A hydrogenation process for the production of a food grade white oil uses a catalyst which is based on an ultra-large pore crystalline material. The crystalline material has pores of at least 13 ANGSTROM diameter arranged in a uniform manner and exhibits unusually large sorption capacity demonstrated by its benzene adsorption capacity of greater than about 15 grams benzene/100 grams (50 torr and 25 DEG C). A preferred form of the catalyst has a hexagonal structure which exhibits a hexagonal electron diffraction pattern that can be indexed with a d100 value greater than about 18 ANGSTROM . The hydrogenation catalysts based on these materials are capable of reducing the unsaturation in lubricants to a low level to produce a food grade white oil, employing less severe conditions than catalysts of the prior art.
