Catalyst composition and processes therefor and therewith

A process comprising contacting a hydrocarbon with a catalyst composition under a condition sufficient to effect the conversion of said hydrocarbon to a C6 to C8 aromatic hydrocarbon wherein said composition is prepared by the steps of:

• (1) contacting a zeolite with an aqueous solution containing an acid at a pH lower than about 6, at a temperature in the range of from about 30 to about 200° C., under about 1 to about 10 atm pressure, and for a period of from about 10 minutes to about 30 hours to produce an aluminum-reduced zeolite;
• (2) contacting said aluminum-reduced with a metal compound under conditions sufficient to produce a metal-promoted zeolite;
• and (3) calcining said metal-promoted zeolite wherein the metal of said metal compound is selected from the group consisting of nickel, palladium, molybdenum, gallium, platinum, and combinations of any two or more thereof;
• and said acid is selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, ammonium nitrate, formic acid, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, citric acid, trichloroacetic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, partially neutralized acids, and combinations of any two or more thereof.

A process for converting a gasoline or pentane to an aromatic hydrocarbon comprising contacting said gasoline or pentane with a catalyst composition wherein

• said process is carried out at a liquid hourly space velocity of said fluid in the range of 0.1 g/g catalyst/hour to 30 g/g catalyst/hour, a pressure in the range of 0 psig to 50 psig, and a temperature in the range of 450° C. to 650° C.;
• said aromatic hydrocarbon comprises at least one C6 to C8 aromatic compound;
• and
• said catalyst is prepared by the steps of:
• (1) contacting a zeolite with an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid containing 4 to 8 gram-equivalents of HCl (4-8N HCl) at a temperature in the range of from about 70 to about 100° C., under about 1 to about 10 atm pressure, and for a period of from 1 to 20 hours to produce an aluminum-reduced zeolite;
• (2) contacting said aluminum-reduced with a metal compound under conditions sufficient to produce a metal-promoted zeolite;
• and (3) calcining said metal-promoted zeolite at 450° C. to 650° C. for 3 to 15 hours wherein the metal of said metal compound is selected from the group consisting of gallium, platinum, and combinations thereof.