Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming para-xylene from aromatics-containing streams having reduced or minimized amounts of C2+ side chains. Reduced or minimized amounts of C2+ side chains can provide benefits for improving and/or allowing modification of transalkylation conditions, xylene isomerization conditions, or a combination thereof. Such aromatics-containing streams can be formed, for example, by conversion of methyl halide, methanol, syngas, and/or dimethyl ether to aromatics by an aromatic conversion process. The methyl halide, methanol, syngas, and/or dimethyl ether can be formed by conversion of methane.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing lubricant base stocks from deasphalted oils formed by sequential deasphalting. The deasphalted oil can be exposed a first deasphalting process using a first solvent that can provide a lower severity of deasphalting and a second deasphalting process using a second solvent that can provide a higher severity of deasphalting. This can result in formation of at least a deasphalted oil and a resin fraction. The resin fraction can represent a fraction that traditionally would have been included as part of a deasphalter rock fraction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming para-xylene from aromatics-containing streams having reduced or minimized amounts of C2+ side chains. Reduced or minimized amounts of C2+ side chains can provide benefits for improving and/or allowing modification of transalkylation conditions, xylene isomerization conditions, or a combination thereof. Such aromatics-containing streams can be formed, for example, by conversion of methyl halide, methanol, syngas, and/or dimethyl ether to aromatics by an aromatic conversion process. The methyl halide, methanol, syngas, and/or dimethyl ether can be formed by conversion of methane.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for converting alkane while generating improved yields of desirable aromatics and/or improved selectivity for forming desired aromatics, such as para-xylene (p-xylene). Aromatics generated during the aromatic formation process can be alkylated to form xylenes with improved yield and/or improved selectivity.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing lubricant base stocks from deasphalted oils formed by sequential deasphalting. The deasphalted oil can be exposed a first deasphalting process using a first solvent that can provide a lower severity of deasphalting and a second deasphalting process using a second solvent that can provide a higher severity of deasphalting. This can result in formation of at least a deasphalted oil and a resin fraction. The resin fraction can represent a fraction that traditionally would have been included as part of a deasphalter rock fraction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for converting alkane while generating improved yields of desirable aromatics and/or improved selectivity for forming desired aromatics, such as para-xylene (p-xylene). Aromatics generated during the aromatic formation process can be alkylated to form xylenes with improved yield and/or improved selectivity.

Abstract: In a hydrocarbon upgrading process, a hydrocarbon feed is treated in at least one of a steam cracker, catalytic cracker, coker, hydrocracker, and reformer under suitable conditions to produce a first stream comprising olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons. A second stream composed mainly of C4 to C12 olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons is recovered from the first stream and at least part of the second stream is contacted with a catalyst in the absence of added hydrogen under reaction conditions including a temperature of about 450° C. to about 70° C. effective to dealkylate, transalkylate, crack and aromatize components of the second stream to produce a third stream having an increased benzene and/or toluene content compared with the second stream and a C3? olefin by-product. The C3? olefin by-product and a fourth stream comprising toluene are then recovered from the third stream.

Abstract: The process relates to the use of any naphtha-range stream containing a portion of C8+ aromatics combined with benzene, toluene, and other non-aromatics in the same boiling range to produce toluene. By feeding the A8+ containing stream to a dealkylation/transalkylation/cracking reactor to increase the concentration of toluene in the stream, a more suitable feedstock for the methylation reaction can be produced. This stream can be obtained from a variety of sources, including the pygas stream from a steam cracker, “cat naphtha” from a fluid catalytic cracker, or the heavier portion of reformate.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon upgrading process is described in which a hydrocarbon feed is treated in at least one of a steam cracker, catalytic cracker, coker, hydrocracker, and reformer under suitable conditions to produce a first stream comprising aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. A second stream comprising C6-C9 aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons is recovered from the first stream and aliphatic hydrocarbons are removed from at least part of the second stream to produce an aliphatic hydrocarbon-depleted stream. The aliphatic hydrocarbon-depleted stream is then dealkylated and/or transalkylated and/or cracked (D/T/C) by contact with a catalyst under suitable reaction conditions to produce a third stream having an increased benzene and/or toluene content compared with said aliphatic hydrocarbon-depleted stream and a light paraffin by-product. Benzene and/or toluene from the third stream is then methylated with a methylating agent to produce a xylene-enriched stream.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon upgrading process is described in which a hydrocarbon feed is treated in at least one of a steam cracker, catalytic cracker, coker, hydrocracker, and reformer under suitable conditions to produce a first stream comprising aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. A second stream comprising C6-C9 aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons is recovered from the first stream and aliphatic hydrocarbons are removed from at least part of the second stream to produce an aliphatic hydrocarbon-depleted stream. The aliphatic hydrocarbon-depleted stream is then dealkylated and/or transalkylated and/or cracked (D/T/C) by contact with a catalyst under suitable reaction conditions to produce a third stream having an increased benzene and/or toluene content compared with said aliphatic hydrocarbon-depleted stream and a light paraffin by-product. Benzene and/or toluene from the third stream is then methylated with a methylating agent to produce a xylene-enriched stream.

