"Uranium compounds have, at various times, been tested as hydrogenation catalysts. Prior to World War II, uranium was generally believed to occupy a position in the periodic table as a member of the chromium subgroup of elements together with chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten. In forming a characteristic solid trioxide and in displaying oxidation valences from 3 to 6 (11, 13), uranium resembles molybdenum and tungsten, whose compounds have found considerable application as catalysts for hydrogenation-dehydrogenation reactions. These facts prompted the testing of uranium compounds for similar uses, and several patents were issued for these uses (1). Modern versions of the periodic table place uranium in the actinide series of elements in a position analogous to that of neodymium in the lanthanide series, which also has been reported to be a catalyst for hydrogenation-dehydrogenation reactions (14). As a result of the atomic energy program, the Federal government has accumulated a large stockpile of “depleted uranium” – the material remaining after the U-235 isotope has been removed. The extraordinary purification procedures used in its preparation encourage applications, such as catalyst the, where relatively high freedom from contaminants might be advantageous. This paper reports the preparation and testing of two depleted uranium oxide catalysts for se in hydrocracking rude shale oil. The objectives of the hydrocracking experiments were to convert high-boiling shale oil into gasoline-boiling-range products and to eliminate sulfur and nitrogen from the gasoline produced."