Patent ID: 8603932

Claim:
A hydrocracking catalyst comprising a magnesium aluminosilicate clay wherein said magnesium aluminosilicate clay is synthesized according to a method comprising the following steps: a) combining (1) a silicon component, (2) an aluminum component, and (3) a magnesium component, under aqueous conditions at a first reaction temperature and at ambient pressure, to form a first reaction mixture, wherein the pH of said first reaction mixture is acidic; b) adding an alkali base to the first reaction mixture to form a second reaction mixture wherein the pH of the second reaction mixture is greater than the pH of the first reaction mixture; c) reacting the second reaction mixture at a second reaction temperature and for a time sufficient to form a product comprising a magnesium aluminosilicate; wherein the magnesium aluminosilicate clay comprises from about 1 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of the hydrocracking catalyst and wherein the magnesium aluminosilicate clay is in the protonated form.