Abstract: In a hydrocarbon upgrading process, a hydrocarbon feed is treated in at least one of a steam cracker, catalytic cracker, coker, hydrocracker, and reformer under suitable conditions to produce a first stream comprising olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons. A second stream composed mainly of C4 to C12 olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons is recovered from the first stream and at least part of the second stream is contacted with a catalyst in the absence of added hydrogen under reaction conditions including a temperature of about 450° C. to about 70° C. effective to dealkylate, transalkylate, crack and aromatize components of the second stream to produce a third stream having an increased benzene and/or toluene content compared with the second stream and a C3? olefin by-product. The C3? olefin by-product and a fourth stream comprising toluene are then recovered from the third stream.

Abstract: In a process for producing para-xylene, a naphtha feed is reformed under conditions effective to convert at least 50 wt % of the naphthenes in the naphtha feed to aromatics, but to convert no more than 25 wt % of the paraffins in the naphtha feed, and thereby produce a reforming effluent. A first stream containing benzene and/or toluene is removed from the reforming effluent and is fed to a xylene production unit under conditions effective to convert benzene and/or toluene to xylenes. In addition, a second stream containing C8 aromatics is removed from the reforming effluent and is fed, together with at least part of the xylenes produced in the xylene production unit, to a para-xylene recovery unit to recover a para-xylene product stream and leave a para-xylene-depleted C8 stream.

Abstract: The process relates to the use of any naphtha-range stream containing a portion of C8+ aromatics combined with benzene, toluene, and other non-aromatics in the same boiling range to produce toluene. By feeding the A8+ containing stream to a dealkylation/transalkylation/cracking reactor to increase the concentration of toluene in the stream, a more suitable feedstock for the methylation reaction can be produced. This stream can be obtained from a variety of sources, including the pygas stream from a steam cracker, “cat naphtha” from a fluid catalytic cracker, or the heavier portion of reformate.

Abstract: An absorption process for separating a feed gas stream having components with a spectrum of volatilities including volatile (light) components, intermediate volatility components, and least volatile (heavy) components. The disclosed process includes the steps of: (1) contacting the feed gas stream with an internally generated liquid lean solvent stream in an absorber to produce a light product gas stream that is composed of predominantly light components and a rich solvent stream containing most of the intermediate and heavy components; (2) flashing the rich solvent stream at reduced pressure in a flash zone to produce an intermediate product gas stream composed predominantly of intermediate components and a lean solvent stream; (3) conveying the lean solvent stream from the flashing zone to the absorber, wherein the lean solvent is composed predominantly of heavy components supplied from the feed; the process does not use an external lean solvent.

Abstract: An absorption process for separating a feed gas stream having components with a spectrum of volatilities including volatile (light) components, intermediate volatility components, and least volatile (heavy) components. The disclosed process includes the steps of: (1) contacting the feed gas stream with a liquid lean solvent stream in an absorber to produce a light product gas stream that is composed of predominantly light components and a rich solvent stream containing most of the intermediate and heavy components; (2) flashing the rich solvent stream at reduced pressure in a flash zone to produce an intermediate product gas stream composed predominantly of intermediate components and a lean solvent stream; (3) conveying the lean solvent stream from the flashing zone to the absorber, wherein the lean solvent is composed predominantly of heavy components taken from the feed; the process does not use an external lean solvent.