Alkyl aromatic isomerization process using a catalyst comprising a UZM-8HS composition

A process for the isomerization of aromatic compounds comprising contacting a hydrocarbon stream comprising alkyl aromatic compounds with a catalytic composite at isomerization conditions to give an isomerized product wherein the catalytic composite comprises a UZM-8HS zeolite and a platinum group metal component, the UZM-8HS characterized in that it has a three-dimensional framework of at least AlO2 and SiO2 tetrahedral units and an empirical composition on an anhydrous basis in terms of mole ratios of the elements of:

• M1an+Al(1−x)ExSiy′Oz″
• where M1 is at least one exchangeable cation selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, rare earth metals, ammonium ion, hydrogen ion and mixtures thereof, a is the mole ratio of M1 to (Al+E) and varies from 0.05 to about 50, E is an element selected from the group consisting of gallium, iron, boron, chromium, indium and mixtures thereof, x is the mole fraction of E and varies from 0 to about 1.0, n is the weighted average valence of M1 and has a value of about +1 to about +3, y′ is the mole ratio of Si to (Al+E) and is greater than about 6.5 and z″ is the mole ratio of O to (Al+E) and has a value determined by the equation:
• z″=(a·n+3+4·y′)/2
• the zeolite characterized in that it has an x-ray diffraction pattern having at least the d-spacings and relative intensities set forth in Table B:
• TABLE B
• 2-θ
• d(Å)
• I/Io %
• 6.90-7.40
• 12.8-11.94
• w-vs
• 8.15-8.66
• 10.84-10.21
• m-vs
• 14.10-14.70
• 6.28-6.02
• w-vs
• 19.40-20.10
• 4.57-4.41
• w-s
• 22.00-22.85
• 4.04-3.89
• m-vs
• 24.65-25.40
• 3.61-3.50
• w-m
• 25.70-26.50
• 3.46-3.36
• w-vs.