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 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.

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.

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.

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.

A process for producing ethylene comprising: (a) reacting a reactant mixture in a reactor to yield a product mixture, wherein the reactor comprises a catalyst, wherein the reactant mixture comprises ethane, oxygen, and a chlorine intermediate precursor, wherein the product mixture comprises ethylene, unreacted ethane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, wherein the catalyst comprises a redox agent, an alkali metal, and a rare earth element; and (b) recovering at least a portion of the ethylene from the product mixture. The reacting in step (a) further comprises (i) contacting at least a portion of the chlorine intermediate precursor with the catalyst to form a chlorinated catalyst; (ii) allowing at least a portion of the chlorinated catalyst to generate a chlorine intermediate; and (iii) allowing at least a portion of the reactant mixture to react via the chlorine intermediate.

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.

A process of making an aromatization catalyst comprising: (a) mixing a zeolite, a binder, and water to form a mixture; (b) extruding the mixture to form a green extrudate; (c) drying the green extrudate to form a dried green extrudate; (d) calcining the dried green extrudate to form a support, wherein calcining the dried green extrudate is the only calcination step in the process; (e) washing the support to form a washed support; (f) drying the washed support to form a dried washed support; (g) impregnating the dried washed support with a Group 8-10 transition metal compound and at least one halide-containing compound to form a metalized-halided material; and (h) vacuum drying the metalized-halided material to form a dried metalized-halided material which is the aromatization catalyst.

A process of making an aromatization catalyst comprising: (a) mixing a zeolite, a binder, and water to form a mixture; (b) extruding the mixture to form a green extrudate; (c) drying the green extrudate to form a dried green extrudate; (d) calcining the dried green extrudate to form a support, wherein calcining the dried green extrudate is the only calcination step in the process; (e) washing the support to form a washed support; (f) drying the washed support to form a dried washed support; (g) impregnating the dried washed support with a Group 8-10 transition metal compound and at least one halide-containing compound to form a metalized-halided material; and (h) vacuum drying the metalized-halided material to form a dried metalized-halided material which is the aromatization catalyst.

A method for preparing a homogenous catalyst for the production of linear alpha olefins includes: preparing a first pre-catalyst solution comprising a modifier and an organoaluminum compound in a first solvent wherein the first pre-catalyst solution is reacted and stored in a first vessel for a period of time of 1 hour to 90 days; preparing a second pre-catalyst solution comprising a second solvent, a ligand, and a chromium containing compound, wherein the second pre-catalyst solution is stored in a second vessel for a period of time of 1 hour to 90 days; and after a period of time, adding the first pre-catalyst solution to a catalyst pre-formation unit; after the same period of time, adding the second pre-catalyst solution to the catalyst pre-formation unit; forming a homogenous catalyst by mixing the first pre-catalyst solution and the second pre-catalyst solution; adding the homogeneous catalyst to a reaction vessel, wherein the reaction vessel comprises an alpha olefin; and forming the linear alpha olefin by mixing the homogeneous catalyst and the homogenous catalyst.