Aromatization of light hydrocarbons using metal-modified zeolite catalysts

A process for aromatizing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon feed comprising:

• contacting the hydrocarbons with a catalyst comprising zinc and a metal selected from the lanthanide group dispersed on surfaces of a hydrogen-form medium pore size zeolite support, the zeolite having a silica to alumina molar ratio from 23:1 to 50:1, wherein:
• the catalyst is substantially free of gallium and platinum;
• the contacting the hydrocarbons with the catalyst is performed at a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) from 1.0 to 20.0 h−1, a temperature from 200° C. to 600° C., and a pressure from 1.0 bar to 30.0 bars;
• and
• contacting the hydrocarbons with the catalyst causes at least a portion of the hydrocarbons to undergo a chemical reaction to form aromatic hydrocarbons;
• wherein the hydrocarbon feed comprises from 50% by weight to 99.9% by weight C5 and C6 hydrocarbons based on the total weight of the hydrocarbon feed;
• and
• wherein the process yields greater than or equal to 55% by weight of aromatic hydrocarbons.