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.

A bi-modal radial flow reactor comprising a cylindrical outer housing surrounding at least five cylindrical, concentric zones, including at least three annulus vapor zones and at least two catalyst zones. The at least two catalyst zones comprise an outer catalyst zone and an inner catalyst zone. The at least three annulus vapor zones comprise an outer annulus vapor zone, a middle annulus vapor zone, and a central annulus vapor zone, wherein the central annulus vapor zone extends along a centerline of the bi-modal radial flow reactor. The outer catalyst zone is intercalated with the outer annulus vapor zone and the middle annulus vapor zone, and the inner catalyst zone is intercalated with the middle annulus vapor zone and the central annulus vapor zone. A removable head cover can be fixably coupled to a top of the cylindrical outer housing to seal a top of the bi-modal radial flow reactor.

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.

The present invention relates to a process for producing LPG and BTX from a mixed feedstream comprising C5-C12 hydrocarbons by contacting said feedstream in the presence of hydrogen with a first hydrocracking catalyst and contacting the thus obtained first hydrocracked product in the presence of hydrogen with a second hydrocracking catalyst to produce a second hydrocracked product stream comprising LPG and BTX.

The present invention relates to a process for producing LPG and BTX from a mixed feedstream comprising C5-C12 hydrocarbons by contacting said feedstream in the presence of hydrogen with a first hydrocracking catalyst and contacting the thus obtained first hydrocracked product in the presence of hydrogen with a second hydrocracking catalyst to produce a second hydrocracked product stream comprising LPG and BTX.

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 a transition metal precursor in a solvent composition containing water and from about 5 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of a C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 alcohol compound, a chlorine precursor, and a fluorine precursor. The resultant supported catalysts have improved catalyst activity and selectivity, as well as lower fouling rates 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 a transition metal precursor in a solvent composition containing water and from about 5 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of a C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 alcohol compound, a chlorine precursor, and a fluorine precursor. The resultant supported catalysts have improved catalyst activity and selectivity, as well as lower fouling rates in aromatization reactions.

A method for making a functional structural body includes a skeletal body of a porous structure composed of a zeolite-type compound, and at least one type of metallic nanoparticles present in the skeletal body, the skeletal body having channels connecting with each other, the metallic nanoparticles being present at least in the channels of the skeletal body.

A method for making a functional structural body includes a skeletal body of a porous structure composed of a zeolite-type compound, and at least one type of metallic nanoparticles present in the skeletal body, the skeletal body having channels connecting with each other, the metallic nanoparticles being present at least in the channels of the skeletal body.