Abstract:
A PROCESS FOR HYDROISOMERIZATION OF DIMETHYLNAPHTHALENES (DMN''S), OR OF HYDROGENATED DMN''S COMPRISES CONTACTING SAID DMN''S OR HYDROGENATED DMN''S WITH HYDROGEN (E.G., 15-15000 P.S.I.G.) IN THE PRESENCE OF A COMBINATION OF A HYDROGENATION CATALYST AND A CALCIUM CONTAINING ZEOLITE CATALYST (PERFERABLY IN THE RANGE OF 10-100% CRYSTALLINE AND OF THE FAUGASITE STRUCTURE) AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 300-500*C. (PREFERABLY IN VAPOR PHASE) AND AT A LIQUID HOURLY SPACE VELOCITY IN THE RANGE OF 0.25-10 (PREFERABLY 0.5-3). THE PREFERRED CALCIUM CONTAINING ZEOLITE HAS AN ATOMIC RATIO AL/SI IN THE RANGE OF 0.35-1.0 IN TGE ALUMINO-SILICATE FRAMEWORK. THE MORE PREFERRED ZEOLITE ARE SYNTHETIC FAUJASITES HAVING AN AL/SI FRAMEWORK RATIO IN THE RANGE OF 0.35 TO 0.65 (E.G., LINDE TYPE Y). WHEN THE FEED COMPRISES AT LEAST ONE MEMBER FROM THE 2,6- OR 2,7-DMN FAMILIES THE PROCESS CAN PRODUCE ISOMERS BOTH WITHIN AND BETWEEN THE 2,6- AND 2,7-DMN FAMILIES.