Novel method for dealkylating alkylaromatic hydrocarbons

Claim 1

The process for dealkylating an alkylaromatic hydrocarbon charge stream which comprises: passing a mixture of steam and an alkylaromatic hydrocarbon, at steam dealkylating conditions, into contact with an activated supported catalyst containing 0.5-40 parts of (VIII) 2/n 0, -0-40 parts of (VI) 2/m 0, 0-5 parts of (I) 2 O, and 15-99.5 parts of alumina support wherein VIII is a metal of valence n of Group VIII of the Periodic Table, VI is a metal of Group VI B of the Periodic Table of valence m, and I is a metal of Group I A of the Periodic Table, said alumina support having been prepared by: (i) adding to a calcined charge high-purity alumina an activating amount of at least one alkaline earth metal together with a catalytically acceptable anion; (ii) maintaining said charge alumina in contact with said activating amount of said alkaline earth metal whereby said alkaline earth metal is distributed throughout at least a portion of the body of said charge alumina, thereby forming desired product treated alumina containing an activating amount of at least one alkaline earth metal together with at least one catalytically acceptable anion; and (iii) recovering said desired product treated alumina containing an activating amount of alkaline earth metal together with at least one catalytically acceptable anion.