| abstract |
Materials which have been prepared by a method which includes the steps of (1) impregnating alumina with a sulfate of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, manganese, zinc and magnesium, (2) calcining the thus-obtained impregnated alumina materials, and (3) heating the calcined materials with AlCl3 and at least one chlorinated hydrocarbon (preferably CCl4) at a temperature of about 40 degrees-90 degrees C. are employed as catalysts in the isomerization of C5-C10 cycloalkanes (preferably methylcyclopentane). A select group of the thus-prepared materials are employed as catalysts in the isomerization of C4-C10 alkanes (preferably n-pentane and 2-methylbutane). Preferably, the catalyst preparation method also includes a step of treating the calcined impregnated alumina materials with gaseous hydrogen chloride before they are heated with AlCl3 and the chlorinated hydrocarbon(s). |