Heavy aromatics conversion processes and catalyst compositions used therein

A process for conversion of a feedstock comprising C8+ aromatic hydrocarbons to lighter aromatic products comprising:

• (a) providing a catalyst composition comprising a mordenite zeolite, wherein the mordenite zeolite is synthesized from TEA or MTEA, has a mesopore surface area of greater than 30 m2/g and comprises agglomerates composed of primary crystallites, and wherein said primary crystallites have an average primary crystal size as measured by TEM of less than 80 nm and an aspect ratio of less than 2,
• (b) contacting said catalyst composition with a source of a first metal or compounds thereof and a source of a second metal or compounds thereof to form a metal-containing catalyst composition,
• wherein said first metal is in Group 6 of the Periodic Table,
• wherein said second metal is in Group 9 or Group 10 of the Periodic Table,
• wherein said metal-containing catalyst composition comprises 0.001 wt. % to 20.0 wt. % of said first metal, and 0.001 wt. % to 20.0 wt. % of said second metal, each weight % based on a weight of the catalyst composition;
• and
• (c) treating said metal-containing catalyst composition with a source of sulfur and/or a source of steam to form a treated catalyst composition,
• (d) contacting said feedstock and optionally hydrogen in presence of said treated catalyst composition under conversion conditions effective to dealkylate and transalkylate said C8+ aromatic hydrocarbons to produce said lighter aromatic products comprising benzene, toluene and xylene.