Abstract: A hydrocarbon-containing feedstock is desulfurized so as to contain less than 5, and preferably less than 2 ppmw of sulfur, in the first stage of a two-stage process. In the second stage, the feedstock is contacted with an isomerization catalyst useful for promoting n-paraffin isomerization reactions. A dual-function catalyst effective for simultaneously desulfurizing and isomerizing a hydrocarbon oil may be employed in the first stage. Alternatively, the dual-function catalyst may be employed in both the first and second stages. Alternatively still, the dual-function catalyst may be used to treat a feedstock containing n-paraffins in a single stage isomerization process.

Abstract: Silicon components are removed from a hydrocarbon stream by contacting the stream with a sorbent comprising a mixture of a copper component and a porous, inorganic refractory oxide containing alumina. Preferably, the porous, inorganic refractory oxide will contain greater than about 10 weight percent alumina and most preferably consists essentially of alumina. It is normally desired to contact the hydrocarbon stream with the sorbent in the presence of molecular hydrogen in order to prevent coking of the sorbent. The sorbent may be a fresh mixture of the copper component and the porous, inorganic refractory oxide or it may be a spent sorbent prepared by using the fresh sorbent to remove sulfur components from a hydrocarbon stream. Alternatively, the sorbent may be a regenerated sorbent prepared by burning carbonaceous residues off a sorbent that was previously used to remove sulfur components from a hydrocarbon stream.