Zeolite catalyst

1. A process for preparing a pyridine base comprising

contacting ammonia with a C 2 -C 6 aldehyde in the presence of a metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst comprising a metal and a zeolite beta,

wherein the metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst is prepared by a process comprising

i. contacting tetraethyl orthosilicate with aqueous tertaethylammonium hydroxide to provide a silicate solution;

ii. contacting the silicate solution with a metal source to provide a metal-silicate solution;

iii. contacting the metal-silicate solution with hydrofluoric acid to provide a metal-silicate gel; and

iv. contacting the metal-silicate gel with dealuminated zeolite beta seeds to provide the metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the metal source is a Sn containing compound.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the metal source is aqueous stannic chloride.

4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst has a zeolite beta topology and an absence of bulk crystalline SnO 2 .

5. The process of claim 4 , wherein the tin content of the metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst is from about 1 wt % to about 4 wt %.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst comprises a metal and a dealuminated zeolite beta.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein the dealuminated zeolite beta has a SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 molar ratio of at least about 150/1.

8. The process of claim 7 , wherein the metal is in an amount of less than about 10% by weight compared to the metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the metal selected from the group consisting of Sn, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, and combinations thereof.

10. A process for preparing a pyridine base comprising

contacting ammonia with a C 2 -C 6 aldehyde in the presence of a metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst comprising a metal and a zeolite beta,

wherein the metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst is prepared by a process comprising

contacting a dealuminated zeolite beta with a metal source to provide the metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the dealuminated zeolite beta is provided by

contacting a zeolite beta catalyst having a SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 molar ratio of about 15 to about 90 with a mineral acid.

12. The process of claim 11 , wherein the mineral acid is selected from the group consisting of nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and phosphoric acid.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst is mixed and formed with a binder selected from the group consisting of SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , kaolin, montmorillonite, and titania to provide a metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst composition.

14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the C 2 -C 6 aldehyde is selected from the group consisting of acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, crotonaldehyde and butyraldehyde.

15. The process of claim 1 , further comprising

regenerating the metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst remaining after step of contacting ammonia with a C 2 -C 6 aldehyde by contacting the metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst with air at a temperature of from about 500° C. to about 600° C.

16. The process of claim 15 , further comprising contacting ammonia with a C 2 -C 6 aldehyde in the presence of the metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst obtained from the step of regenerating the metal loaded zeolite beta catalyst.

17. The process of claim 1 , wherein the pyridine base is α-picoline.

18. The process of claim 1 wherein the pyridine base is α-picoline and the α-picoline is formed in a ratio of at least about 2.5:1 of a-picoline to y-picoline side-product.

19. The process of claim 1 , wherein the pyridine base is α-parvoline.

20. The process of claim 10 , wherein the metal source is SnO 2 , SnCl 2 , SnSO 4 , or Sn(CH 3 CO 2 ) 2 .