Hydrocarbon composition plays vital role in fuel quality. For gasoline/motor spirit applications the hydrocarbon should have more octane-possessing molecules from the groups of aromatics, naphthenics and isoparaffins, while n-paraffins are not preferred due to their poor octane. Among the high-octane groups, again aromatics occupy the top but not more than 35 vol % aromatics can be mixed in gasoline for engine applications to avoid harmful emission, But there is no single process that addresses so far the issue of co-producing all the desired hydrocarbon components in a single process. Thus, it is interesting to have a single once-through process working on single catalyst system to produce mixture of all three high-octane molecules namely, aromatics, naphthenics and isoparaffins directly from low-value, low-octane n-paraffin feed. Herein, we report a novel single-step catalytic process for the simultaneous production of aromatics, naphthenics and isoparaffins for gasoline and petrochemical applications.

The present invention relates to a molecular sieve, particularly to an ultra-macroporous molecular sieve. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the molecular sieve and to its application as an adsorbent, a catalyst, or the like. The molecular sieve has a unique X-ray diffraction pattern and a unique crystal particle morphology. The molecular sieve can be produced by using a compound represented by the following formula (I),

##STR00001## wherein the definition of each group and value is the same as that provided in the specification, as an organic template. The molecular sieve is capable of adsorbing more/larger molecules, thereby exhibiting excellent adsorptive/catalytic properties.

A molecular sieve has a silica/alumina molar ratio of 100-300, and has a mesopore structure. One closed hysteresis loop appears in the range of P/P.sub.0=0.4-0.99 in the low temperature nitrogen gas adsorption-desorption curve, and the starting location of the closed hysteresis loop is in the range of P/P.sub.0=0.4-0.7. The catalyst formed from the molecular sieve as a solid acid not only has a good capacity of isomerization to reduce the freezing point, but also can produce a high yield of the product with a lower pour point. The process for preparing the catalyst involves steps including crystallization, filtration, calcination, and hydrothermal treatment.

A method is provided for synthesizing a molecular sieve having the framework structure of SSZ-55 using [(1-phenyl)cyclopentylmethyl]trimethylammonium cations as a structure directing agent.

Processes for activating precious metal-containing catalysts. The processes can decrease the amount of high purity hydrogen required for starting up a catalytic conversion process such as transalkylation of heavy aromatics, without detrimental impact to the metal activity. The processes can include a low temperature treatment step with a high purity first gas, such as hydrogen generated by electrolysis and/or reformer hydrogen diluted with high purity inert gas, and a high temperature treatment step with a low purity second gas such as the reformer hydrogen. Also, the processes can include mixing a hydrogen gas of high or low purity with a high purity inert gas to form a gas mixture with a proportion of hydrogen no less than 2% and a reduced carbon monoxide concentration relative to the low purity hydrogen, and contacting the catalyst with the gas mixture.

The present invention relates to a molecular sieve, particularly to an ultra-macroporous molecular sieve. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the molecular sieve and to its application as an adsorbent, a catalyst, or the like. The molecular sieve has a unique X-ray diffraction pattern and a unique crystal particle morphology. The molecular sieve can be produced by using a compound represented by the following formula (I), ##STR00001## wherein the definition of each group and value is the same as that provided in the specification, as an organic template. The molecular sieve is capable of adsorbing more/larger molecules, thereby exhibiting excellent adsorptive/catalytic properties.

Methods are provided for activation of catalysts comprising low amounts of a hydrogenation metal, such as low amounts of a Group 8-10 noble metal. The amount of hydrogenation metal on the catalyst can correspond to 0.5 wt % or less (with respect to the weight of the catalyst), or 0.1 wt % or less, or 0.05 wt % or less. Prior to loading a catalyst into a reactor, the corresponding catalyst precursor can be first activated in a hydrogen-containing atmosphere containing 1.0 vppm of CO or less. The thus first-activated catalyst can be transferred to a reactor with optional exposure to oxygen during the transfer, where it can be further activated using a hydrogen-containing atmosphere containing 3.0 vppm of CO or higher, to yield a twice-activated catalyst with high performance. The catalyst can be advantageously a transalkylation catalyst or an isomerization catalyst useful for converting aromatic hydrocarbons.

Paraffin isomerization catalyst comprising of from 0.01 to 5 wt. % of a Group VIII noble metal on a carrier containing alumina and zeolite beta having a silica to alumina molar ratio (SAR) of from 5 to 15 and process employing such catalyst for isomerization of a hydrocarbon feed containing paraffins having of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms.

The invention is directed to a process to prepare propylene from a hydrocarbon feed comprising pentane by contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a heterogeneous cracking catalyst as present in one or more fixed beds thereby obtaining a cracked effluent. The heterogeneous catalyst comprises a matrix component and a molecular sieve comprising framework alumina, framework silica and a framework metal selected from the group of Zn, Fe, Ce, La, Y, Ga and/or Zr. Propylene is isolated from the cracked effluent.

The invention is directed to a process to prepare propylene from a hydrocarbon feed comprising pentane by contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a heterogeneous cracking catalyst as present in one or more fixed beds thereby obtaining a cracked effluent. The heterogeneous catalyst comprises a matrix component and a molecular sieve comprising framework alumina, framework silica and a framework metal selected from the group of Zn, Fe, Ce, La, Y, Ga and/or Zr. Propylene is isolated from the cracked effluent.