HYDROTREATING CATALYST CONTAINING METAL ORGANIC SULFIDES ON DOPED SUPPORTS

1 . A catalyst comprising:

a catalyst support;

at least one Group VIB metal component;

at least one Group VIII metal component;

at least one mercapto-carboxylic acid;

wherein the catalyst support contains at least one dopant comprising either boron, and/or silicon, and/or phosphorus in the range of about 1 to about 13 wt %, expressed as an oxide and based on the total weight of the catalyst for each dopant added; and

wherein the amount of the at least one mercapto-carboxylic acid is in the amount from about 0.4 to about 3 equivalents to the sulfur amount necessary for forming sulfides of the Group VI and VIII components.

2 . The catalyst according to claim 1 wherein the Group VIB metal component comprises molybdenum and/or tungsten.

3 . The catalyst according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the Group VIII metal component comprises nickel and/or cobalt.

4 . The catalyst according to any one of claims 1 - 3 wherein the mercapto-carboxylic acid is thioglycolic acid, thiolactic acid, mercapto succinic acid, cysteine or thio propionic acid.

5 . The catalyst according to claim 4 further comprising an additional carboxylic acid.

6 . The catalyst according to any one of claims 1 - 5 , wherein the dopant is boron in the range of about 2 wt % to about 8 wt %, expressed as an oxide (B 2 O 3 ) and based on the total weight of the catalyst.

7 . The catalyst according to any one of claims 1 - 5 , wherein the dopant is phosphorus in the range of about 2 wt % to about 10 wt %, expressed as an oxide (P 2 O 5 ) and based on the total weight of the catalyst.

8 . The catalyst according to claims any one of 1-5, wherein the dopant is silicon in the range of about 1 wt % to about 9 wt %, expressed as an oxide (SiO 2 ) and based on the total weight of the catalyst.

9 . The catalyst according to claim 6 , 7 , or 8 wherein the catalyst support is impregnated with the Group VIB metal component, the Group VIII metal component, and the mercapto-carboxylic acid.

10 . The catalyst according to claim 9 wherein the catalyst support is further impregnated with a phosphorous component.

11 . The catalyst according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the catalyst support comprises alumina.

12 . A method of producing a catalyst, the method comprising:

forming a doped catalyst support having a boron, and/or silicon and/or phosphorus content in the range of about 1 wt % to about 13 wt % for each dopant added, expressed as an oxide and based on the total weight of the catalyst;

drying and calcining the catalyst support;

impregnating the calcined catalyst support with a solution comprised of a mercapto-carboxylic acid, at least one Group VIB metal source and/or at least one Group VIII metal source, wherein the amount of the mercapto-carboxylic acid is at least 0.4 to 3 equivalents to the sulfur amount necessary for forming sulfides of the Group VI and VIII components; and

ageing the impregnated catalyst support for a period of time between 60 and 160° C.

13 . A method of producing a catalyst, the method comprising

forming a doped catalyst support having a boron, and/or silicon and/or phosphorus content in the range of about 1 wt % to about 13 wt % for each dopant added, expressed as an oxide and based on the total weight of the catalyst;

drying and calcining the catalyst support;

impregnating the calcined catalyst support with a solution comprised of at least one Group VIB metal source and/or at least one Group VIII metal source;

drying the impregnated catalyst support at 80-150° C.;

further impregnating the dried impregnated catalyst support with an amount of a mercapto-carboxylic acid wherein the amount of the mercapto-carboxylic acid is at least 0.4 to 3 equivalents to the sulfur amount necessary for forming sulfides of the Group VI and VIII components; and

ageing the impregnated catalyst support for a period of time between 60 and 160° C.

14 . The method according to claim 12 or 13 , wherein the amount of the boron component source is sufficient so that the boron content of the catalyst produced is in the range of about 2 wt % to about 8 wt %, expressed as an oxide (B 2 O 3 ) and based on the total weight of the catalyst.

15 . The method according to claim 12 or 13 , wherein the phosphorus component source is sufficient so that the phosphorus content in the catalyst produced is in the range of about 2 wt % to about 10 wt %, expressed as an oxide (P 2 O 5 ) and based on the total weight of the catalyst.

16 . The method according to claim 12 or 13 , wherein the silicon component source is sufficient so that the silicon content in the catalyst produced is in the range of about 2 wt % to about 9 wt %, expressed as an oxide (SiO 2 ) and based on the total weight of the catalyst.

17 . The method according to any one of claims 12 - 16 wherein the mercapto-carboxylic acid is thioglycolic acid, thiolactic acid, mercapto succinic acid, cysteine or thio propionic acid.

18 . The method according to any one of claims 12 - 16 further comprising impregnating the extrudate with a carboxylic acid.

19 . A catalyst formed in accordance with any one of claims 12 - 18 .

20 . A method which comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feed with a catalyst according to any of the preceding claims, under hydrotreating conditions so as to hydrotreat the hydrocarbon feed.

21 . A method which comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feed with a catalyst according to any of the preceding claims, under hydrotreating conditions so as to hydrotreat the hydrocarbon feed, wherein the catalyst is activated without the addition of additional sulfur compounds.