Dispersed metal sulfide catalysts for hydroprocessing

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a catalyst composition comprising a catalyst prepared by a process comprising: (a) impregnating an oxide precursor selected from the group consisting of rare earth oxide precursors, yttria precursors and mixtures thereof, onto an inorganic refractory oxide support; (b) drying said support at a temperature of about 100.degree. to about 120.degree. C. followed by calcining said support at a temperature of about 400.degree. to about 600.degree. C.; and (c) compositing or depositing on said support of step (b), a catalyst precursor salt represented by (ML)(Mo.sub.y W.sub.1-y O.sub.4).sub.a wherein M comprises Cr and/or one or more divalent promoter metals selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and mixtures thereof, wherein y is any value ranging from 0 to 1, and wherein L is one or more neutral, nitrogen-containing ligands at least one of which is a chelating polydentate ligand; a=1 when chromium is not one of the promoter metals and 0.5.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.3 when Cr is one of the promoter metals. (d) sulfiding said deposited or composited supports of step (c) with an excess amount of sulfur in the form of one or more sulfur bearing compounds and at a temperature of at least about 250.degree. C. to form catalysts. In a preferred embodiment, the process will further comprise decomposing the composited or deposited supports of step (c) in a nonoxidizing atmosphere at a temperature of at least about 250.degree. C. prior to said sulfiding step (d). In a second aspect of the invention there is provided an improved aromatics hydrogenation process.