The sulfur content of liquid cracking products, especially the cracked gasoline,
of the catalytic cracking process is reduced by the use of a sulfur reduction catalyst
composition comprising a porous molecular sieve which contains a metal in an oxidation
state above zero within the interior of the pore structure of the sieve as well
as a cerium component which enhances the stability and sulfur reduction activity
of the catalyst. The molecular sieve is normally a faujasite such as USY. The primary
sulfur reduction component is normally a metal of Period 3 of the Periodic Table,
preferably vanadium. The sulfur reduction catalyst may be used in the form of a
separate particle additive or as a component of an integrated cracking/sulfur reduction catalyst.
