Abstract: A process for producing xylene comprises contacting a first feed comprising C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons, at least one C6-C7 aromatic hydrocarbon and hydrogen with a first catalyst composition to dealkylate at least part of the C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons containing C2+ alkyl groups and to saturate the resulting C2+ olefins to produce a second feed. The second feed is then contacted with a second catalyst composition under conditions effective to transalkylate at least part of the C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons with at least part of the C6-C7 aromatic hydrocarbon to produce a first product comprising xylene. Each of the first and second catalyst compositions is substantially free of amorphous alumina.

Abstract: The invention is directed to purification of an aromatic hydrocarbon stream including selective removal of phenol from a process stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures, especially aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures that contain higher-than-equilibrium paraxylene, by contact with suitable adsorbents, to provide a product stream having lower concentration of phenol than said process stream.

Abstract: The invention is directed to purification of an aromatic hydrocarbon stream including selective removal of phenol from a process stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures, especially aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures that contain higher-than-equilibrium paraxylene, by contact with suitable adsorbents, to provide a product stream having lower concentration of phenol than said process stream.

Abstract: The invention is directed to purification of an aromatic hydrocarbon stream including selective removal of phenol from a process stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures, especially aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures that contain higher-than-equilibrium paraxylene, by contact with suitable adsorbents, to provide a product stream having lower concentration of phenol than said process stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to removal of styrene from hydrocarbon mixtures, and more particularly, removal of styrene from hydrocarbon mixtures containing higher than equilibrium paraxylene concentrations.

Abstract: In a process for producing para-xylene, a hydrocarbon feed comprising xylenes and ethylbenzene is supplied to a para-xylene extraction system, where a para-xylene-rich stream is recovered from the feed to leave at least one para-xylene-depleted stream. At least a portion of the para-xylene-depleted stream is isomerized at least partially in the liquid phase to produce an isomerized stream having a higher para-xylene concentration than the para-xylene-depleted stream. At least a portion of the isomerized stream is then recycled to the para-xylene extraction system. To control ethylbenzene build-up in the process, a purge stream is removed from the para-xylene-depleted stream and/or the isomerized stream and is subjected to one or more chemical processing steps to produce benzene and/or para-xylene.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of alkylating aromatic hydrocarbons, and more particularly a process of making paraxylene by alkylation of benzene and/or toluene with methanol and/or dimethyl ether, and to an apparatus for carrying out said process, the improvement comprising staged injection of one of the reactants, with the stages separated by structured packing so as to minimize at least one of gas phase back-mixing, by-pass phenomena, and gas bubble size.

Abstract: In a process for producing para-xylene, a feed comprising a mixture of xylene isomers, olefinic unsaturated contaminants and oxygenate contaminants is supplied to a para-xylene recovery unit to recover para-xylene and produce a para-xylene depleted residual stream. The para-xylene depleted residual stream is then contacted with a xylene isomerization catalyst in a xylene isomerization zone under liquid phase conditions effective to isomerize xylenes and produce an isomerized product having a higher para-xylene content than the para-xylene depleted residual stream. The isomerized product is then recycled to the para-xylene recovery unit. At least one of the feed, the para-xylene depleted residual stream and the isomerized product is contacted with a solid acid catalyst in a treatment zone under conditions effective to reduce the level of olefinic unsaturated contaminants and oxygenate contaminants therein and produce a treated stream.

Abstract: The invention is directed to purification of an aromatic hydrocarbon stream including selective removal of phenol from a process stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures, especially aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures that contain higher-than-equilibrium paraxylene, by contact with suitable adsorbents, to provide a product stream having lower concentration of phenol than said process stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for passivating catalysts wherein an inert gas is used to administer a precise, measurable amount of passivating agent to a catalyst in a substantially safer manner than conventional means. The inventive apparatus at least includes a first container comprising at least one inert gas, a second container comprising at least one passivating agent, and a reactor comprising at least one catalyst, the first container, second container, and reactor being fluidly connected by a plurality of conduits. The inventive process at least includes pressurizing a first container with an inert gas, filling a second container with passivating agent, providing a reactor containing a passivatable catalyst, mixing the inert with the passivating agent, forming a mixture of passivating agent and inert gas, and introducing the mixture of passivating agent and inert gas into the reactor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the removal of olefin impurities from a feedstream comprising greater than equilibrium amounts of paraxylene by contact of the feedstream with a bed of solid acid catalyst to produce a product comprising reduced olefin impurities (when compared with said feedstream), said process comprising at least one of (i) reduced bed temperature on startup, and (ii) reduced flow rate on startup, wherein, in embodiments, there is a reduction in side reactions such as isomerization and/or transalkylation and/or disproportionation of paraxylene, when compared with conventional startup procedures.

Abstract: In a process for producing para-xylene, benzene and/or toluene is alkylated with methanol in the presence of a catalyst under conditions including a temperature of at least 500° C. and an H2O partial pressure of at least 12 psia (83 kPaa). The catalyst comprises from 5 to 15 wt % ZSM-5, phosphorus or a compound thereof and a binder and has been steamed at a temperature of at least 900° C. The steamed catalyst has no more than two peaks in the 31P MAS NMR spectrum in the range of 0 to ?50 ppm.

Abstract: The invention relates to removal of styrene from hydrocarbon mixtures, and more particularly, removal of styrene from hydrocarbon mixtures containing higher than equilibrium paraxylene concentrations.

Abstract: The invention is directed to purification of an aromatic hydrocarbon stream including selective removal of phenol from a process stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures, especially aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures that contain higher-than-equilibrium paraxylene, by contact with suitable adsorbents, to provide a product stream having lower concentration of phenol than said process stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of alkylating aromatic hydrocarbons, and more particularly a process of making paraxylene by alkylation of benzene and/or toluene with methanol and/or dimethyl ether, and to an apparatus for carrying out said process, the improvement comprising staged injection of one of the reactants, with the stages separated by structured packing so as to minimize at least one of gas phase back-mixing, by-pass phenomena, and gas bubble size.

Abstract: The invention is a process for producing paraxylene, benzene and/or toluene is alkylated with methanol in the presence of a catalyst under conditions effective to convert said benzene and/or toluene to xylene and produce a product stream containing water, xylene and one or more phenolic impurities. The said product stream is separated into a water-rich stream and a xylene-rich stream containing one or more phenolic impurities and at least a portion of the xylene-rich stream is contacted with an aqueous solution of a base under conditions to remove at least some of the phenolic impurities from the xylene-rich stream portion.

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 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 system and process for producing xylene and other alkylated aromatics includes one or more fluidized bed reaction zones that provide contact between the reactants (i.e., an aromatic reactant and an alkylating reagent). Improved conversion and selectivity is realized when the alkylating reagent is stagewise injected into the fluidized bed at one or more locations downstream from the location of aromatic reactant introduction into the fluidized bed. Preferably, the alkylating reagent is introduced at a plurality of locations along the axial direction of the fluidized bed reaction zone, or at plural locations between a plurality of different fluidized bed reaction zones.