Cracking hydrocarbons over laminar heavy metal aluminosilicates

Claim 2

The process of cracking hydrocarbons which comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock at a temperature high enough to bring about cracking with a catalyst consisting essentially of a synthetic laminar 2:1 layer-lattice aluminosilicate mineral possessing an inherent negative charge balanced by cations exterior to said lattice and corresponding to the following formula for a given embodiment: [(G.sup.3.sub.4-ew Y.sup.2.sub.3w).sup.VI (Q.sup.4.sub.8-x R.sup.3.sub.x).sup.IV O.sub.20 (OH).sub.4-f F.sub.f ].[ dC.sup. y ] where 2≦e<3 0≦w≦2 0≦ew≦4 0≦(e-2)w≦1/3 0.05≦x<2 f≦4

Claim 3

05≦dy ≦2 wherein said first bracket represents the average unit cell formulation of said layer lattice and said second bracket represents said charge balancing cations; and wherein G is selected from the class consisting of trivalent cations having an ionic radius not to exceed 0.75 A and mixtures thereof, provided that G is less than 100 mole percent Al when w=o; Y is selected from the class consisting of divalent cations having an ionic radius not to exceed 0.75 A and mixtures thereof; provided that Y is less than 100 mole percent Mg when w=2; Q is at least 95 mole percent silicon ions, the remainder consisting of tetravalent cations having an ionic radius not to exceed 0.64 A; R is selected from the group consisting of trivalent cations having an ionic radius not to exceed 0.64 A and mixtures thereof; and C is at least one charge balancing cation, with y being its valence and d being the number of such cations C where: dy= x+3(e-2)w and thereafter recovering the products resulting from said cracking.

Claim 4

05≦dy ≦2 wherein said first bracket represents the average unit cell formulation of said layer lattice and said second bracket represents said charge balancing cations; and wherein G is selected from the class consisting of trivalent cations having an ionic radius not to exceed 0.75 A and mixtures thereof, provided that G is less than 100 mole percent Al when w=o; Y is selected from the class consisting of divalent cations having an ionic radius not to exceed 0.75 A and mixtures thereof; provided that Y is less than 100 mole percent Mg when w=2; Q is at least 95 mole percent silicon ions, the remainder consisting of tetravalent cations having an ionic radius not to exceed 0.64 A; R is selected from the group consisting of trivalent cations having an ionic radius not to exceed 0.64 A and mixtures thereof; and C is at least one charge balancing cation, with y being its valence and d being the number of such cations C where: dy= x+3(e-2)w and thereafter recovering the products resulting from said cracking.

Claim 5

The process of cracking hydrocarbons which comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock with the catalyst in accordance with claim 1 in which said Y is nickel at a temperature high enough to bring about cracking, and thereafter recovering the products resulting from said cracking.

Claim 6

The process of cracking hydrocarbons which comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock with the catalyst in accordance with claim 1 in which said second bracket has the composition. [aM.sup. n +bAl (OH).sub.3-z.sup.z ] wherein an+bz=dy= x+3(e-2)w and M is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, ammonium, alkali metal cations, multivalent metal cations other than aluminum, and partial hydroxides of multivalent metal cations, an n is the unsatisfied valence of M, at a temperature high enough to bring about cracking, and thereafter recovering the products resulting from said cracking.

Claim 7

The process of cracking hydrocarbons which comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock with the catalyst in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mineral has been placed into its ammonium exchange form, and thereafter calcined, prior to said contacting, at a temperature high enough to bring about cracking, and thereafter recovering the products resulting from said cracking.

Claim 8

The process of cracking hydrocarbons which comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock with the catalyst in accordance with claim 4 in which said calcination takes place at a temperature within the range of about 400° C. to about 700° C.