Patent ID: 7396799

Claim:
A catalyst composition suitable for the hydroconversion of heavy oils, which is prepared by: (a) mixing molybdenum oxide and aqueous ammonia to form a molybdenum mixture; (b) sulfiding, in a first reaction zone, the aqueous mixture of step (a) with a gas comprising hydrogen sulfide to a dosage greater than 8 SCF of hydrogen sulfide per pound of molybdenum to form a slurry; (c) promoting the slurry with a Group VIII metal compound; (d) mixing the slurry of step (c) with hydrocarbon oil having a viscosity of at least 2 cSt @ 212° F. but less than about 15 cSt @ 212° F. at in the range from 100 to 1600 RPM to form and maintain a homogenous slurry designated as Mixture X; (e) combining Mixture X with hydrogen gas in a second reaction zone, under conditions which maintain the water in Mixture X in a liquid phase, and mixing at a speed in the range from 100 to 1600 RPM in order to maintain as homogenous slurry thereby forming an active catalyst composition admixed with a liquid hydrocarbon; and (f) recovering the active catalyst composition.