Activated zeolite beta and its use for hydrocarbon conversion

Abstract

The present invention relates to a zeolite beta catalyst characterized by critical limits of weak and strong acid species and exceptionally high catalytic activity. The catalyst is activated at a temperature effective to substantially reduce the concentration of strong acid species, i.e., hydronium cations, without substantially reducing the concentration of weak acid species, i.e., hydroxoaluminum cations, preferably following a calcining step wherein a synthesized zeolite beta catalyst containing a templating agent is calcined at a temperature in the range of from about 200.degree. to 1000.degree. C. in order to remove a substantial portion of the catalyst templating agent and an ion-exchanging step wherein the calcined catalyst is ion-exchanged with a salt solution containing at least one hydrogen forming cation selected from NH.sub.4.sup.+ and quaternary ammonium. Conversion processes utilizing the catalyst of the invention, including isomerization of paraffins and alkylaromatics and disproportionation of aromatics, also are disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.