Patent ID: 8022263

Claim:
A process for the isomerization of a non-equilibrium C 8 -aromatic feedstock comprising contacting the feedstock with a catalyst comprising from about 10 to 99 mass-% of an MFI zeolitic aluminosilicate having a pore diameter of from 5 to 8 angstroms and a median particle size of between about 1.2 and 1.7 microns, from about 200 to 800 mass-ppm on an elemental basis of a platinum metal component, and the balance of a silica binder, wherein the catalyst has a 4.6 torr water capacity between 3 to 5 mass-%, in an isomerization zone at isomerization conditions comprising a temperature of from about 320° C. to 500° C., a pressure of less than 500 kPa, and a mass hourly space velocity of from about 5 to 50 hr 1 in the presence of a critical added amount hydrogen on a once-through basis in a molar ratio relative to the feedstock of from about 0.05 to 0.4 to obtain an isomerized product comprising a higher proportion of para-xylene than in the feedstock.