TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The catalyst further comprises a nickel component (0.1-10 wt.%). In the hydroisomerization catalyst: The pre-loaded molecular sieve is present at 20-80 wt.%; and the matrix component is present at 80-20 wt.%. Preferred Components: The molecular sieve comprises a unidimensional pore molecular sieve, which is ZSM-12, ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-48, silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve (SAPO)-11 or SAPO-41. The pre-loaded platinum group metal is platinum (0.1-2 wt.%). The matrix component further comprises a matrix-based platinum group metal including platinum, palladium, rhodium and/or ruthenium. The matrix component comprises a silica and/or an alumina, or is based on a material comprising a silica sol, a hydroxylated alumina, a calcined alumina, an aluminophosphate and/or a silica. Preferred Process: The hydroisomerization catalyst is made by a process comprising: synthesizing a molecular sieve; purifying the molecular sieve; associating the molecular sieve with the platinum group metal in the absence of the matrix component to form the pre-loaded molecular sieve before forming a catalyst body; mixing the pre-loaded molecular sieve with the matrix component to form a mixture; processing the mixture to form a catalyst body; and drying and calcining the catalyst body. The step of synthesizing molecular sieve comprises: mixing an aluminosilicate gel and an organic structure directing agent; crystallizing the molecular sieve; and drying the molecular sieve.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The bio-based feed is a plant-derived oil including canola oil, castor oil, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, hemp seed oil, linseed oil, mustard oil, olive oil, palm oil, peanut oil, rapeseed oil, soy oils, soybean oil, and/or sunflower oil. In the method, the bio-based feed is hydrodeoxygenated. EXAMPLE - ZSM-23 molecular sieve (with a silicon:aluminum ratio of 42) was formed from an aluminosilicate gel containing pyrrolidine as the organic structure directing agent. Upon crystallization, the ZSM-23 zeolite was recovered by filtration and washing. The zeolite was then dried at 100-110 degrees C. The dried zeolite was then impregnated with an ammonical platinum solution, aged for 30 minutes under ambient conditions, and dried at 70-110 degrees C. The impregnated zeolite was then calcined at 400-550 degrees C, to obtain calcined hydroisomerization catalyst with platinum (0.5 wt.%).