Patent ID: 7833933

Claim:
Process for preparation of a paraffin isomerization catalyst comprising a mixture of a zirconium oxide, a Group VIB metal oxide, aluminum oxide and a Group VIII metal, the process comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a hydroxide of zirconium with an aqueous solution of an oxyanion of the Group VIB metal to provide a mixture; (b) drying the mixture to provide a dry powder; (c) kneading the powder with an aluminum hydroxide gel and a polymeric cellulose ether compound to form a paste, the amount of aluminum hydroxide added being less than 10 wt %; (d) shaping the paste to form a shaped material; (e) calcining the shaped material to form a calcined material; (f) impregnating the calcined material with an aqueous solution of a Group VIII metal salt to provide the catalyst; and (g) calcining the catalyst to obtain a paraffin isomerisation catalyst having an x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) reflection 20 range of less than 30.20′ for tetragonal zirconia.