Patent ID: 8709378

Claim:
A catalytic composition for increasing the rate of conversion of a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon feedstock and an oxygen donor to hydrogen and carbon monoxide at temperatures less than or equal to 1000° Celsius, the catalytic composition comprising: a Y-zeolite that comprises an exterior surface, an interior volume having an interior cross-sectional area ranging from 36 to 225 square Angstroms, and a passage providing fluid communication for a hydrocarbon having at least 6 carbon atoms between the exterior surface and the interior volume; and a noble metal cluster having an X-Y-Z axial mean linear dimension of between 2 and 15 Angstroms within the interior volume, wherein the Y-zeolite stabilizes the X-Y-Z axial mean linear dimension of the noble metal cluster against aggregation at temperatures up to 1000° Celsius and further wherein the catalytic composition increases the rate of conversion of a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon feedstock and an oxygen donor to hydrogen and carbon monoxide at temperatures less than or equal to 1000° Celsius at a yield of said conversion of at least 80 percent.