Composite hierarchical zeolite catalyst for heavy reformate conversion to xylenes

A method of producing a hierarchical zeolite composite catalyst comprising:

• dissolving, in an alkaline solution and in the presence of a surfactant, a catalyst precursor comprising zeolite while heating, stirring, or both to yield a dissolved zeolite solution, where the zeolite comprises ZSM-12 having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 20 to 300 and ZSM-5 having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 5 to 500, where a ratio of ZSM-12 to ZSM-5 is 1:1 to 5:1 by weight and where the alkaline solution is a 0.1 to 0.6 M NaOH solution;
• condensing the dissolved zeolite solution to yield a solid zeolite composite from the dissolved zeolite solution, where condensing the dissolved zeolite solution comprises:
• adjusting a pH of the dissolved zeolite solution;
• and
• aging the pH adjusted dissolved zeolite solution;
• heating the solid zeolite composite to remove the surfactant;
• impregnating the solid zeolite composite with one or more active metals selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhenium, rhodium, molybdenum, nickel, tungsten, chromium, ruthenium, gold, and combinations thereof to yield impregnated solid zeolite composite;
• and
• calcining the impregnated solid zeolite composite to produce the hierarchical zeolite composite catalyst, where the hierarchical zeolite composite catalyst has a mesostructure comprising at least one disordered mesophase and at least one ordered mesophase.