Modification of a zeolite of type EUO, and its use in the isomerization of aromatic C8 compounds

A process for the preparation of a catalyst product suitable for the isomerization of an aromatic cut containing at least one aromatic compound containing eight carbon atoms per molecule, said process comprising producing said catalyst product starting from an initial zeolite with structure type EUO having an overall Si/Al atomic ratio in the range 5 to 100, said catalyst product comprising at least one matrix and at least one metal from group VIII, said process comprising at least the following:

• i) desilication of said initial zeolite with structure type EUO by suspension in an alkaline solution of lithium hydroxide LiOH, sodium hydroxide NaOH, potassium hydroxide KOH or caesium hydroxide CsOH with a normality of 0.5 to 2N, stirring at a stirring speed in the range 100 to 1000 rpm, and heating to a temperature in the range 40° C. to 100° C. for a period in the range 5 min to 24 h;
• ii) washing the zeolite obtained from i) with distilled water;
• iii) preparing a support by shaping said washed EUO zeolite obtained from ii) with a matrix in a manner such that the percentage by weight of the zeolite is in the range 1% to 90% with respect to the weight of the support;
• iv) at least one ion exchange of the washed zeolite obtained from ii) or the support obtained from iii) in a manner such as to eliminate at least a portion of the alkaline cation present in the cationic position in the zeolite;
• v) depositing at least one metal from group VIII of the periodic classification of the elements onto exchanged zeolite obtained from iv) or exchanged support obtained from iv) in a manner such that the percentage by weight of said metal is 0.01% to 4% with respect to the weight of the catalyst.