Isomerization catalyst

1. A paraffin isomerization catalyst comprising: from 0.01 to 5 wt. % of a Group VIII noble metal on a carrier containing alumina and zeolite beta that does not contain an organic structure directing agent and having a silica to alumina molar ratio (SAR) of from 5 to 15.

2. The paraffin isomerization catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the Group VIII noble metal is platinum which is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 3 wt. %.

3. The paraffin isomerization catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises of from 60 to 95 wt. % of the zeolite beta.

4. The paraffin isomerization catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the average crystal size of the zeolite beta as determined by scanning electron microscopy is of from 50 to 500 nanometers.

5. A paraffin isomerization catalyst, comprising a Group VIII noble metal impregnated onto a carrier comprising alumina and zeolite beta, wherein the zeolite beta is prepared by a process which comprises

(a) mixing and stirring an alkali oxide source, an aluminum oxide source, a silicon dioxide source and water without addition of an organic structure directing agent (SDA) to provide an aluminosilicate synthesis gel having the following mole ratio of raw materials: SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 =15-45, Na 2 O/SiO 2 =0.20-0.50, H 2 O/SiO 2 =4-50; and

(b) adding zeolite crystal seed and allowing the aluminosilicate synthesis gel to crystallize at elevated temperature to obtain the zeolite beta crystals having a silica to alumina molar ratio (SAR) of from 5 to 15.

6. The paraffin isomerization catalyst according to claim 5 wherein the process comprises allowing the aluminosilicate synthesis gel to crystallize in step (b) at a temperature of from 100 to 180° C. during from 12 to 24 hours.

7. The paraffin isomerization catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the zeolite beta has a SAR of from 5 to 12.

8. A process for preparing an isomerization catalyst according to claim 1 , which process comprises (a) mixing alumina and zeolite beta, having a SAR of from 5 to 15 and made without the direct use of an organic structure directing agent (SDA) during its synthesis, to yield a mixture; (b) extruding the mixture obtained in step (a) to yield extrudates; (c) optionally drying and calcining the extrudates obtained in step (b); and (d) impregnating the extrudates obtained in step (b) or in step (c) with a platinum containing solution to provide impregnated extrudates followed by drying and optionally calcining the impregnated extrudates.

9. The process according to claim 8 , in which the platinum containing solution is an aqueous solution comprising hexachloroplatinic acid.

10. The process for isomerizing a hydrocarbon feed containing paraffins having of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms by contacting the feed with a catalyst according to claim 1 at a temperature of from 150 to 300° C. and a pressure of from 0.1 to 30 bara.

11. A paraffin isomerization catalyst, comprising: a formed and calcined carrier comprising from 2 to 50 wt. % alumina and from 50 to 98 wt. % zeolite beta that does not contain an organic structure directing agent and having a silica-to-alumina molar ratio (SAR) in the range of from 5 to 12, wherein said formed and calcined carrier is impregnated with an amount of Group VIII noble metal to provide from 0.01 to 5 wt. % said Group VIII noble metal on said formed and calcined carrier.

12. The paraffin isomerization catalyst according to claim 11 , wherein the Group VIII noble metal is platinum which is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 3 wt. %.

13. The paraffin isomerization catalyst according to claim 11 , wherein the carrier comprises of from 60 to 95 wt. % of the zeolite beta.

14. The paraffin isomerization catalyst according to claim 11 , wherein the average crystal size of the zeolite beta as determined by scanning electron microscopy is of from 50 to 500 nanometers.

15. A paraffin isomerization catalyst, comprising a Group VIII noble metal impregnated onto a carrier comprising alumina and zeolite beta, wherein the zeolite beta is prepared by a process which comprises:

(a) mixing and stirring an alkali oxide source, an aluminum oxide source, a silicon dioxide source and water without addition of an organic structure directing agent (SDA) to provide an aluminosilicate synthesis gel having the following mole ratio of raw materials: SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 =15-45, Na 2 O/SiO 2 =0.20-0.50, H 2 O/SiO 2 =4-50; and

(b) adding zeolite crystal seed and allowing the aluminosilicate synthesis gel to crystallize at elevated temperature to obtain the zeolite beta crystals having a silica to alumina molar ratio (SAR) of from 5 to 12.

16. The paraffin isomerization catalyst according to claim 15 , wherein the process comprises allowing the aluminosilicate synthesis gel to crystallize in step (b) at a temperature of from 100 to 180° C. during from 12 to 24 hours.

17. The paraffin isomerization catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the zeolite beta has a SAR of from 5 to 11.

18. The process for isomerizing a hydrocarbon feed containing paraffins having of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms by contacting the feed with a catalyst according to claim 2 at a temperature of from 150 to 300° C. and a pressure of from 0.1 to 30 bara.

19. The process for isomerizing a hydrocarbon feed containing paraffins having of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms by contacting the feed with a catalyst according to claim 3 at a temperature of from 150 to 300° C. and a pressure of from 0.1 to 30 bara.

20. The process for isomerizing a hydrocarbon feed containing paraffins having of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms by contacting the feed with a catalyst according to claim 4 at a temperature of from 150 to 300° C. and a pressure of from 0.1 to 30 bara.

21. The process for isomerizing a hydrocarbon feed containing paraffins having of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms by contacting the feed with a catalyst according to claim 11 at a temperature of from 150 to 300° C. and a pressure of from 0.1 to 30 bara.

22. The process for isomerizing a hydrocarbon feed containing paraffins having of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms by contacting the feed with a catalyst according to claim 12 at a temperature of from 150 to 300° C. and a pressure of from 0.1 to 30 bara.

23. The process for isomerizing a hydrocarbon feed containing paraffins having of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms by contacting the feed with a catalyst according to claim 13 at a temperature of from 150 to 300° C. and a pressure of from 0.1 to 30 bara.

24. The process for isomerizing a hydrocarbon feed containing paraffins having of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms by contacting the feed with a catalyst according to claim 14 at a temperature of from 150 to 300° C. and a pressure of from 0.1 to 30 bara.