"As a result of the atomic energy program, the federal government has accumulated a large stockpile of “depleted uranium”—the material remaining after approximately half of the U-235 isotope has been removed from natural uranium (Parker, 1971). The extraordinary purification procedures used in its preparation encourage applications, such as catalyst use, where relatively high freedom from contaminants might be advantageous. Chemically, it is identical to highly purified natural uranium. Uranium catalysts have recently been finding important uses. Several of Britain’s regional gas boards use a uranium-based catalyst to produce town gas by steam reforming of naptha, and Mobil A.G. uses uranium-containing catalyst to make town gas from refinery gases. Uranium oxide is reported to contribute high catalytic activity and resistance to deactivation by carbon for the nickel-uranium catalyst on a corundum support. Also, a Standard Oil Co. (Ohio) catalyst consisting of oxides of antimony and uranium on a silica support is said to produce a 20% better yield in the production of acrylonitrile from propylene and ammonia than the former bismuth catalyst (Chem. Eng., 1968). This paper reports the preparation and testing of two depleted uranium oxide catalysts for use in hydrocracking crude 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."