US Patent 7390394 Metal loaded microporous material for hydrocarbon isomerization processes

The invention is directed to a method of making a catalyst comprising an intermediate pore size molecular sieve, preferably a zeolite of the MTT or TON type. SSZ-32 and ZSM-22 are examples of such molecular sieves. This catalyst is modified with a metal or metals selected from the group consisting of Ca, Cr, Mg, La, Ba, Pr, Sr, K and Nd. The catalyst is additionally loaded with a Group VIII metal or metals for hydrogenation purposes. The catalyst is suitable for use in a process whereby a feed including straight chain and slightly branched paraffins having 10 or more carbon atoms is isomerized.