Abstract: Catalysts for dewaxing of hydrocarbon feeds, particularly feeds with elevated sulfur and nitrogen levels, are provided. The dewaxing catalysts include a zeolite with a low silica to alumina ratio combined with a low surface binder, or alternatively the formulated catalyst has a high ratio of zeolite surface area to external surface area.

Abstract: A spectrophone assembly comprises a single detector chamber, a plurality of lasers, a gas inlet for supplying a gas sample to the single detector chamber, and at least one microphone. The detector chamber has an internal geometry arranged to be simultaneously acoustically resonant at a plurality of different resonant frequencies. Each laser operates at a different wavelength and is positioned to emit radiation into the single detector chamber, and is operable to emit radiation that is amplitude modulated at a frequency rate corresponding to a particular resonant frequency different from the resonant frequency of each other laser, simultaneously with each other laser. The microphone(s) are positioned in the single detector chamber so that each microphone is located at or near a maximum of a corresponding acoustic resonance defined by the internal geometry of the detector chamber.

Abstract: A spectrophone assembly comprises a single detector chamber, a plurality of lasers, a gas inlet for supplying a gas sample to the single detector chamber, and at least one microphone. The detector chamber has an internal geometry arranged to be simultaneously acoustically resonant at a plurality of different resonant frequencies. Each laser operates at a different wavelength and is positioned to emit radiation into the single detector chamber, and is operable to emit radiation that is amplitude modulated at a frequency rate corresponding to a particular resonant frequency different from the resonant frequency of each other laser, simultaneously with each other laser. The microphone(s) are positioned in the single detector chamber so that each microphone is located at or near a maximum of a corresponding acoustic resonance defined by the internal geometry of the detector chamber.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of xylenes from reformate. The process is carried out by methylating the benzene, toluene, or both present in the reformate to produce a resulting product having a higher xylenes content than the reformate. Greater than equilibrium amounts of para-xylene can be produced by the process.

Abstract: Catalysts for dewaxing of hydrocarbon feeds, particularly feeds with elevated sulfur and nitrogen levels, are provided. The dewaxing catalysts include a zeolite with a low silica to alumina ratio combined with a low surface binder, or alternatively the formulated catalyst has a high ratio of zeolite surface area to external surface area.

Abstract: In a process for converting C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons to lighter aromatic products a feed comprising C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons is contacted under transalkylation reaction conditions with a catalyst composition comprising (i) a first molecular sieve selected from the group consisting of ZSM-12, mordenite and a porous crystalline inorganic oxide material having an X-ray diffraction pattern including d-spacing maxima at 12.4±0.25, 6.9±0.15, 3.57±0.07 and 3.42±0.07; and (ii) a second molecular sieve having a constraint index ranging from 3 to 12. At least the first molecular sieve has a hydrogenation component associated therewith and the first and second molecular sieves are contained in the same catalyst bed. The C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons are converted under the transalkylation reaction conditions to a reaction product containing xylene.

Abstract: A process for controlling the hydrogenation activity of a catalyst comprised of a crystalline molecular sieve and at least one hydrogenation metal selected from the group consisting of a Group VIIB metal, a Group VIII metal, and mixtures thereof. The process is carried out by contacting the catalyst with hydrogen under sufficient conditions of temperature and pressure and for sufficient time to reduce the hydrogenolysis activity of the catalyst. The catalyst prepared by the process finds application in the catalytic conversion of organic compounds, such as ethylbenzene dealkylation, xylenes isomerization, and the transalkylation of polyalkylaromatic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: In a process for synthesizing a crystalline molecular sieve, an aqueous synthesis mixture is produced capable of forming the crystalline molecular sieve. Crystallization of the synthesis mixture is induced so as to form crystals of said molecular sieve in the synthesis mixture and, when crystallization is complete, the molecular sieve crystals are allowed or caused to separate from the remainder of the synthesis mixture to produce a solid phase comprising said molecular sieve crystals and a supernatant liquid phase. The supernatant liquid phase is then decanted from the solid phase to recover the molecular sieve crystals and the crystals are dried without initially being subjected to washing or filtration.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of xylenes from reformate. The process is carried out by methylating under conditions effective for the methylation, the benzene/toluene present in the reformate outside the reforming loop, to produce a resulting product having a higher xylenes content than the reformate. Greater than equilibrium amounts of para-xylene can be produced by the process.

