Methods of producing composite zeolite catalysts for heavy reformate conversion into xylenes

Abstract

A method of forming a composite zeolite catalyst includes combining a silicon source and an aqueous organic structure directing agent having a polyamino cation compound to form a silica intermediary gel, introducing an aluminum precursor to the silica intermediary gel to form a catalyst precursor gel, evaporating water in the catalyst precursor gel to form a catalyst gel, and heating the catalyst gel to form a composite zeolite catalyst particle having an intergrowth region with a mixture of both Beta crystals and ZSM-5 crystals. An associated method of making xylene includes feeding heavy reformate to a reactor, the reactor containing the composite zeolite catalyst, and producing xylene by simultaneously performing dealkylation and transalkylation of the heavy reformate in the reactor, where each composite zeolite catalyst particle is able to catalyze both the dealkylation and transalkylation reactions.