Catalysts comprising layered chalcogenides of group ivb-group viib

Abstract

In processes for the catalytic treatment of hydrocarbon feedstream containing organic sulfur comprising contacting said feedstream with a catalyst for a time at a temperature and pressure sufficient to effect the desired catalytic change on the feedstream, the improvement comprising using as the catalyst a layered composition of the formula MX.sub.y wherein M is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Group IVb, Vb, VIb, VIIb and uranium, X is a chalcogen selected from the group consisting of sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and mixtures thereof, y is a number ranging from about 1.5 to about 3. The catalyst is prepared by reacting neat or in the presence of a nonaqueous solvent a Group IVb to VIIb or uranium metal salt, and a source of sulfide, selenide or telluride ions, and mixing the reactants at temperatures below 400.degree. C. and at atmospheric pressures. The catalyst may be isolated by filtration and washing with excess solvent (when one is used) or by vacuum pumping any volatile coproduced anion salt. Preferably the chalcogenide is sulfur and y is about 1.5 to about 2. The catalytic processes which are benefited by the use therein of the above-described compositions are hydrodesulfurization, hydrodenitrogenation, hydroconversion and hydrogenation run in the presence of hydrogen or a hydrogen donor solvent.