Method of manufacturing a spheroidal reforming catalyst

A method of catalyst manufacture which comprises:

• a. forming a mixture of a finely divided etaalumina, an acidic alumina hydrosol, and a tin compound which is soluble therein and thermally decomposable to tin oxide, said eta-alumina being admixed with said hydrosol and said tin compound in an amount to provide from about 20 to about 50 wt. % of the final product;
• b. commingling the mixture with an ammonia precursor at below gelation temperature, said ammonia precursor being selected from the group consisting of hexamethylenetetramine, urea and mixtures thereof;
• c. dispersing the resultant mixture as droplets in a hot oil bath effecting decomposition of said ammonia precursor and the formation of hydrogel spheres therein;
• d. aging the spheres at an elevated temperature effecting decomposition of the residual ammonia precursor contained therein and promoting the formation of crystalline boehmite alumina, washing and drying the aged spheres and calcining at 370.degree. - 650.degree. C. to transform boehmite alumina into gamma-alumina;
• and
• e. impregnating the calcined spheres with a platinum group metal acid or salt, drying and calcining.