Disclosed are a fluidized bed gas distributor and a fluidized bed reactor, the fluidized bed reactor comprising a first distributor (1) and a second distributor (2), wherein the first distributor (1) is located at the bottom of a fluidized bed, and second distributor (2) is located downstream of a gas from the first distributor (1). Also disclosed is a method for producing a para-xylene and co-producing light olefins, the method comprising the following steps: material stream A enters a reaction zone (3) of a fluidized bed reactor from a first gas distributor (1); material stream B enters the reaction zone (3) of the fluidized bed reactor from a second gas distributor (2); and the reactants are brought into contact with a catalyst in the reaction zone (3) to generate a gas phase stream comprising para-xylene and light olefins.

Disclosed are a fluidized bed gas distributor and a fluidized bed reactor, the fluidized bed reactor comprising a first distributor (1) and a second distributor (2), wherein the first distributor (1) is located at the bottom of a fluidized bed, and second distributor (2) is located downstream of a gas from the first distributor (1). Also disclosed is a method for producing a para-xylene and co-producing light olefins, the method comprising the following steps: material stream A enters a reaction zone (3) of a fluidized bed reactor from a first gas distributor (1); material stream B enters the reaction zone (3) of the fluidized bed reactor from a second gas distributor (2); and the reactants are brought into contact with a catalyst in the reaction zone (3) to generate a gas phase stream comprising para-xylene and light olefins.

Systems and processes disclosed may be used to produce a high purity isobutane stream and a high purity 1-butene stream from mixed C4 streams having disparate starting compositions.

Disclosed is a process for producing mixed xylenes and C.sub.9+ hydrocarbons in which an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock comprising benzene and/or toluene is contacted with an alkylating agent comprising methanol and/or dimethyl ether under alkylation conditions in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylated aromatic product stream comprising the mixed xylenes and C.sub.9+ hydrocarbons. The mixed xylenes are subsequently converted to para-xylene, and the C.sub.9+ hydrocarbons and its components may be supplied as motor fuels blending components. The alkylation catalyst comprises a molecular sieve having a Constraint Index in the range from greater than zero up to about 3. The molar ratio of aromatic hydrocarbon to alkylating agent is in the range of greater than 1:1 to less than 4:1.

Disclosed is a process for producing mixed xylenes and C.sub.9+ hydrocarbons in which an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock comprising benzene and/or toluene is contacted with an alkylating agent comprising methanol and/or dimethyl ether under alkylation conditions in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylated aromatic product stream comprising the mixed xylenes and C.sub.9+ hydrocarbons. The mixed xylenes are subsequently converted to para-xylene, and the C.sub.9+ hydrocarbons and its components may be supplied as motor fuels blending components. The alkylation catalyst comprises a molecular sieve having a Constraint Index in the range from greater than zero up to about 3. The molar ratio of aromatic hydrocarbon to alkylating agent is in the range of greater than 1:1 to less than 4:1.

A process for producing paraxylene by the catalytic alkylation of benzene and/or toluene with methanol, which produces a para-rich mixture of xylene isomers, together with water and some light organic by-products, particularly dimethyl ether and C.sub.4 olefins. The off-gas stream, containing the C.sub.4 olefins, may be recycled back to the reaction to be co-injected with methanol to reduce the methanol self-decomposition and the reaction of methanol to olefins or to fluidize catalyst particles recovered by a reactor cyclone. By using recycled off-gas rather than water or steam, the deleterious effects of water and/or steam on the catalyst aging and activity rates and the size of downstream equipment necessary to recover olefin by-products may be reduced.

A process for producing paraxylene by the catalytic alkylation of benzene and/or toluene with methanol, which produces a para-rich mixture of xylene isomers, together with water and some light organic by-products, particularly dimethyl ether and C.sub.4 olefins. The off-gas stream, containing the C.sub.4 olefins, may be recycled back to the reaction to be co-injected with methanol to reduce the methanol self-decomposition and the reaction of methanol to olefins or to fluidize catalyst particles recovered by a reactor cyclone. By using recycled off-gas rather than water or steam, the deleterious effects of water and/or steam on the catalyst aging and activity rates and the size of downstream equipment necessary to recover olefin by-products may be reduced.

Forming a diene includes contacting a reactant including at least one of a cyclic ether and a diol with a heterogeneous acid catalyst to yield a reaction mixture including a diene. The heterogeneous acid catalyst includes at least one of a Lewis acid catalyst, a supported Lewis-acid catalyst, a Brnsted acid catalyst, a solid acid catalyst, a supported phosphoric acid catalyst, and a sulfonated catalyst. The dehydration of cyclic ethers and diols with high selectivity to yield dienes completes pathways for the production of dienes, such as isoprene and butadiene, from biomass in high yields, thereby promoting economical production of dienes from renewable resources.

Forming a diene includes contacting a reactant including at least one of a cyclic ether and a diol with a heterogeneous acid catalyst to yield a reaction mixture including a diene. The heterogeneous acid catalyst includes at least one of a Lewis acid catalyst, a supported Lewis-acid catalyst, a Brnsted acid catalyst, a solid acid catalyst, a supported phosphoric acid catalyst, and a sulfonated catalyst. The dehydration of cyclic ethers and diols with high selectivity to yield dienes completes pathways for the production of dienes, such as isoprene and butadiene, from biomass in high yields, thereby promoting economical production of dienes from renewable resources.

Disclosed is a process for producing mixed xylenes and C.sub.9+ hydrocarbons in which an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock comprising benzene and/or toluene is contacted with an alkylating agent comprising methanol and/or dimethyl ether under alkylation conditions in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylated aromatic product stream comprising the mixed xylenes and C.sub.9+ hydrocarbons. The mixed xylenes are subsequently converted to para-xylene, and the C.sub.9+ hydrocarbons and its components may be supplied as motor fuels blending components. The alkylation catalyst comprises a molecular sieve having a Constraint Index in the range from greater than zero up to about 3. The molar ratio of aromatic hydrocarbon to alkylating agent is in the range of greater than 1:1 to less than 4:1.