Process for the manufacture of alumina supports for catalysts and of such catalysts

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR PREPARING A CATALYST USEFUL IN THE CATALYTIC TREATMENT OF HYDROCARBONS AND THE LIKE, PARTICULARLY IN REFORMING NAPHTHA, COMPRISING TREATING PELLETED ALUMINA WITH DRY AIR AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 1300*F. FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR, TREATING SAID PREVIOUSLY HEATED ALUMINA WITH STEAM AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 1250*F. TO 1600*F. FOR 2 TO 12 HOURS, AND SUBSEQUENTLY TREATING THE RESULTING PRODUCT WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF ABOUT 2% TO 10% STRENGHT OF A WATER SOLUBLE LOWER CARBOXYLIC ACID OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ACETIC LOWER CARBOXYLIC ACID FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR, DRAINING SAID ACID SOLUTION, WATER WASHING THE TRETED ALUMINA MATERIAL, AND DRYING THE SAME AT A TEMPERATURE NOT IN EXCESS OF 1050*F., AND THEREAFTER IMPREGNATING THE DRIED SUPPORT WITH AN ACIDIC SOLUTION OF A COMPOUND OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE NOBLE METALS OF GROUP VIII OF THE PERIODIC TABLE THEREBY DEPOSITING SUCH NOBLE METAL COMPOUND ON SAID ALUMINA SUPPORT, AND DRYING THE RESULTING CATALYST.