Catalyst support and catalysts prepared therefrom

1. A supported catalyst comprising at least one metal from Group 6, alternatively referred to as Group VIB, of the Periodic Table of the Elements, at least one metal from Groups 8, 9 or 10, alternatively referred to as Group VIII, of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and optionally comprising phosphorous, wherein said metals, and phosphorous when present, are carried on a foraminous carrier or support, said carrier or support having a total pore volume (TPV) of about 0.6 cc/g to about 1.1 cc/g and comprising:

(a) equal to or greater than about 78% to about 95% of TPV in pores having a diameter of less than 200 Angstroms (Å);

(b) greater than about 2% to less than about 19% of TPV in pores having a diameter of 200 (Å) to less than 1000 Å;

(c) equal to or greater than 3% to less than 12% of TPV in pores having a diameter equal to or greater than 1000 Å; and

(d) a pore mode equal to or greater than about 90 Å and less than about 160 Å.

2. The supported catalyst as in claim 1 further characterized in that said support exhibits a d50greater than about 100 Å and less than about 150 Å.

3. The supported catalyst as in claim 1 further characterized in that greater than about 5% to less than about 19% of TPV is in pores having a diameter of 200 Å to less than 1000 Å.

4. The supported catalyst as in claim 1 further characterized in that equal to or greater than about 3% to less than about 10% of said TPV is in pores having a diameter equal to or greater than 1000 Å.

5. The supported catalyst as in claim 4 further characterized in that equal to or greater than about 5% to less than about 10% of said TPV is in pores having a diameter equal to or greater than 1000 Å.

6. The supported catalyst as in claim 1 wherein said foraminous carrier exhibits a substantially unimodal pore size distribution measured using mercury porosimetry.

7. The supported catalyst as in claim 6 wherein said pore size distribution includes an additional peak at greater than about 200 Å provided that the total volume of pores comprised in such additional peak is greater than about zero to about 10% of the total pore volume present in said porous alumina.

8. The supported catalyst as in claim 1 further characterized in that said metal of Group 6 is molybdenum and said metal of Groups 8, 9 and 10 is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel and mixtures thereof.

9. The supported catalyst as in claim 8 further comprising phosphorous.

10. A catalyst useful in at least one process selected from the group consisting of:

(I) hydroprocessing a petroleum feed;

(II) hydrodesulfurization of hydrocarbons;

(III) hydrodenitrification of hydrocarbons;

(IV) hydrodemetallation of hydrocarbons; and

(V) hydrotreating a charge hydrocarbon feed containing components boiling above 1000° F., and at least one component components selected from the group consisting of sulfur-containing compounds, nitrogen-containing compounds, metal-containing compounds, asphaltenes, carbon residue, sediment precursors, and mixtures thereof;

said catalyst comprising at least one metal from Group 6, alternatively referred to as Group VIB, of the Periodic Table of the Elements, at least one metal from Groups 8, 9 or 10, alternatively referred to as Group VIII, of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and optionally comprising phosphorous, wherein said metals, and phosphorous when present, are carried on a foraminous carrier or support, wherein: said support exhibits a total pore volume (TPV) of about 0.6 cc/g to about 1.1 cc/g and pore size distribution and contents corresponding to values as measured by the mercury porosimetry method:

(1) equal to or greater than about 78% to about 95% of TPV in pores having a diameter of less than 200 Angstroms (Å);

(2) greater than about 2% to less than about 19% of TPV in pores having a diameter of 200 Angstroms (Å) to less than 1000 Å; and

(3) equal to or greater than 3% to less than 12% of TPV in pores having a diameter equal to or greater than 1000 Å; and

(4) a pore mode equal to or greater than about 90 Å and less than about 160 Å.

11. The catalyst of claim 10 wherein said catalyst has been pre-impregnated, shaped, dried and calcined.

12. The catalyst of claim 10 , further exhibiting a d50 greater than about 100 Å and less than about 150 Å.

13. A process for treating a hydrocarbon feedstock to produce treated products, said process selected from the group consisting of:

(I) hydrodemetallation, hydrodenitrification, hydrodesulfurization, and hydrocracking, said process comprising contacting said feedstock in at least one reactor with hydrogen under hydrocracking conditions with a catalyst and recovering said product;

(II) hydrotreating said hydrocarbon feed containing components boiling above 1000° F., and at least one component selected from the group consisting of sulfur-containing compounds, nitrogen-containing compounds, metal-containing compounds, asphaltenes, carbon residue, sediment precursors, and mixtures thereof, comprising contacting said feed with hydrogen and a catalyst at isothermal or substantially isothermal hydrotreating conditions and recovering said treated product;

(III) hydroconverting said hydrocarbon feed having components exhibiting a boiling point greater than 1000° F. to form product having an increased proportion of components exhibiting a boiling point less than about 1000° F. comprising contacting said feed with hydrogen and a catalyst at isothermal or substantially isothermal hydrotreating conditions and recovering said product; and

(IV) hydroconverting said feed, comprising contacting said feed comprising a hydrocarbon oil with hydrogen and a catalyst under conditions of elevated temperature above about 600° F. and pressure above about 500 p.s.i.g. and recovering said product;

said catalyst comprising at least one metal from Group 6, alternatively referred to as Group VIB, of the Periodic Table of the Elements, at least one metal from Groups 8, 9 or 10, alternatively referred to as Group VIII, of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and optionally comprising phosphorous, wherein said metals, and phosphorous when present, are carried on a foraminous carrier or support, wherein: said support exhibits a total pore volume (TPV) of about 0.6 cc/g to about 1.1 cc/g and pore size distribution and contents corresponding to values as measured by the mercury porosimetry method:

(1) equal to or greater than about 78% to about 95% of TPV in pores having a diameter of less than 200 Angstroms (Å);

(2) greater than about 2% to less than about 19% of TPV in pores having a diameter of 200 Angstroms (Å) to less than 1000 Å;

(3) equal to or greater than 3% to less than 12% of TPV in pores having a diameter equal to or greater than 1000 Å; and

(4) a pore mode equal to or greater than about 90 Å and less than about 160 Å.

14. A foraminous catalyst carrier or support having a total pore volume (TPV) of about 0.6 cc/g to about 1.1 cc/g and comprising:

(a) equal to or greater than about 78% to about 95% of TPV in pores having a diameter of less than 200 Angstroms (Å);

(b) greater than about 2% to less than about 19% of TPV in pores having a diameter of 200 (Å) to less than 1000 Å;

(c) equal to or greater than 3% to less than 12% of TPV in pores having a diameter equal to or greater than 1000 Å; and

(d) a pore mode equal to or greater than about 90 Å and less than about 160 Å.

15. A support as in claim 14 wherein said foraminous carrier exhibits a substantially unimodal pore size distribution measured using mercury porosimetry and said pore size distribution includes an additional peak at greater than about 200Å provided that the total volume of pores comprised in such additional peak is greater than about zero to about 10% of the total pore volume present in said porous alumina.