A process for the catalytic alkylation of an olefin with an isoparaffin comprises: contacting an olefin-containing feed with an isoparaffin-containing feed under alkylation conditions in the presence of a solid acid catalyst comprising a crystalline microporous material of the MWW framework type, wherein the olefin-containing feed comprises propylene and at least one other C.sub.4 to C.sub.12 olefin.

In a process for isoparaffin-olefin alkylation, a feed comprising at least one olefin and at least one isoparaffin is contacted under alkylation conditions in the presence of a solid acid catalyst comprising a crystalline microporous material of the MWW framework type to produce an alkylated product. The alkylated product comprises a C.sub.8− fraction, which is useful as a gasoline blending stock, and a C.sub.9+ fraction, which is separated from the alkylated product and at least partially recycled to the alkylation step.

In a process for the catalytic alkylation of an olefin with an isoparaffin, an olefin-containing feed is contacted with an isoparaffin-containing feed under alkylation conditions in the presence of a solid acid catalyst comprising a crystalline microporous material of the MWW framework types, wherein the olefin-containing feed consists essentially of pentenes.

A process for the catalytic alkylation of an olefin with an isoparaffin is described in which a feed comprising at least one olefin and at least one isoparaffin is contacted with a solid acid catalyst under alkylation conditions effective for reaction between the olefin and the isoparaffin to produce an alkylated product. The solid acid catalyst comprises a crystalline microporous material of the MWW framework type, the feed comprises at least one C.sub.5+ olefin and/or at least one C.sub.5+ isoparaffin and the alkylated product comprises at least 20% wt % of C.sub.10+ branched paraffins.

A process is described for producing cumene comprising contacting benzene and a C3 alkylating agent under alkylation conditions with an alkylation catalyst in an alkylation zone to produce an alkylation effluent comprising cumene and alkylaromatic compounds heavier than cumene. Cumene is recovered from the alkylation effluent to leave a byproduct stream containing the alkylaromatic compounds heavier than cumene, which is separated into a polyisopropylbenzene-containing stream, an aromatic overhead stream, and a bottoms product. At least part of the aromatic overhead stream is recycled to the alkylation zone to reduce raw material consumption and improve cumene yield.

Disclosed herein is a fluid catalyst cracking (FCC) catalyst composition that includes a first component and a second component. The first component and second component may be separate microspheroidal FCC catalysts or may be incorporated in a common microspheroidal FCC catalyst. The first component includes zeolite Y and a first matrix that includes gamma-alumina. The second component includes beta zeolite and a second matrix. Also disclosed herein are methods of preparing the FCC catalyst composition and method of using the FCC catalyst composition.

An AFX framework type zeolite having a SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 molar ratio of greater than 50 is disclosed. The high-silica AFX framework type zeolite is synthesized from a reaction mixture having high silica and low hydroxide concentrations in the presence of an organic structure directing agent comprising 1,3-bis(1-adamantyl)imidazolium cations.

A process is described for producing paraxylene, in which an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock comprising benzene and/or toluene is contacted with an alkylating reagent comprising methanol and/or dimethyl ether in an alkylation reaction zone under alkylation conditions in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylated aromatic product comprising xylenes. The alkylation catalyst comprises a molecular sieve having a Constraint Index≤5, and the alkylation conditions comprise a temperature less than 500° C. Paraxylene may then be recovered from the alkylated aromatic product.

A process is described for producing paraxylene, in which an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock comprising benzene and/or toluene is contacted with an alkylating reagent comprising methanol and/or dimethyl ether in an alkylation reaction zone under alkylation conditions in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylated aromatic product comprising xylenes. The alkylation catalyst comprises a molecular sieve having a Constraint Index≤5, and the alkylation conditions comprise a temperature less than 500° C. The alkylation catalyst may be selectivated to produce a higher than equilibrium amount of paraxylene by using a molar ratio of alkylating agent to aromatic of at least 1:4.

Methods are provided for formulation of catalysts with improved catalyst exposure lifetimes under oxygenate conversion conditions. In various additional aspects, methods are described for performing oxygenate conversion reactions using such catalysts with improved catalyst exposure lifetimes. The catalyst formulation methods can include formulation of oxygenate conversion catalysts with binders that are selected from binders having a surface area of roughly 250 m.sup.2/g or less, or 200 m.sup.2/g or less. In various aspects, during formulation, a weak base can be added to the zeotype crystals, to the binder material, or to the mixture of the zeotype and the binder. It has been unexpectedly discovered that addition of a weak base, so that the weak base is present in at least one component of the binder mixture prior to formulation, can result in longer catalyst exposure lifetimes under methanol conversion conditions.