ABSTRACT
Although hydrogenation is one of the oldest catalytic processes used in refining petroleum, only since the 1960s has catalytic hydrocracking developed to any great extent in this country. This interest in the use of hydrocracking has been caused by several factors, including (1) the demand for petroleum products has shifted to high demand for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel compared with the usages of other products, (2) by-product hydrogen at low cost and in large amounts has become available from catalytic reforming operations, and (3) environmental concerns limiting sulfur and aromatic compound concentrations in motor fuels have increased.
