FIELD: petrochemistry. SUBSTANCE: n-paraffins having carbon atoms of more than 15 are isomerized in the presence of hydrogen and catalyst comprising (a) carrier of acid nature consisting of silicon dioxide and aluminium oxide gel which is amorphous to X-ray irradiation with SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio from 30/1 to 500/1 and having surface area from 500 to 1000 sg m/g, porosity from 0.3 to 0.6 ml/g and pore diameter from 10 to A; (b) mixture of VIB group metals and VIII group of base metals deposited onto carrier in total amount from 2 to 50 wt.% of total weight of (a)+(b). Also described are methods of preparing catalyst. EFFECT: greater activity of catalyst which results in greater efficiency of the method. 14 cl, 20 ex, 3 tbl