Abstract: In a process for preparing a selectivated catalyst composition useful in the disproportionation of toluene, a catalyst comprising an acidic molecular sieve is contacted with a boron compound at a temperature in excess of 500° C.; and the resultant catalyst is then contacted with a medium containing hydrogen ions to at least partially restore the acid activity of the molecular sieve.

Abstract: A catalyst system that exhibits a ratio of ethylene saturation to aromatics ring saturation of greater than 3,500. The catalyst system comprises two components and each component comprises a crystalline molecular sieve having a Constraint Index of from about 1 to about 12 and an effective amount of Group VIII metal. The catalyst system finds particular application in ethylbenzene conversion/xylenes isomerization reactions. The catalyst system can be prepared by incorporating the Group VIII metal into the molecular sieves by competitive ion exchange.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of xylenes from reformate by reactive distillation. The process is carried out by methylating the benzene/toluene present in the reformate in a reactive distillation zone and under reactive distillation conditions to produce a resulting product having a higher xylenes content than the reformate. Greater than equilibrium amounts of para-xylene can be produced by the process.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of xylenes from reformate. The process is carried out by methylating under conditions effective for the methylation, the benzene/toluene present in the reformate outside the reforming loop, to produce a resulting product having a higher xylenes content than the reformate. Greater than equilibrium amounts of para-xylene can be produced by the process.

Abstract: In a process for converting C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons to lighter aromatic products a feed comprising C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons is contacted under transalkylation reaction conditions with a catalyst composition comprising (i) a first molecular sieve selected from the group consisting of ZSM-12, mordenite and a porous crystalline inorganic oxide material having an X-ray diffraction pattern including d-spacing maxima at 12.4±0.25, 6.9±0.15, 3.57±0.07 and 3.42±0.07; and (ii) a second molecular sieve having a constraint index ranging from 3 to 12. At least the first molecular sieve has a hydrogenation component associated therewith and the first and second molecular sieves are contained in the same catalyst bed. The C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons are converted under the transalkylation reaction conditions to a reaction product containing xylene.

Abstract: An ethylbenzene conversion catalyst is described which comprises a molecular sieve and a hydrogenation metal, wherein the catalyst exhibits a benzene hydrogenation activity at 100° C. of less than about 100 and a metal dispersion, as measured by hydrogen chemisorption, greater than 0.4 and wherein the molecular sieve is steamed to an alpha value of less than 400 prior to incorporation of the palladium with the molecular sieve.

Abstract: An ethylbenzene conversion catalyst is described which comprises a molecular sieve and a hydrogenation metal, wherein the catalyst exhibits a benzene hydrogenation activity at 100° C. of less than about 100 and a metal dispersion, as measured by hydrogen chemisorption, greater than 0.4 and wherein the molecular sieve is steamed to an alpha value of less than 400 prior to incorporation of the palladium with the molecular sieve.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of xylenes from reformate. The process is carried out by methylating the benzene, toluene, or both present in the reformate to produce a resulting product having a higher xylenes content than the reformate. Greater than equilibrium amounts of para-xylene can be produced by the process.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of xylenes from reformate. The process is carried out by methylating under conditions effective for the methylation, the benzene/toluene present in the reformate outside the reforming loop, to produce a resulting product having a higher xylenes content than the reformate. Greater than equilibrium amounts of para-xylene can be produced by the process.

Abstract: A platinum-containing aluminum oxide reforming catalyst is disclosed which is modified by incorporating silica therein. The resulting catalyst is used to reform naphtha yielding a reformate having a higher C5 and aromatic content than that achieved using a similar catalyst which contains no added silica.

Abstract: This is a process for upgrading a petroleum naphtha fraction. The naphtha is subjected to reforming and the reformate is cascaded to a benzene and toluene synthesis zone over a benzene and toluene synthesis catalyst comprising a molecular sieve of low acid activity. The preferred molecular sieve is steamed ZSM-5. The benzene and toluene synthesis zone is operated under conditions compatible with the conditions of the reformer such as temperatures of above about 800° F. (427° C.). In one aspect on the invention, the benzene and toluene synthesis catalyst includes a metal hydrogenation component from group VII(B), specifically rhenium. In one mode of operation, the benzene and toluene synthesis catalyst replaces at least a portion of the catalyst in the reformer. The process produces a product containing an increased proportion of benzene, toluene, and/or xylenes, and a reduced portion of alkylated aromatics, as compared to reformate.