Abstract: A solid terephthalic acid composition and a process for producing terephthalic acid from para-xylene. The process comprises forming a mixture comprising the para-xylene, a solvent, a bromine source, and a catalyst; and oxidizing the para-xylene by contacting the mixture with an oxidizing agent at oxidizing conditions to produce a solid oxidation product comprising terephthalic acid, para-toluic acid, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde. The solvent comprises a carboxylic acid having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms and an dialkyl imidazolium ionic liquid; and the catalyst comprises at least one of cobalt, titanium, manganese, chromium, copper, nickel, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, tin, cerium, and zirconium. The solid terephthalic acid composition comprises, less than about 4,000 ppm-wt 4-carboxybenzaldehyde content, and more than about 2,000 ppm-wt a para-toluic acid.

Abstract: A process for providing aromatics from a coal tar stream. A coal tar stream is provided, and the coal tar stream is fractionated into at least a naphtha range stream. The naphtha range stream is hydrotreated, and the hydrotreated naphtha range stream is separated to provide at least a naphthene rich stream. The naphthene rich stream is reformed or dehydrogenated to convert the naphthene. The dehydrogenated naphthene rich stream may be combined with a portion of a reformed crude oil hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: A process for transalkylating a coal tar stream is described. A coal tar stream is provided, and is fractionated to provide at least one hydrocarbon stream having polycyclic aromatics. The hydrocarbon stream is hydrotreated in a hydrotreating zone, and then hydrocracked in a hydrocracking zone. A light aromatics stream is added to the hydrocracking zone. The light aromatics stream comprises one or more light aromatics having a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position that is lower than a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position for the hydrotreated stream. The hydrocracked stream is transalkylated in the hydrocracking zone.

Abstract: A process for selectively dealkylating aromatic compounds includes providing a coal tar stream comprising aromatic compounds and hydrotreating the coal tar stream to reduce a concentration of one or more of organic sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen in the coal tar stream, and to hydrogenate at least a portion of the aromatic compounds in the coal tar stream. The process further includes hydrocracking the hydrotreated coal tar stream to further hydrogenate the aromatic compounds and to crack at least one ring of multi-ring aromatic compounds to form single-ring aromatic compounds. The single-ring aromatic compounds present in the hydrocracked stream are then dealkylated to remove alkyl groups containing two or more carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for pyrolyzing a coal feed is described. A coal feed is pyrolyzed into a coal tar stream and a coke stream in a pyrolysis zone. The coal tar stream is separated into at least a pitch stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons. The pitch stream is reacted in a reaction zone to add at least one functional group to an aromatic ring of the aromatic hydrocarbons in the pitch stream. The functionalized pitch stream is recycled to the pyrolysis zone.

Abstract: A process for transalkylating a coal tar stream is described. A coal tar stream is provided, and is fractionated to provide at least one hydrocarbon stream having polycyclic aromatics. The hydrocarbon stream is hydrotreated in a hydrotreating zone, and then hydrocracked in a hydrocracking zone. A light aromatics stream is added to the hydrocracking zone. The light aromatics stream comprises one or more light aromatics having a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position that is lower than a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position for the hydrotreated stream. The hydrocracked stream is transalkylated in the hydrocracking zone.

Abstract: A process for selectively dealkylating aromatic compounds includes providing a coal tar stream comprising aromatic compounds and hydrotreating the coal tar stream to reduce a concentration of one or more of organic sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen in the coal tar stream, and to hydrogenate at least a portion of the aromatic compounds in the coal tar stream. The process further includes hydrocracking the hydrotreated coal tar stream to further hydrogenate the aromatic compounds and to crack at least one ring of multi-ring aromatic compounds to form single-ring aromatic compounds. The single-ring aromatic compounds present in the hydrocracked stream are then dealkylated to remove alkyl groups containing two or more carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for providing aromatics from a coal tar stream. A coal tar stream is provided, and the coal tar stream is fractionated into at least a naphtha range stream. The naphtha range stream is hydrotreated, and the hydrotreated naphtha range stream is separated to provide at least a naphthene rich stream. The naphthene rich stream is reformed or dehydrogenated to convert the naphthene. The dehydrogenated naphthene rich stream may be combined with a portion of a reformed crude oil hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: A process for producing alkylated aromatic compounds includes pyrolyzing a coal feed to produce a coke stream and a coal tar stream. The coal tar stream is hydrotreated and the resulting hydrotreated coal tar stream is cracked. A portion of the cracked coal tar stream is separated to obtain a fraction having an initial boiling point in the range of about 60° C. to about 180° C., and an aromatics-rich hydrocarbon stream is extracted by contacting the fraction with one or more solvents. The aromatics-rich hydrocarbon stream is contacted with an alkylating agent to produce an alkylated aromatic stream, or the aromatics-rich hydrocarbon stream is reacted with an aliphatic compound or methanol in the presence of a catalyst to produce a methylated aromatic stream. The alkylated aromatic stream, the methylated aromatic stream, or both are separated into at least a benzene stream, a toluene stream, and a xylenes stream.

