Abstract: A process for the recovery of a spent molybdenum catalyst from a hydroprocess for the upgrading of a nickel and vanadium containing hydrocarbonaceous mineral oil. The nickel and vanadium contaminated molybdenum catalyst is oxidized to convert the metals to oxides. Aqueous ammonia is added to preferentially dissolve molybdenum from nickel and vanadium. An amount of ammonia is used in excess of the amount required to produce an active catalyst for recycle and the excess ammonia is removed prior to recycle of the catalyst. The selectively of the separation of molybdenum from nickel and vanadium is improved by adding a reducing agent before or during the ammonia dissolving step. Hydrazine is a suitable reducing agent. The recovered molybdenum is sulfided and recycled.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a dispersed Group VIB metal sulfide hydrocarbon oil hydroprocessing catalyst comprising reacting aqueous ammonia and a Group VIB metal compound, such as molybdenum oxide or tungsten oxide, to form a water soluble oxygen-containing compound such as aqueous ammonium molybdate or tungstate. The aqueous ammonium molybdate or tungstate is sulfided in at least three sulfiding steps of increasing temperature including a low temperature sulfiding step, an intermediate temperature sulfiding step and a high temperature sulfiding step. Some of the oxygen associated with said Group VIB metal is replaced by sulfur in each of the sulfiding steps. It has been found the maximum total level of replacement of oxygen by sulfur achieved in the intermediate temperature step is particularly critical to catalyst activity.

Abstract: Heavy or refractory oils are hydroprocessed in the presence of added water and added hydrogen sulfide with or without a slurry catalyst comprising molybdenum sulfide. The water and hydrogen sulfide may originate from the catalyst preparation procedure.

Abstract: Catalytic material is provided by a composition comprising the elements vanadium, non-water-contained hydrogen, phosphorus and non-water-contained oxygen. Freshly prepared catalytic material proxides relatively high yields upon its initial use in the catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbon feedstocks, such as n-butane and benzene to maleic anhydride.

Abstract: Catalytic material is prepared by impregnating porous silica with an aqueous solution containing vanadyl oxalate (VOC.sub.2 O.sub.4), potassium sulfate (K.sub.2 SO.sub.4) and potassium bisulfate (KHSO.sub.4). A free-flowing dry-appearing powder is provided comprising particles having substantially all compounds deposited from the impregnating solution attached to the silica particles within pores of the particles. Subsequent calcining of the powder provides a mixture of compounds within the particle pores containing at least one oxide of vanadium and at least one sulfate of potassium. Catalytic material prepared by the disclosed process is characterized in having a substantially uniform concentration of deposited compounds within the pores of the silica support. The catalytic material is particularly useful in a process for fluid bed oxidation of naphthalene to phthalic anhydride, in which oxidation process the catalyst provides high product yield at a low catalyst attrition rate.

Abstract: Catalytic material is prepared by impregnating porous silica with an aqueous solution containing vanadyl oxalate (VOC.sub.2 O.sub.4), potassium sulfate (K.sub.2 SO.sub.4) and potassium bisulfate (KHSO.sub.4). A free-flowing dry-appearing powder is provided comprising particles having substantially all compounds deposited from the impregnating solution attached to the silica particles within pores of the particles. Subsequent calcining of the powder provides a mixture of compounds within the particle pores containing at least one oxide of vanadium and at least one sulfate of potassium. Catalytic material prepared by the disclosed process is characterized in having a substantially uniform concentration of deposited compounds within the pores of the silica support. The catalytic material is particularly useful in a process for fluid bed oxidation of naphthalene to phthalic anhydride, in which oxidation process the catalyst provides high product yield at a low catalyst attrition rate.

Abstract: Catalytic material is provided by a composition comprising the elements vanadium, non-water-contained hydrogen, phosphorus and non-water-contained oxygen. The VHPO elements are present in a relatively fixed atomic ratio range, there being more non-water-contained oxygen present than phosphorus by an atomic ratio of greater than five to one. The catalytic material comprises an anhydrous primary component having vanadium of mixed valence, hydrogen, phosphorus and oxygen in an empirical relationship defined by VH.sub.x PO.sub.y, wherein "x" has an average value in a range from about 1.29 to about 1.40, and "y" has an average value in a range from about 5.46 to about 5.55. The anhydrous VHPO catalytic material may also be described by a structural formula (VO).sub.m (VO.sub.2).sub.n H.sub.2n (PO.sub.4).sub.n (P.sub.2 O.sub.7).sub.m/2, wherein m+n=3, "m" has an average value in a range from about 0.90 to about 1.07, and "n" has an average value in a range from about 1.93 to about 2.10.