Abstract: A process for producing a cracked distillate and hydrogen from a heavy oil which comprises cracking the heavy oil in the presence of laterite or a laterite-containing catalyst while simultaneously depositing coke on said laterite or laterite-containing catalysts, reducing the laterite or laterite-containing catalyst on which the coke is deposited, and forming a hydrogen-rich gas by contacting the reduced laterite or laterite-containing catalyst with steam.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for making supported nickel catalysts which are characterized as having the nickel in a highly dispersed state, the catalysts and use thereof in hydrogenation, reforming and hydrocarbon synthesis reactions, for example, Fischer-Tropsch reactions. Catalysts prepared by the method of the instant invention, wherein nonaqueous solutions are used in preparing the catalyst, are characterized as having a degree of dispersion of at least 10% greater than similar catalysts prepared by the prior art aqueous impregnation techniques and in some instances show an improved degree of dispersion of more than 50% over the catalysts prepared by the prior art methods.

Abstract: An improved method of preparing a catalyst comprising a Group VI-B and a Group VIII metal impregnated on a refractory inorganic oxide carrier material, said catalyst being particularly useful in the hydrorefining of residual oils. The carrier material is further impregnated with a nitrogen-containing organic compound, the compound being subsequently thermally decomposed to deposit nitrogen on the carrier material. The nitrogen-containing compound is characterized by a basic dissociation constant of less than about 1 .times. 10.sup..sup.-13 at 25.degree. C.