STABILIZATION OF MORDENITE CATALYST

摘要

A method of stabilizing a catalyst for the conversion of aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of hydrogen such as the isomerization of C8 aromatic hydrocarbons to increase the content of p-xylene, is carried out by contacting a catalyst in advance of start-up with hydrocarbons in the liquid phase at a temperature preferably of about 50.degree. to about 250.degree.C. and preferably at elevatedpressure up to about 50 Kg/cm2 in the absence of hydrogen; the catalyst being prepared by the acid leaching of a hydrogen form mordenite to produce a mordenite having a silica to alumina molar ratio of about 15 to 21. Preferably the hydrocarbons used for the contacting have the composition of the feed to be converted.