Patent ID: 7763163

Claim:
An improved hydrocracking process comprising a process for treating a feedstream to a hydrocracking unit that includes nitrogen-containing compounds and PNA compounds, the feedstream selected from the group consisting of de-metalized oil, deasphalted oil, coker gas oils, visbroken gas oils, fluid catalytic cracking heavy oils and mixtures thereof, the process comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the feedstream into the inlet port of at least one adsorption column that is upstream of a hydrocracking unit, the feedstream containing an adsorbent material selected from the group consisting of attapulgus clay, alumina, silica gel and activated carbon; (b) maintaining the feedstream in contact with the adsorbent material to adsorb the nitrogen-containing and PNA on the adsorbent material, while maintaining the at least one adsorption column at a pressure in the range of 1-30 from Kg/cm 2 and a temperature in the range of 20 to 250° C.; (c) continuously withdrawing treated feedstream from the at least one adsorption column; (d) directing the treated feedstream to an inlet of the hydrocracking unit; (e) desorbing the adsorbed nitrogen-containing and PNA compounds to regenerate the adsorbent material; and (f) reusing the regenerated adsorbent material in steps (a)-(e), above.