Abstract: A process for providing aromatics from a coal tar stream. A coal tar stream is provided, and the coal tar stream is fractionated into at least a naphtha range stream. The naphtha range stream is hydrotreated, and the hydrotreated naphtha range stream is separated to provide at least a naphthene rich stream. The naphthene rich stream is reformed or dehydrogenated to convert the naphthene. The dehydrogenated naphthene rich stream may be combined with a portion of a reformed crude oil hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: A process for transalkylating a coal tar stream is described. A coal tar stream is provided, and is fractionated to provide at least one hydrocarbon stream having polycyclic aromatics. The hydrocarbon stream is hydrotreated in a hydrotreating zone, and then hydrocracked in a hydrocracking zone. A light aromatics stream is added to the hydrocracking zone. The light aromatics stream comprises one or more light aromatics having a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position that is lower than a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position for the hydrotreated stream. The hydrocracked stream is transalkylated in the hydrocracking zone.

Abstract: A process for selectively dealkylating aromatic compounds includes providing a coal tar stream comprising aromatic compounds and hydrotreating the coal tar stream to reduce a concentration of one or more of organic sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen in the coal tar stream, and to hydrogenate at least a portion of the aromatic compounds in the coal tar stream. The process further includes hydrocracking the hydrotreated coal tar stream to further hydrogenate the aromatic compounds and to crack at least one ring of multi-ring aromatic compounds to form single-ring aromatic compounds. The single-ring aromatic compounds present in the hydrocracked stream are then dealkylated to remove alkyl groups containing two or more carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process and a mixture for oxidizing an alkyl-aromatic compound comprises forming a mixture comprising the alkyl-aromatic compound, a solvent, a bromine source, and a catalyst; and contacting the mixture with an oxidizing agent at oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidation product comprising at least one of an aromatic aldehyde, an aromatic alcohol, an aromatic ketone, and an aromatic carboxylic acid. The solvent comprises a carboxylic acid having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms and an ionic liquid selected from the group consisting of an imidazolium ionic liquid, a pyridinium ionic liquid, a phosphonium ionic liquid, a tetra alkyl ammonium ionic liquid, and combinations thereof. The catalyst comprises at least one of cobalt, titanium, manganese, chromium, copper, nickel, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, tin, cerium, and zirconium.

Abstract: A process for selectively dealkylating aromatic compounds includes providing a coal tar stream comprising aromatic compounds and hydrotreating the coal tar stream to reduce a concentration of one or more of organic sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen in the coal tar stream, and to hydrogenate at least a portion of the aromatic compounds in the coal tar stream. The process further includes hydrocracking the hydrotreated coal tar stream to further hydrogenate the aromatic compounds and to crack at least one ring of multi-ring aromatic compounds to form single-ring aromatic compounds. The single-ring aromatic compounds present in the hydrocracked stream are then dealkylated to remove alkyl groups containing two or more carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for transalkylating a coal tar stream is described. A coal tar stream is provided, and is fractionated to provide at least one hydrocarbon stream having polycyclic aromatics. The hydrocarbon stream is hydrotreated in a hydrotreating zone, and then hydrocracked in a hydrocracking zone. A light aromatics stream is added to the hydrocracking zone. The light aromatics stream comprises one or more light aromatics having a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position that is lower than a ratio of methyl/aromatic available position for the hydrotreated stream. The hydrocracked stream is transalkylated in the hydrocracking zone.

Abstract: A process for producing olefins from a coal feed includes providing a coal tar stream and fractionating the coal tar stream to provide a hydrocarbon stream that includes hydrocarbons having an initial boiling point of about 250° C. or greater. The hydrocarbon stream is hydrotreated to reduce a concentration of one or more of nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen in the hydrocarbon stream, and the hydrotreated hydrocarbon stream is cracked in a fluidized catalytic cracking zone to produce an olefin stream.

Abstract: A coal tar process is described. A coal tar stream is provided, and the coal tar stream is separated to provide a plurality of hydrocarbon streams. At least one of the hydrocarbon streams is hydroprocessed in a fluidized bed hydroprocessing zone with a catalyst to provide a gaseous volatile product and a solid heavy hydrocarbon product absorbed onto the catalyst. The gaseous volatile product is separated from the catalyst. The catalyst is regenerating by separating the absorbed heavy hydrocarbon product from the catalyst. The regenerated catalyst is recycled into the hydroprocessing zone.

Abstract: A process for pyrolyzing a coal feed is described. A coal feed is pyrolyzed into a coal tar stream and a coke stream in a pyrolysis zone. The coal tar stream is separated into at least a pitch stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons. The pitch stream is reacted in a reaction zone to add at least one functional group to an aromatic ring of the aromatic hydrocarbons in the pitch stream. The functionalized pitch stream is recycled to the pyrolysis zone.

Abstract: A process for hydrotreating a coal tar stream is described. A coal tar stream is provided, and the coal tar stream is expanded with an inert gas stream to provide an expanded liquid coal tar stream. The expanded liquid coal tar stream is hydrotreated. The coal tar stream can be reacted with a hydrocarbon solvent before it is expanded.

Abstract: A multifunction hydrotreater includes a particulate removal zone having a particulate trap to remove particulate contaminants from a coal tar stream and a demetallizing zone including a demetallizing catalyst to remove organically bound metals from the departiculated stream. The demetallizing zone is positioned after the particulate removal zone. The hydrotreater also includes a hydrodesulfurization, hydrodenitrogenation, and hydrodeoxygenation zone positioned after the demetallization zone, which includes at least one hydrodesulfurization, hydrodenitrogenation, and hydrodeoxygenation catalyst to provide a hydrotreated coal tar stream.