A method of preparing a bound zeolite support comprising: contacting a zeolite powder with a binder and water to form a paste; shaping the paste to form an wet extruded base; removing excess water from the wet extruded base to form an extruded base; contacting the extruded base with a fluorine-containing compound to form a fluorinated extruded base; calcining the extruded base to form a calcined fluorinated extruded base; washing the calcined fluorinated extruded base to form a washed calcined fluorinated extruded base; drying the washed calcined fluorinated extruded base to form a dried washed calcined fluorinated extruded base; and calcining the dried washed calcined fluorinated extruded base to form a bound zeolite support.