Patent ID: 7163963

Claim:
A method of making a catalyst support comprising a) applying at least one compound of a rare-earth metal to an aluminum-comprising material to provide a rare-earth metal modified alumina precursor; b) drying the rare-earth metal modified alumina precursor under suitable conditions to provide a dried rare-earth metal modified alumina precursor; and c) calcining the dried rare-earth metal modified alumina precursor in a manner effective for converting at least a portion of the aluminum-comprising material to an alumina comprising at least one alumina phase selected from the group consisting of delta-alumina, theta-alumina, and combination thereof; and creating a surface coverage comprising an oxide of said at least one rare-earth metal, wherein said surface coverage coats the alumina at least partially, and wherein at least one rare-earth metal is trivalent, and further wherein the surface coverage is between about 0.2 nm and about 0.5 nm in thickness.