| abstract |
The present invention relates to a zeolite beta catalyst characterized by critical limits of weak and strong acid species and exceptionally high catalytic activity. The catalyst is activated at a temperature effective to substantially reduce the concentration of strong acid species, i.e., hydronium cations, without substantially reducing the concentration of weak acid species, i.e., hydroxoaluminum cations, preferably following a calcining step wherein a synthesized zeolite beta catalyst containing a templating agent is calcined at a temperature in the range of from about 200 DEG to 1000 DEG C. in order to remove a substantial portion of the catalyst templating agent and an ion-exchanging step wherein the calcined catalyst is ion-exchanged with a salt solution containing at least one hydrogen forming cation selected from NH4+ and quaternary ammonium. Conversion processes utilizing the catalyst of the invention also are disclosed. |