Acid catalyzed hydrocarbon conversion processes utilizing a catalyst

Abstract

It has been discovered and forms the basis of the disclosure that various acid catalyzed hydrocarbon conversion processes such as catalytic cracking of gas oil; xylene isomerization; toluene disproportionation; dealkylation of aromatics; ethylene, butylene, isobutylene, propylene polymerization; olefin isomerization; alcohol dehydration; olefin hydration; alkylation; heavy ends cat cracking, etc. are dramatically improved insofar as percent conversion, and selectivity are concerned by the use of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of the oxides of tungsten, niobium and mixtures thereof, and tungsten or niobium oxides in combination with one or more additional metal oxides selected from the group consisting of tantalum oxide, hafnium oxide, chromium oxide, titanium oxide and zirconium oxide, supported on an inorganic refractory oxide support. These catalysts may be prepared by the methods known in the art, i.e., incipient wetness, impregnation, coprecipitation, etc. of the metal oxide precursor onto or with the supports followed by conversion into the oxide form. Before use, the metal oxide/support combination is preferably subjected to steaming at elevated temperatures either before introduction into the reactor or in situ in the process reactor. Conventional catalytic cracking catalysts are unstable at the elevated temperatures where the metal oxide/support combinations of the present invention are uniquely stable.