Patent ID: 7803266

Claim:
A catalyst comprising an alumina-based support, at least one catalytic metal or a compound of a catalytic metal from group VIB, one catalytic metal or a compound of a catalytic metal from group VIII, with a pore structure composed of a plurality of juxtaposed agglomerates, each formed by a plurality of acicular platelets, the acicular platelets of each agglomerate being generally radially orientated with respect to each other and with respect to the center of the agglomerate, said support being in the form of beads having a size of 1 to 6 mm said catalyst further comprising phosphorous as a doping element, wherein the catalyst has a ratio of group VIII/group VIB metal of 0.4-0.6, a packing density of 0.35 to 0.80 cm 3 /g, a pore diameter at V Hg/2 of 300 Å to 700 Å, and a total pore volume, determined by mercury porosimetry, of 0.4 to 1.8 g/cm 3 .