Aromatization reactions with zeolites containing phosphorus oxide

Claim 1

A process for producing aromatic hydrocarbons, said process comprising contacting a feedstock comprising one or more non-aromatic compounds selected from the group consisting of C 2 -C 12 alkanes and C 2 -C 12 alkenes with a catalyst comprising a crystalline zeolite material having the structure of ZSM-5 or ZSM-11, said contacting taking place under aromatization conditions including a temperature of from about 200° C. to about 700° C., a pressure of from about 0.1 atmosphere to about 60 atmospheres, a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of from about 0.1 to about 400 and a hydrogen/hydrocarbon mole ratio of from about 0 to about 20, said catalyst further comprising an oxide of phosphorus which has been incorporated into said catalyst by a process comprising the steps of: (i) impregnating said zeolite with a source of phosphate ions; and (ii) calcining the impregnated zeolite of step (i) at a temperature of at least 649° C. under conditions sufficient to convert said impregnated phosphate ions to said oxide of phosphorus.