Patent ID: 7875757

Claim:
A process comprising: isomerizing an paraffinic feedstock in the presence of an isomerization catalyst in a isomerization reaction zone, charging a regeneration gas stream to the isomerization zone containing an at least partially spent isomerization catalyst to regenerate the isomerization catalyst; separating the isomerization zone effluent into a waste stream and a regeneration gas recycle stream; conducting the regeneration gas recycle stream to the isomerization zone using a reforming zone compressor; wherein the isomerization catalyst is a solid acid catalyst comprising a support comprising a sulfated oxide or hydroxide of at least an element of Group IVB (IUPAC 4) of the Periodic Table, a first component selected from the group consisting of at least one lanthanide series element, mixtures thereof, and yttrium, and a second component selected from the group consisting of platinum group metals and mixtures thereof and wherein the atomic ratio of the first component to the second component is at least about 2.