Process for the preparation of a catalyst and a catalyst comprising more than one silica is provided herein. Thus, in one embodiment, the invention provides a particulate FCC catalyst comprising about 5 to about 60 wt % one or more zeolites, about 10 to about 45 wt % quasicrystalline boehmite (QCB), about 0 to about 35 wt % microcrystalline boehmite (MCB), greater than about 0 to about 15 wt % silica from sodium stabilized colloidal silica, greater than about 0 to about 30 wt % silica from ammonia stabilized or lower sodium colloidal silica, and the balance clay and the process for making the same. This process results in attrition resistant catalysts with good performance.

An changeable lead-lag configuration of two isomerization reactors can be used to achieve continuous isomerization operations in an aromatics production complex, even if the isomerization catalyst deactivates over time to require catalyst regeneration and/or replacement. The configuration can be particularly advantageous for two liquid phase isomerization reactors, especially those operated under a high WHSV≥5 hour.sup.−1 where the isomerization catalyst can deactivate at a high rate.

A method of producing olefins and/or aromatics is disclosed. The method includes catalyzing a hydrocarbon cracking reaction with a catalyst comprising a mixture of ZSM-5 zeolite and USY zeolite modified with lanthanum. The cracking process includes providing a diluent comprising primarily methane to the reactor, wherein steam is not provided to the reactor as a diluent.

A method for producing xylene, including a conversion reaction step of bringing a raw material containing a light hydrocarbon having 2 to 7 carbon atoms as a main component into contact with a crystalline aluminosilicate-containing catalyst to produce a product containing a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon having 6 to 8 carbon atoms and a xylene conversion step of subjecting the product to a disproportionation reaction or a transalkylation reaction.

A method for producing xylene, including a conversion reaction step of bringing a raw material containing a light hydrocarbon having 2 to 7 carbon atoms as a main component into contact with a crystalline aluminosilicate-containing catalyst to produce a product containing a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon having 6 to 8 carbon atoms and a xylene conversion step of subjecting the product to a disproportionation reaction or a transalkylation reaction.

A method for producing a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon having 6 to 8 carbon atoms, including bringing a raw material which contains a light hydrocarbon having 2 to 7 carbon atoms as a main component into contact with a catalyst composition for producing a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon having 6 to 8 carbon atoms. The catalyst composition for producing a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon having 6 to 8 carbon atoms is coated with an amorphous silicon oxide compound and contains a crystalline aluminosilicate, and the silicon oxide compound is a silicon oxide compound derived from a compound represented by X.sub.nSi(OR).sub.4-n, where X represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, R represents an alkyl group, and n represents an integer of 0 to 4.

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.

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.

A process for converting C2-5 alkanes to higher value C5-24 hydrocarbon fuels and blendstocks. The C2-5 alkanes are converted to olefins by thermal olefination, without the use of a dehydrogenation catalyst and without the use of steam. The product olefins are fed to an oligomerization reactor containing a zeolite catalyst to crack, oligomerize and cyclize the olens to the fuel products which are then recovered. Optionally, hydrogen and methane are removed from the product olefin stream prior to oligomerization. Further optionally, C2-5 alkanes are removed from the product olefin stream prior to oligomerization.

A process for converting C2-5 alkanes to higher value C5-24 hydrocarbon fuels and blendstocks. The C2-5 alkanes are converted to olefins by thermal olefination, without the use of a dehydrogenation catalyst and without the use of steam. The product olefins are fed to an oligomerization reactor containing a zeolite catalyst to crack, oligomerize and cyclize the olens to the fuel products which are then recovered. Optionally, hydrogen and methane are removed from the product olefin stream prior to oligomerization. Further optionally, C2-5 alkanes are removed from the product olefin stream prior to oligomerization.