Methods of Preparing an Aromatization Catalyst

A method of preparing a catalyst comprising:

• calcining an extruded base to form a calcined extruded base, wherein the extruded base comprises a KL-zeolite;
• contacting the calcined extruded base with a first fluorine-containing compound to form a fluorinated calcined extruded base;
• washing the fluorinated calcined extruded base to form a washed fluorinated calcined extruded base;
• drying the washed fluorinated calcined extruded base to form a dried washed fluorinated calcined extruded base;
• calcining the dried washed fluorinated calcined extruded base to form a bound zeolite support;
• and
• contacting the bound zeolite support with a Group VIII metal and a second fluorine-containing compound,
• wherein the first fluorine-containing compound and the second fluorine-containing compound may be the same or different.