Patent ID: 8067658
Filing Date: 2011-11-29
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. An isomerization process comprising contacting a hydrocarbon feed comprising n-hexane and less than about 10 volume % naphthenic hydrocarbons with a catalyst at isomerization conditions for isomerization of at least a portion of said n-hexane to a product comprising iso-hexane; wherein said catalyst is prepared by the following method: (a) incorporating tungsten on a zirconium hydroxide solid by incipient wetness impregnation using an aqueous solution of a tungsten compound to form tungsten impregnated zirconium hydroxide; (b) drying and calcining said tungsten impregnated zirconium hydroxide to form a first dried and calcined material; (c) sizing said dried and calcined material to particle sizes between about 150 and about 600 microns to form a sized material; (d) incorporating a Group VIII metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, platinum and palladium, and combinations thereof, on said sized material by incipient wetness impregnation using an aqueous solution of a Group VIII metal compound comprising said Group VIII metal to form a Group VIII metal impregnated tungsten/zirconia material; (e) drying and calcining said Group VIII metal impregnated tungsten/zirconia material to form a second dried and calcined material; (f) contacting said second dried and calcined material with hydrogen in a reducing environment to form said catalyst which comprises tungsten, zirconia and a Group VIII metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, platinum and palladium, and combinations thereof, and wherein said zirconium hydroxide solid of step (a) contains sufficient aluminum to result in said catalyst containing between about 0.1 and about 3 weight % aluminum.