1. a. As the chief petroleum chemist in a refinery, you are supposed to take a decision on the type of chemical conversion process (either hydro-cracking or catalytic cracking) to obtain middle distillates from heavy residue known to contain high level of poly-heterocyclic (both nitrogen and carbon as ring members) compounds. What would be your choice, and why? Support your choice with chemical reaction equation(s).
b. In hydro-treatment process, briefly describe the stages:
i. Extraction of H2S from hydrocarbon stream.
ii. Thermal and catalytic conversions reactions involved in the removal of H2S from the process stream and its final conversion to elemental sulphur (include all reaction equations).