A hydrocarbon conversion catalyst composition which comprises ZSM-48 and/or EU-2 zeolite particles and refractory oxide binder essentially free of alumina in which the average aluminium concentration of the ZSM-48 and/or EU-2 zeolite particles is at least 1.3 times the aluminium concentration at the surface of the particles, processes for preparing such catalyst compositions and processes for converting hydrocarbon feedstock with the help of such compositions.

Methods are provided for using a molecular sieve catalyst for dewaxing formed using a synthesis mixture comprising a morphology modifier. The catalyst may be used, for example, for production of a lubricant base stock. For example, ZSM-48 crystals formed using the morphology modifier (and/or formulated catalysts made using such crystals) can have an increased activity and/or can provide an improved yield during catalytic dewaxing of lubricant base stocks.

Systems and methods are provided for conversion of oxygenate feeds to lubricant and/or distillate boiling range compounds with desirable properties by first selectively converting oxygenates to light olefins and then converting the light olefins to distillate and lubricant boiling range compounds with beneficial properties. The distillate boiling range products can have an unexpectedly high cetane, while the lubricant boiling range products can have an unexpectedly high viscosity index. The ability to form the distillate boiling range products and lubricant boiling range products is facilitated by using a Ni-enhanced oligomerization catalyst.

Disclosed are processes for conversion of a feedstock comprising C.sub.8+ aromatic hydrocarbons to lighter aromatic products in which the feedstock and optionally hydrogen are contacted in the presence of the catalyst composition under conversion conditions effective to dealkylate and transalkylate said C.sub.8+ aromatic hydrocarbons to produce said lighter aromatic products comprising benzene, toluene and xylene. The catalyst composition comprises a zeolite, a first metal, and a second metal, and is treated with a source of sulfur and/or a source of steam.

Disclosed are processes for conversion of a feedstock comprising C.sub.8+ aromatic hydrocarbons to lighter aromatic products in which the feedstock and optionally hydrogen are contacted in the presence of a first and a second catalyst composition under conversion conditions effective to produce said lighter aromatic products comprising benzene, toluene and xylene. In the process, the C.sub.8+ aromatic hydrocarbons are dealkylated to form C.sub.6-C.sub.7 aromatic hydrocarbon and the C.sub.2+ olefins formed are saturated. The remaining C.sub.8+ aromatic hydrocarbons are transalkylated with the C.sub.6-C.sub.7 aromatic hydrocarbon. The first and second catalyst compositions each comprise a zeolite, a first metal, and optionally a second metal, and are treated with a source of sulfur and/or a source of steam.

A hydrocarbon conversion catalyst composition which comprises ZSM-48 and/or EU-2 zeolite particles and refractory oxide binder essentially free of alumina in which the average aluminium concentration of the ZSM-48 and/or EU-2 zeolite particles is at least 1.3 times the aluminium concentration at the surface of the particles, processes for preparing such catalyst compositions and processes for converting hydrocarbon feedstock with the help of such compositions.

A method for converting an alcohol to a hydrocarbon, the method comprising contacting said alcohol with a metal-loaded zeolite catalyst at a temperature of at least 100 C. and up to 550 C., wherein said alcohol can be produced by a fermentation process, said metal is a positively-charged metal ion, and said metal-loaded zeolite catalyst is catalytically active for converting said alcohol to said hydrocarbon.

A hydrocarbon conversion catalyst composition which comprises dealuminated ZSM-48 and/or EU-2 zeolite and a refractory oxide binder essentially free of alumina, processes for preparing such composition and processes for converting hydrocarbon feedstock with the help of such compositions.

Described herein is a hydrocracking catalyst and process that may be used to make middle distillates and unconverted oil having beneficial yield and product characteristics. The process generally comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feed with the hydrocracking catalyst under hydrocracking conditions to produce a product comprising middle distillates and unconverted oil products. The hydrocracking catalyst comprises an SSZ-91 molecular sieve and a modifying metal selected from one or more Group 6 metals, and, optionally, one or more Group 8 to 10 metals, or a modifying metal selected from Group 8 to 10 metals and combinations thereof, and, optionally, one or more Group 6 metals. The hydrocracking catalyst may comprise a matrix material and/or an additional zeolite.

Described herein is a process for hydroisomerising a hydrocarbon feed. The process may comprise: combining a hydrocarbon feed and a hydroisomerisation additive to provide a combined feed; and contacting the combined feed with a hydroisomerisation catalyst comprising zeolite SSZ-91, where the hydroisomerisation additive is a substituted or unsubstituted nitrogen heterocycle.