Neste Oy

Erja Rautiainen

Eeva-Liisa Lakomaa

Lars-Peter Lindfors

The present invention concerns a catalyst suited to the aromatization reaction of light hydrocarbons. Such a heterogeneous catalyst contains zinc bound to a zeolite support material. The catalyst in accordance with the invention is prepared by adsorbing the zinc onto the surface of the zeolite support material directly from the vapor phase by way of chemisorption. The zeolite compound acting thus as the support material is here heated to a temperature which is above the condensation temperature of the zinc vapor. Advantageously, the preparation has been carried out at temperatures above 390.degree. C. The zinc vapor has been brought to contact the zeolite support material, whereby the vapor pressure of zinc is maintained sufficiently high and the duration of its interaction with the support material sufficiently long so as to provide at least one equal amount of or, preferably, an excess of zinc in relation to the available binding sites of the support material. In order to avoid the desorption of absorbed zinc, temperature in the preparation reaction of the catalyst in accordance with the invention has been maintained below 550.degree. C.

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Amersfoort, Netherlands

Erja Rautiainen