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.

Disclosed is a transalkylation process for making an aromatic material between a light aromatic material and a heavier aromatic material in the presence of hydrogen and a transalkylation catalyst comprising a hydrogenation component and a transalkylation component. The process comprises conducting the transalkylation reaction under conditions conducive to reducing the amount of cyclic compounds in the transalkylation reaction mixture in the beginning phase of the operation that is different from the conditions after the beginning phase. The invention is useful, e.g., in transalkylation between toluene and C9+ aromatic feed materials to produce xylenes and/or benzene.

A method of preparing a bound zeolite support comprising: contacting a zeolite powder with a binder and water to form a paste; shaping the paste to form an wet extruded base; removing excess water from the wet extruded base to form an extruded base; contacting the extruded base with a fluorine-containing compound to form a fluorinated extruded base; calcining the extruded base to form a calcined fluorinated extruded base; washing the calcined fluorinated extruded base to form a washed calcined fluorinated extruded base; drying the washed calcined fluorinated extruded base to form a dried washed calcined fluorinated extruded base; and calcining the dried washed calcined fluorinated extruded base to form a bound zeolite support.

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.

Disclosed herein is a process for preparing a hydrocracking catalyst, comprising (i) combining a zeolite, a binder, water and a hydrogenating metal compound which is a complex or a salt of a hydrogenating metal to obtain a mixture, wherein the zeolite has not been treated with a phosphorus-containing compound and the zeolite has a silica to alumina molar ratio of 5-200; (ii) forming the mixture into a shaped body; and (iii) calcining the shaped body to form the catalyst.

Methods for producing supported catalysts containing a transition metal and a bound zeolite base are disclosed. These methods employ a step of impregnating the bound zeolite base with the transition metal, fluorine, and high loadings of chlorine. The resultant high chlorine content supported catalysts have improved catalyst activity in aromatization reactions.

In an aspect, a method for the aromatization of hydrocarbons comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feedstream with a catalyst; wherein the catalyst comprises a zeolite comprising Si, Al, and Ge in the framework with Pt deposited thereon; wherein the zeolite further comprises Na; and wherein the catalyst has an Si:Al.sub.2 mole ratio of greater than or equal to 125, an Si:Ge mole ratio of 40 to 400, and an Na:Al mole ratio of 0.9 to 2.5, wherein the catalyst has an aluminum content of less than or equal to 0.75 wt % excluding any binder and extrusion aide.

Catalysts and method of preparing the catalysts are disclosed. One of the catalysts includes a zeolite support, a Group VIII metal on the zeolite support, and at least two halides bound to the zeolite support, to the Group VIII metal, or to both, and can have an average crush strength greater than 11.25 lb based on at least two samples of pellets of the catalyst measured in accordance with ASTM D4179.

Methods for regenerating a spent catalyst are disclosed. Such methods may employ a step of chlorinating the spent catalyst in the gas phase, followed by decoking the chlorinated spent catalyst, and then fluorinating the de-coked catalyst in a fluorine-containing solution of a fluorine-containing compound.

Methods for producing supported catalysts containing a transition metal and a bound zeolite base are disclosed. These methods employ a step of impregnating the bound zeolite base with the transition metal, fluorine, and high loadings of chlorine. The resultant high chlorine content supported catalysts have improved catalyst activity in aromatization reactions.