Abstract: A catalyst for the hydrotreatment of heavy hydrocarbon oils, which is prepared by supporting more than 2% by weight of VS.sub.x, wherein x represents about 1.1-1.59 in terms of an atomic ratio of S/V, on a substrate composed of a clay mineral which consists of magnesium silicate as a major component and having a double-chain structure and a process for preparing the catalyst are provided. The catalyst is prepared by accumulating the VS.sub.x on the substrate using a heavy hydrocarbon oil which contains particularly large amounts of vanadium and sulfur.

Abstract: A catalyst for hydrotreating a heavy hydrocarbon oil containing asphaltenes comprises a porous carrier composed of one or more inorganic oxides of at least one element selected from among those of Groups II, III and IV of the Periodic Table, and at least one catalytic metal component composited with the carrier. The metal of the catalytic metal component is selected from among those of Groups VB, VIB, VIII and IB of the Periodic Table. The catalyst contains about 1 to 30% by weight of such catalytic metal component and has the following pore characteristics with regard to its pores having a diameter of 75 .ANG. or more: an average pore diameter APD of about 180 to 500 .ANG., a total pore volume PV, expressed in cc/g, being equal to or greater than a value X ##EQU1## the volume of pores with a diameter of about 180 to 500 .ANG. being at least about 0.2 cc/g, the volume of pores with a diameter of at least 1,500 .ANG. being not greater than about 0.03 cc/g, and a total surface area being at least about 60 m.

Abstract: A catalyst for hydrotreating heavy hydrocarbon oils comprises a carrier which is a calcined composite of a mixture of a clay mineral consisting mainly of magnesium silicate having a double-chain structure and at least one oxide-forming substance selected from the group consisting of the compounds of the elements belonging to Groups IIA, IIIA, IVA and IVB of the Periodic Table and capable of forming an oxide upon calcination, and at least one catalytic metal component composited with the carrier. The metal of the catalytic metal component is selected from among those belonging to Groups VB, VIB, VIII and IB of the Periodic Table. The catalyst contains about 5 to 80% by weight of the oxide formed from the oxide-forming substance and about 0.1 to 20% by weight of the catalytic metal component in terms of elemental metal. The catalyst has a pore volume of about 0.5 to 2.0 cc/g, an average pore diameter of about 100 to 500 A, and a surface area of about 40 to 400 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: A catalyst for hydrotreating a heavy hydrocarbon oil comprises a carrier which is a calcined composite of a mixture of a clay mineral consisting mainly of magnesium silicate having a double-chain structure and a pseudoboehmite which shows a powder X-ray diffraction spectrum obtained by applying a CuK.sub..alpha. ray such that the half value width of the peak on the (020) plane is between about 0.8.degree. and 4.0.degree. and the intensity of said peak is between 1.2 and 8.0 times as high as that at 2.theta.=10.degree.. At least one catalytic metal component is composited with the carrier, the metal of the catalytic metal component being selected from the group consisting of metals belonging to Groups VB, VIB, VIII and IB of the Periodic Table. Disclosed also are a method of preparing such a catalyst, and a process for the hydrotreatment of heavy hydrocarbon oils containing asphaltenes and heavy metals.

Abstract: A catalyst for hydrotreating heavy hydrocarbon oils comprises a carrier which is a calcined composite of a mixture of a clay mineral consisting mainly of magnesium silicate having a double-chain structure and at least one oxide-forming substance selected from the group consisting of the compounds of the elements belonging to Groups IIA, IIIA, IVA and IVB of the Periodic Table and capable of forming an oxide upon calcination, and at least one catalytic metal component composited with the carrier. The metal of the catalytic metal component is selected from among those belonging to Groups VB, VIB, VIII and IB of the Periodic Table. The catalyst contains about 5 to 80% by weight of the oxide formed from the oxide-forming substance and about 0.1 to 20% by weight of the catalytic metal component in terms of elemental metal. The catalyst has a pore volume of about 0.5 to 2.0 cc/g, an average pore diameter of about 100 to 500 A, and a surface area of about 40 to 400 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: A catalyst for the hydrotreatment of heavy hydrocarbon oils, which is prepared by supporting more than 2% by weight of VS.sub.x, wherein x represents about 1.1-1.59 in terms of an atomic ratio of S/V, on a substrate composed of a clay mineral which consists of magnesium silicate as a major component and having a double-chain structure and a process for preparing the catalyst are provided. The catalyst is prepared by accumulating the VS.sub.x on the substrate using a heavy hydrocarbon oil which contains particularly large amounts of vanadium and sulfur.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for continuously converting a heavy oil into an asphaltene-metal-free oil by hydrotreating said heavy oil to crack asphaltenes selectively and remove heavy metals such as vanadium and nickel from said heavy oil simultaneously (hereinafter briefly referred to as "removal of metals"), separating the liquid products into a light fraction of an asphaltene-free and metal-free oil and a heavy fraction of an asphaltene and heavy metal-containing oil (hereinafter referred to as a "heavy fraction"), recovering said light fraction as a product, and recycling said heavy fraction to said hydrotreating step.

Abstract: A process for hydrodesulfurization of heavy hydrocarbon oil containing asphaltenes and heavy metals in large amounts is disclosed. The heavy oil is hydrotreated in a continuous 2-step process. In the first step the heavy oil is subjected to hydrodemetallization and selective cracking of asphaltenes by the use of a catalyst having a unique selectivity therefor. In the second step the effluent from the first step is subjected to hydrodesulfurization to produce desulfurized oils of high grade by the use of a catalyst having a pore volume and pore size distribution particularly adapted for the hydrodesulfurization of the effluent.