Abstract: The present invention provides a process for continuously regenerating a catalyst or an adsorbent which comprises the steps of:(a) establishing an ebullating or expanded bed by passing a gaseous stream upwardly through a plurality of particles confined in a regeneration zone,(b) providing a looped pathway in said ebullating bed,(c) passing a spent catalyst into said ebullating bed and moving said spent catalyst along said multi-looped pathway, and(d) removing a regenerated catalyst from said ebullating bed.In the process of this invention, the looped pathway requires substantially all of the particles to traverse a pathway that varies in direction by about 180.degree. from beginning to end of each loop in the pathway. In this process, the particles may be regenerated by lowering the carbon deposited thereon from a range of from about 8 to about 17 wt. % to a range of from about 0.3 to 1.5 wt. %, and the sulfur content of from about 6 to 9 wt. % to a range of from about 0.4 to 1.4 wt. %.

Abstract: A desirably upgraded charge stock for catalytic cracking containing a relatively large proportion of heavy hydrocarbons boiling above about 800.degree. F., is produced by first subjecting a raw feedstock boiling predominantly above 600.degree. F. and containing a substantial proportion of material boiling above 800.degree. F., to catalytic hydrofining followed by catalytic hydrocracking at high pressures in the presence of a Group VIB and/or Group VIII metal-promoted, crystalline zeolite hydrocracking catalyst. The hydrocracking catalyst and conditions are chosen so as to achieve selective conversion of material boiling between about 600.degree. and 800.degree. F. to lower boiling materials with a relatively minor conversion of the 800.degree. F+ material. The resulting product boiling above 400.degree. F is rich in 800.degree. F+ material, and constitutes an excellent catalytic cracking charge stock.