Xylene ethylbenzene conversion

In commercial xylene isomerization, it is desirable that the necessary ethylbenzene conversion is accompanied by a minimum conversion (transalkylation) of xylenes, since the latter constitutes a downgrading to less valuable products. The ability of ZSM-5 to convert ethylbenzene via transalkylation in high selectivity, as shown in Table II, leads to high ultimate p-xylene yields in a commercial process. With a simulated commercial feed containing 85% m- and o-xylene and 15% ethylbenzene, we have obtained the data shown in Table III. It is seen that for a given ethylbenzene conversion, the xylene loss... 

Selective xylenes isomerization and ethylbenzene conversion. US Patent 5,143,941. 

The substitution of aluminium for boron in zeolites leads to a material with decreased Broensted acidity. These properties have been successfully applied in industrial processes, such as the Assoreni (methyl tertiobuthylether into methanol and isobutene) and Amoco processes (xylene isomerization and ethylbenzene conversion) [1-3]. Recently, the methanol conversion, the alkylation of toluene with methanol and the xylene isomerization on borosilicalites were critically analyzed [4]. 

Figure 4. Selectivity for ethylbenzene conversion plotted against xylene losses for A MeAPSO s, LZ-105 and SAPO s.

While the present study has not examined the performance of zeolite based catalysts, Table V summarizes patent literature data(23b) for a mordenite and platinum/alumina mixture. Data for the Pt and SAPO-11 mixture obtained under similar conditions are presented for comparison. The mordenite catalyst is significantly less selective than SAPO-11, giving 25.6% ethylbenzene conversion with only 0.5% net xylene production. 

The data obtained with high ethylbenzene feed shows even more dramatically the efficient conversion of ethylbenzene to xylenes over the SAPO-ll-containing catalyst. Thus at 23.6% ethylbenzene conversion, a nearly 13% increase in xylene yield is observed. 

Borosilicate catalysts provide high approach to thermodynamic equilibrium of the xylenes, and offer high selectivity in the conversion of ethylbenzene (8.12.22.50 ). In addition, they have been shown to be less prone to the effects of thermal and steam treatments than corresponding aluminosilicate zeolite catalysts (51). The catalytic activity of borosilicate catalysts was demonstrated to be a function of the structural boron content of the molecular sieve (22.36,50). In addition, the by-product distribution obtained from a borosilicate catalyst in a xylene isomerization/ethylbenzene conversion process was found to be distinctive (50), with high transethylation reactivity relative to transmethylation. 

Application GT-lsomPX is GTC s xylene isomerization technology available in two versions ethylbenzene (EB) isomerization and EB dealkylation. Both versions gain high ethylbenzene conversion rates while producing equilibrium mixed xylenes—meta-xylene (MX), ortho-xylene (OX) and paraxylene (PX). 

The experimental unit for isomerization of xylenes has the function of increasing the content of ortho-xylene in the xylenes stream from the ethylbenzene conversion. 

In shape-selective catalysis, the pore size of the zeoHte is important. For example, the ZSM-5 framework contains 10-membered rings with 0.6-nm pore size. This material is used in xylene isomerization, ethylbenzene synthesis, dewaxing of lubricatius oils and light fuel oil, ie, diesel and jet fuel, and the conversion of methanol to Hquid hydrocarbon fuels (21). 

Xylene Isomeri tion. The objective of C-8-aromatics processing is the conversion of the usual four-component feedstream (ethylbenzene and the three xylenes) into an isomerically pure xylene. Although the bulk of current demand is for xylene isomer for polyester fiber manufacture, significant markets for the other isomers exist. The primary problem is separation of the 8—40% ethylbenzene that is present in the usual feedstocks, a task that is compHcated by the closeness of the boiling points of ethylbenzene and -xylene. In addition, the equiUbrium concentrations of the xylenes present in the isomer separation train raffinate have to be reestabUshed to maximize the yield of the desired isomer. 

Chlorine-enhancement may offer a partial solution. The addition of the chlorinated olefin TCE, PCE, or TCP to air/contaminant mixtures has recently been demonstrated to increase quantum yields substantially [1, 2, 6]. We recently have extended this achievement [3], to demonstrate TCE-driven high quantmn efficiency conversions at a reference feed concentration of 50 mg contaminant/m air not only for toluene but also for other aromatics such as ethylbenzene and m-xylene, as well as the volatile oxygenates 2-butanone, acetaldehyde, butsraldehyde, 1-butanol, methyl acrylate, methyl-ter-butyl-ether (MTBE), 1,4 dioxane, and an alkane, hexane. Not 1 prospective contaminants respond positively to TCE addition a conventional, mutual competitive inhibition was observed for acetone, methanol, methylene chloride, chloroform, and 1,1,1 trichloroethane, and the benzene rate was altogether unaffected. 

In our calculations we will first discuss our results starting with both the 2-and 3- octyl cations (the 4- octyl cation cannot form a 1,6-p-H-structure). The n-octane conversion to aromatics, as described by Davis (8), is a good test of our proposed mechanisms, for several reasons (1) his experimental observation would require the formation of approximately equal amounts of 1,2-dimethylcyclohexane (o-xylene) and ethylcyclohexane (ethylbenzene), even though in our mechanism the structure of the needed 1,6-p-H cation intermediates are quite different, and (2) the formation of to- and p-xylene requires a prior isomerization of n-octane to 2- and 3- methylheptane, and this must be a faster reaction than the dehydrocyclization (or at least competitive with it). If our mechanisms are valid, we should be able to reproduce some aspects of the above results. 

