Abstract: The invention relates to a process for hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking of nitrogen feedstocks in which a portion of the hydrotreated and/or hydrocracked effluent is recycled to the hydrotreatment and/or hydrocracking stage after having been subjected to stripping with hydrogen or any other inert gas. The invention is particularly well suited for the processes that are performed in the absence of gaseous hydrogen circulating through the catalytic bed.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstocks containing tetra-hydro-dicyclo-penta-diene (THDCPD) dissolved in a suitable solvent is substantially totally reformed and hydroconverted in a non-catalytic reactor having length/internal diameter ratio between 10/1 and 30/1 at critical controlled reaction conditions, including molar ratio of hydrogen-to-THDCPD of 5.0:1-12.0:1, reaction temperature of 1100.degree.-1350.degree. F., reactor pressure of 550-650 psig, and feedstream reactor residence time of 10-50 seconds so as to yield primarily benzene product together with minor aromatic materials. Suitable solvent materials can be an aromatic solvent, a non-aromatic solvent containing naphthenic and paraffinic compounds, or a combination of each. When the solvent is predominantly an alkyl aromatics mixture, these components are hydrodealkylated while the THDCPD material undergoes simultaneous reformation in the reactor.