Catalysts and catalytic hydrocarbon conversion processes

Claim 1

THE PROCESS FOR THE CONVERSION OF AN ALKYL SUBSTITUTED AROMATIC HYDROCARBON TO AN ARMATIC HYDROCARBON OF LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT COMPRISING CONTACTING AN ALKYL SUBSTITUTED AROMATIC HYDROCARBON IN VAPOR PHASE AND IN THE PRESENCE OF HYDROGEN AT A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN ABOUT 250*-500*C. AND AT A PRESSURE OF ATMOSPHERIC TO 2,000 LBS. P.S.I.G. WITH A COMPLEX CATALYST, SAID CATALYST BEING PREPARED BY IMPREGNATING AN AMPHOTERIC OXIDE WITH A SOLUTION OF A METAL COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF NICKEL, COBALT, AND IRON, SAID METAL BEING DECOMPOSABLE UNDER THE ACTION OF HEAT TO THE OXIDE THEREOF, ROASTING THE IMPREGNATED OXIDE AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE 650*C., FURTHER IMPREGNATING THE CATALYST BASE WITH THE SOLUTION OF A METAL COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF NICKEL, COBALT, IRON, PLATINUM, IRIDIUM, PALLADIUM, CHROMIUM, AND MOLYBDENUM, AND ROASTING THE FURTHER IMPREGNATED BASE AT A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 350*650*C.