This iron-sulfur oxygenase [EC 1.14.12.11] catalyzes the reaction of molecular oxygen with toluene and NADH to produce (15 ,27 )-3-methylcyclohexa-3,5-diene-l,2-diol and NAD. This reductase is an iron-sulfur flavo-protein (FAD) that contains ferredoxin. Ethylbenzene, 4-xylene, and some halogenated toluenes can likewise undergo conversion to the corresponding cw-dihydro-diols. 

We have seen previously shape-selective catalysis by ZSM-5 in the conversion of methanol to gasoline (Chapter 15).-7 Other commercial processes include the formation of ethylbenzene from benzene and ethylene and the synthesis of p-xylene. The efficient performance of ZSM-5 catalyst has been attributed to its high acidity and to the peculiar shape, arrangement, and dimensions of the channels. Most of the active sites are within the channel so a branched chain molecule may not be able to diffuse in, and therefore does not react, while a linear one may do so. Of course, once a reactant is in the channel a cavity large enough to house the activated complex must exist or product cannot form. Finally, the product must be able to diffuse out. and in some instances product size and shape exclude this possibility. For example, in the methylu-uon of toluene to form xylene ... 

The reactions of the various xylenes and ethylbenzene have been studied by Pitts and associates (P7). It was found that isomerization reactions among the three xylenes were catalyzed by acidic catalysts, but that interconversions between the xylenes and ethylbenzene required the presence of a hydrogenation-dehydrogenation component. Furthermore, it was found that the conversion of xylenes to ethylbenzene increased with decreasing temperature. Since lower temperatures are more favorable for hydrogenation, it has been suggested that the reaction proceeds by a sequence of steps such as the following (P7, W3) ... 

Product distribution data (Table V) obtained in the hydrocracking of coal, coal oil, anthracene and phenanthrene over a physically mixed NIS-H-zeolon catalyst indicated similarities and differences between the products of coal and coal oil on the one hand and anthracene and phenanthrene on the other hand. There were differences in the conversions which varied in the order coal> anthracene>phenanthrene coal oil. The yield of alkylbenzenes also varied in the order anthracene >phenanthrene>coal oil >coal under the conditions used. The alkylbenzenes and C -C hydrocarbon products from anthracene were similar to the products of phenanthrene. The most predominant component of alkylbenzenes was toluene and xylenes were produced in very small quantities. Methane was the most and butanes the least predominant components of the gaseous product. The products of coal and coal oil were also found to be similar. The most predominant components of alkylbenzenes and gaseous product were benzene and propane respectively. The data also indicated distinct differences between products of coal origin and pure aromatic hydrocarbons. The alkyl-benzene products of coal and coal oil contained more benzene and xylenes and less toluene, ethylbenzene and higher benzenes when compared to the products from anthracene and phenanthrene. The gaseous products of coal and coal oil contained more propane and butanes and less methane and ethane when compared to the products of anthracene and phenanthrene. The differences in the hydrocracked products were obviously due to the differences in the nature of reactants. Coal and coal oil contain hydroaromatic, naphthenic, heterocyclic and aliphatic structures, in addition to polynuclear aromatic structures. Hydrocracking under severe conditions yielded more BTX as shown in Table VI. The yields of BTX obtained from coal, coal oil, anthracene and phenanthrene were respectively 18.5, 25.5, 36.0, and 32.5 percent. Benzene was the most... 

A representative mixture has the composition C6-C8 nonaromatics (20), benzene (12), toluene (18), ethylbenzene (7), p-xylene (10), m-xylene (20), o-xylene (13), all in wl%. The goal is the separation of benzene and p-xylene of high purity. The other aromatics should be recovered at convenient purity in view of selling or for further conversion into the main products. 

Concurrently with the discovery and development in this country of the catalytic conversion of paraffins to aromatics (131) three different groups in the U.S.S.R. discovered this reaction independently of each other. Moldavskil and co-workers (238,239) showed that paraffins with six or more carbon atoms form aromatics by closure of a six-membered ring. For example, n-octane gives xylene and some ethylbenzene over amorphous chromia at about 470°C. Olefins also undergo this reaction. In subsequent publications, the group headed by Moldavskil demonstrated that molybdenum sulfide, titanium dioxide, and other oxides as well as activated carbon also may be used for dehydrocyclization (237,239). 

Zeolites are integral components of petrochemical refineries that produce benzene, xylene isomers, ethylbenzene and cumene. These aromatics must be high in purity for downstream conversion to polyesters and styrenic or phenolic based plastics. Catalytic processes for producing aromatics employ zeolites for isomerization, disproportionation, transalkylation, alkylation, and dealkylation. 

The feedstock consists of a mixture of C8 aromatics typically derived from catalytically reformed naphtha, hydrotreated pyrolysis gasoline oran LPG aromatization unit. The feed may contain up to 40% ethylbenzene, which is converted either to xylenes or benzene by the Isomar reactor at a high-conversion rate per pass. Feedstocks may be pure solvent extracts or fractional heartcuts containing up to 25% nonaromatics. Hydrogen may be supplied from a catalytic reforming unit or any suitable source. Chemical hydrogen consumption is minimal. 

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