the alkenes to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons and recovering the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. The NGL stream can be extracted from a gas stream such as a gas stream coming from shale formations. The higher molecular weight hydrocarbons can be hydrocarbons that are liquid at ambient temperature and ambient pressure.

The present invention provides a catalyst product comprising of (a) porous acidic clay material and (b) binder and matrix to shape the catalyst to either microspheres, pellet, tablet, extrudate and ring and suitable for enhancing the crack-ability of heavy feed material derived from atmospheric and vacuum distillation bottoms; FCC bottoms, coker bottoms and hydrocracker bottoms. The invention particularly relates to a catalyst cum heat supply product suitable for thermal coking process either in a batch mode or continuous coking process.

The present invention provides a catalyst product comprising of (a) porous acidic clay material and (b) binder and matrix to shape the catalyst to either microspheres, pellet, tablet, extrudate and ring and suitable for enhancing the crack-ability of heavy feed material derived from atmospheric and vacuum distillation bottoms; FCC bottoms, coker bottoms and hydrocracker bottoms. The invention particularly relates to a catalyst cum heat supply product suitable for thermal coking process either in a batch mode or continuous coking process.

Methods for operating a system having two downflow high-severity FCC units for producing products from a hydrocarbon feed includes introducing the hydrocarbon feed to a feed separator and separating it into a lesser boiling point fraction and a greater boiling point fraction. The greater boiling point fraction is passed to the first FCC unit and cracked in the presence of a first catalyst at 500 C. to 700 C. to produce a first cracking reaction product and a spent first catalyst. The lesser boiling point fraction is passed to the second FCC unit and cracked in the presence of a second catalyst at 500 C. to 700 C. to produce a second cracking reaction product and a spent second catalyst. At least a portion of the spent first catalyst or the spent second catalyst is passed back to the first FCC unit, the second FCC unit or both.

Methods for operating a system having two downflow high-severity FCC units for producing products from a hydrocarbon feed includes introducing the hydrocarbon feed to a feed separator and separating it into a lesser boiling point fraction and a greater boiling point fraction. The greater boiling point fraction is passed to the first FCC unit and cracked in the presence of a first catalyst at 500 C. to 700 C. to produce a first cracking reaction product and a spent first catalyst. The lesser boiling point fraction is passed to the second FCC unit and cracked in the presence of a second catalyst at 500 C. to 700 C. to produce a second cracking reaction product and a spent second catalyst. At least a portion of the spent first catalyst or the spent second catalyst is passed back to the first FCC unit, the second FCC unit or both.

Process for the preparation of a particulate FCC catalyst and a particulate FCC catalyst increased contaminants resistivity being essentially free of clay. Thus, in one embodiment, provided is a particulate FCC catalyst composition comprising one or more zeolites, at least one alumina component, at least one silica component, and being essentially free of clay. In a further embodiment, it is provided a particulate FCC catalyst composition comprising at least two different types of alumina and at least one silica component and being essentially free of clay. The alumina components can be selected from the group of peptizable quasicrystalline boehmite, non-peptizable microcrystalline boehmite phase, non-peptizable alpha phase or non-peptizable alumina containing gamma phase or non-peptizable alumina containing chi phase or gibbsite alumina. The silica component can be selected from the group of low sodium stabilized colloidal silica and acid or low sodium or ammonia stabilized colloidal silica or ploy silicic acid.

Process for the preparation of a particulate FCC catalyst and a particulate FCC catalyst increased contaminants resistivity being essentially free of clay. Thus, in one embodiment, provided is a particulate FCC catalyst composition comprising one or more zeolites, at least one alumina component, at least one silica component, and being essentially free of clay. In a further embodiment, it is provided a particulate FCC catalyst composition comprising at least two different types of alumina and at least one silica component and being essentially free of clay. The alumina components can be selected from the group of peptizable quasicrystalline boehmite, non-peptizable microcrystalline boehmite phase, non-peptizable alpha phase or non-peptizable alumina containing gamma phase or non-peptizable alumina containing chi phase or gibbsite alumina. The silica component can be selected from the group of low sodium stabilized colloidal silica and acid or low sodium or ammonia stabilized colloidal silica or ploy silicic acid.