CATALYST WITH VANADIUM TRAP

1 . A process for producing a catalyst composition characterized in that

A) one or more rare earth oxophosphorus salts is combined with a catalyst or a component of a catalyst, wherein the rare earth oxophosphorus salt is in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 20 wt %, expressed as rare earth oxophosphorus salt(s), relative to the total weight of dry ingredients that form the catalyst composition, optionally wherein the rare earth oxophosphorus salt is made in situ; or

B) one or more rare earth oxophosphorus salts is introduced during the process prior to drying, wherein the rare earth oxophosphorus salt is in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 20 wt % relative to the total weight of dry ingredients that form the catalyst composition, optionally wherein the drying is by spray drying, and optionally wherein the rare earth oxophosphorus salt is made in situ;

wherein the one or more rare earth oxophosphorus salts is combined with the catalyst or a component of the catalyst or introduced to the process in order to trap or passivate vanadium.

2 . A process as in claim 1 in A) which comprises combining starting materials for one or more zeolites, one or more aluminum-containing components and/or a silica component, and one or more rare earth oxophosphorus salts in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 20 wt %, expressed as rare earth oxophosphorus salt(s), relative to the total weight of dry ingredients that form the catalyst composition to form a mixture, and calcining the mixture to form the catalyst composition.

3 . A process as in claim 1 in A) which comprises

I-a) combining ingredients comprising water, a catalyst and the rare earth oxophosphorus salts to form an aqueous slurry; or

I-b) combining ingredients comprising

water,

one or more zeolites in an amount of about 5 wt % to about 50 wt %,

one or more aluminum-containing components in an amount of about 0.1 to about 50 wt % and/or a silica component in an amount of about 0.1 to about 20 wt %, and

one or more rare earth oxophosphorus salts in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 20 wt %; or

I-c) combining ingredients comprising

water,

one or more zeolites in an amount of about 5 wt % to about 50 wt %;

a silica component in an amount of about 0.1 to about 20 wt %;

boehmite and/or pseudoboehmite in a total amount of about 0.1 to about 50 wt %, wherein the boehmite and/or pseudoboehmite are microcrystalline and/or crystalline;

optionally one or more clays in an amount of about 0.1 to about 70 wt %; and

one or more rare earth oxophosphorus salts in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 20 wt %,

wherein the boehmite and/or pseudoboehmite is peptized by acidification with an acid,

to form an aqueous slurry, and

II) drying the aqueous slurry to form the catalyst composition, optionally wherein the drying is by spray drying.

4 . A process as in claim 1 further comprising contacting the catalyst composition with a hydrocarbon feed, a bioderived feedstock, or a mixture comprising a hydrocarbon feed and a bioderived feedstock.

5 . A process as in claim 1 wherein in B) an aluminum-containing component is present, and is boehmite and/or pseudoboehmite.

6 . A process as in claim 5 wherein boehmite and pseudoboehmite are present.

7 . A process as in claim 2 or 3 wherein a silica component is present, and is a sodium-stabilized colloidal silica, an ammonium-stabilized colloidal silica, an acid-stabilized colloidal silica, or a mixture of any two or all three of the foregoing.

8 . A process as in claim 1 wherein the rare earth oxophosphorus salts is in an amount of about 2.5 wt % to about 17 wt %, expressed as rare earth oxophosphorus salt(s), relative to the total weight of dry ingredients that form the catalyst composition.

9 . A process as in claim 1 wherein the rare earth oxophosphorus salt is a yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, or praseodymium oxophosphorus salt, and/or wherein the rare earth oxophosphorus salt is a rare earth phosphate.

10 . A process as in claim 1 wherein the rare earth oxophosphorus salt is yttrium phosphate, cerium phosphate, lanthanum phosphate, or praseodymium phosphate.

11 . A process as in claim 1 wherein the rare earth oxophosphorus salt is cerium phosphate or lanthanum phosphate.