This disclosure provides improved processes for converting benzene/toluene via methylation with methanol/dimethyl ether for producing, e.g., p-xylene. In an embodiment, a process comprises contacting a methylation agent feed with an aromatic hydrocarbon feed in the presence of a methylation catalyst in a methylation reactor at increased pressure. Reduced methylation catalyst deactivation can be achieved with increased pressure in the methylation reactor.

The present invention relates to a plant and a process for producing propylene at least one oxygenate, comprising a reactor for converting the reactant mixture into a product mixture which comprises propylene and also aliphatic and aromatic C.sub.5+ hydrocarbons, at least one distillation column for removing a C.sub.5+ stream, the C.sub.5+ stream comprising at least 90 wt % of the aliphatic and aromatic C.sub.5+ hydrocarbons of the product mixture, an extractive distillation column for separating the C.sub.5+ stream into an aromatics stream and an aliphatics stream, the aliphatics stream comprising at least 90 wt % of the aliphatics of the C.sub.5+ stream, and the aromatics stream comprising at least 90 wt % of the aromatics of the C.sub.5+ stream, and an aliphatics recycle line for at least partial recycling of the aliphatics stream to the reactor. According to the invention, an aromatics recycle line is provided which returns the aromatics stream at least partially as extractant into the extractive distillation column.

The present invention relates to a plant and a process for producing propylene at least one oxygenate, comprising a reactor for converting the reactant mixture into a product mixture which comprises propylene and also aliphatic and aromatic C.sub.5+ hydrocarbons, at least one distillation column for removing a C.sub.5+ stream, the C.sub.5+ stream comprising at least 90 wt % of the aliphatic and aromatic C.sub.5+ hydrocarbons of the product mixture, an extractive distillation column for separating the C.sub.5+ stream into an aromatics stream and an aliphatics stream, the aliphatics stream comprising at least 90 wt % of the aliphatics of the C.sub.5+ stream, and the aromatics stream comprising at least 90 wt % of the aromatics of the C.sub.5+ stream, and an aliphatics recycle line for at least partial recycling of the aliphatics stream to the reactor. According to the invention, an aromatics recycle line is provided which returns the aromatics stream at least partially as extractant into the extractive distillation column.

This invention relates to an alkylating process for alkyl benzenes, including the steps of: a) an alkyl benzene and a first stream of alkylating agent being fed into a first reaction zone, contacting with a catalyst A, to produce a process stream I; b) the process stream I and a second stream of alkylating agent being fed into at least one second reaction zone, contacting with a catalyst B, to produce a process stream II; and c) the process stream II being fed into at least one third reaction zone, contacting with a catalyst C, to produce a process stream III containing an alkylate. The present alkylating process can improve the utilization efficiency of the alkylating agent.

This invention relates to an alkylating process for alkyl benzenes, including the steps of: a) an alkyl benzene and a first stream of alkylating agent being fed into a first reaction zone, contacting with a catalyst A, to produce a process stream I; b) the process stream I and a second stream of alkylating agent being fed into at least one second reaction zone, contacting with a catalyst B, to produce a process stream II; and c) the process stream II being fed into at least one third reaction zone, contacting with a catalyst C, to produce a process stream III containing an alkylate. The present alkylating process can improve the utilization efficiency of the alkylating agent.

Disclosed is a process for making para-xylene from toluene and/or benzene comprising (i) converting toluene and/or benzene to a first product mixture comprising mixed xylenes, (ii) obtaining a xylene mixture from the first product mixture, (iii) separating para-xylene from the xylene mixture, and (iv) transalkylating meta-xylene and/or ortho-xylene with toluene and/or benzene.

Disclosed is a process for making para-xylene from toluene and/or benzene comprising (i) converting toluene and/or benzene to a first product mixture comprising mixed xylenes, (ii) obtaining a xylene mixture from the first product mixture, (iii) separating para-xylene from the xylene mixture, and (iv) transalkylating meta-xylene and/or ortho-xylene with toluene and/or benzene.

Provided herein are methods of producing dialkylfurans, such as 2,5-dimethylfuran, and other alkyl furans, such as 2-methylfuran. For example, 2,5-dimethylfuran may be produced by hydrogenation of (5-methylfuran-2-yl) methanol or 2-(chloromethyl)-5-methylfuran in the presence of a solid supported metal catalyst having an excess of either basic or acidic sites (as determined by chemisorption of CO2 or NH3). The process could further include a urea reagent (TMU, DMPU, TMI) and an alkyl benzene.

A method of making a catalyst containing nanosize zeolite particles supported on a support material is disclosed. A process for making styrene or ethylbenzene by reacting toluene with a C.sub.1 source over a catalyst containing nanosize zeolite particles supported on a support material is disclosed.

A method of making a catalyst containing nanosize zeolite particles supported on a support material is disclosed. A process for making styrene or ethylbenzene by reacting toluene with a C.sub.1 source over a catalyst containing nanosize zeolite particles supported on a support material is disclosed.