Abstract: A FCC catalyst having improved coke selectivity and greater catalyst strength, and a FCC process for converting hydrocarbon feedstocks to lower boiling products. The catalyst comprises a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite, gibbsite, and a silica matrix prepared from at least one of a silica sol made by an ion-exchange process and an acidic silica sol prepared by mixing sodium silicate, an acid and an aluminum salt of an acid.

Abstract: A process for the production of syn gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) by reaction at high temperature between low molecular weight hydrocarbons, steam and oxygen in an impurities-containing refractory lined reaction zone. The lined reaction zone is pretreated with steam, or with steam and a reducing gas, e.g. a mixture of steam and hydrogen to leach out, react with, and transport the impurities, i.e., the reaction products of silica, or silica plus phosphorus or sulfur, or silica plus phosphorus and sulfur, from the reaction zone. Steam alone may be used to leach out, convert the silica to gaseous silicic acid, and remove same from the reaction zone; and then the hydrocarbons, steam and oxygen feeds are introduced into the reaction zone to produce syn gas.