A catalyst for the carbonylation of dimethyl ether to methyl acetate. The catalyst comprises a zeolite, such as a mordenite zeolite, at least one Group IB metal, such as copper, and/or at least one Group VIII metal, such as iron, and at least one Group IIB metal, such as zinc. Such a catalyst with combined metals provides enhanced catalytic activity, improved stability, and improved selectivity to methyl acetate, and does not require a halogen promoter, as compared to a metal-free or copper only zeolite.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a metal-substituted beta zeolite that exhibits a more excellent catalytic performance than conventional one, and a method for producing the same. The present invention provides a metal-substituted beta zeolite by subjecting an alkali metal-form beta zeolite produced without using an organic structure-directing agent to ion exchange with ammonium ion and then, using a filter cake procedure, to ion exchange with copper ion or iron(II) ion. The present invention also provides a metal-substituted beta zeolite which has been ion exchanged with copper ion or iron(II) ion and in which the amount of Lewis acid sites is greater than the amount of Bronsted acid sites when the amount of Bronsted acid sites and the amount of Lewis acid sites are measured by ammonia infrared-mass spectroscopy temperature-programmed desorption on the as-produced state.

Toluene disproportionation processes utilizing treated UZM-39 zeolites are described. The processes produce effluent streams comprising para-xylene and benzene. The molar ratio of benzene to xylene (Bz/X) in the effluent stream can be in a range of about 1.00 to about 1.14, the molar ratio of para-xylene to xylene (pX/X) in the effluent stream can be in a range of about 0.80 to about 1.0, and the conversion of toluene can be about 20% to about 40%.

Toluene disproportionation processes utilizing treated UZM-44 zeolites are described. The processes produce effluent streams comprising para-xylene and benzene. The molar ratio of benzene to xylene (Bz/X) in the effluent stream can be in a range of about 1.00 to about 1.14, the molar ratio of para-xylene to xylene (pX/X) in the effluent stream can be in a range of about 0.80 to about 1.0, and the conversion of toluene can be about 20% to about 40%.

Toluene disproportionation processes utilizing treated UZM-39 zeolites are described. The processes produce effluent streams comprising para-xylene and benzene. The molar ratio of benzene to xylene (Bz/X) in the effluent stream can be in a range of about 1.00 to about 1.14, the molar ratio of para-xylene to xylene (pX/X) in the effluent stream can be in a range of about 0.80 to about 1.0, and the conversion of toluene can be about 20% to about 40%.

Toluene disproportionation processes utilizing treated UZM-44 zeolites are described. The processes produce effluent streams comprising para-xylene and benzene. The molar ratio of benzene to xylene (Bz/X) in the effluent stream can be in a range of about 1.00 to about 1.14, the molar ratio of para-xylene to xylene (pX/X) in the effluent stream can be in a range of about 0.80 to about 1.0, and the conversion of toluene can be about 20% to about 40%.

Disclosed herein are phosphated low silica to alumina ratio (SAR) zeolites and methods of formation and stabilization thereof to minimize complete de-alumination of tetrahedral framework aluminum. Also disclosed herein are catalyst compositions, catalyst components, adsorbents, and ion exchange materials including said phosphated low SAR zeolites, methods of formation thereof, and methods of use thereof.

The present invention relates to zeolite adsorbents based on agglomerated zeolite X crystals comprising barium, potassium and sodium. These adsorbents find applications in the separation of aromatic C8 isomer fractions and especially xylene.

A process for ethylbenzene conversion and xylene isomerization of an alkylaromatic feed mixture is described. A C.sub.8 alkylaromatic feed mixture can be contacted with two catalyst beds successively in the liquid phase in a C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon isomerization zone. The first catalyst comprises a passivated zeolite containing a ten-membered ring channel framework for the conversion of ethylbenzene. The second catalyst comprises UZM-54 zeolite for selective isomerization of the xylenes.

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.