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.