Toluene disproportionation and C9/C10 transalkylation are a significant source of xylenes in a modern aromatics complex. Methods and apparatuses for improving the energy efficiency of these disproportionation and transalkylation processes are provided.

Methods are provided for converting lignin-containing biomass into compounds that are more readily processed to form fuel and/or chemical products. The methods can allow for removal of at least a portion of the oxygen in lignin, either during or after depolymerization of lignin to single ring aromatic compounds, while optionally reducing or minimizing aromatic saturation performed on the aromatic compounds. The methods can include use of quench solvent to control reactions within the product stream from a pyrolysis process and/or use of a solvent to assist with hydroprocessing of lignin, lignin-containing biomass, or a pyrolysis oil.

Methods are provided for converting lignin-containing biomass into compounds that are more readily processed to form fuel and/or chemical products. The methods can allow for removal of at least a portion of the oxygen in lignin, either during or after depolymerization of lignin to single ring aromatic compounds, while optionally reducing or minimizing aromatic saturation performed on the aromatic compounds. The methods can include use of quench solvent to control reactions within the product stream from a pyrolysis process and/or use of a solvent to assist with hydroprocessing of lignin, lignin-containing biomass, or a pyrolysis oil.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides methods for producing olefins and/or aromatics from coker naphtha. In a non-limiting embodiment, a method for producing aromatics includes hydrogenating the coker naphtha stream in the presence of a first catalyst to remove diolefins and sulfur, if any, to obtain a hydrogenated stream and subjecting the hydrogenated stream to aromatization in the presence of a second catalyst to produce an aromatic-rich stream that includes benzene, toluene and xylene. In certain embodiments, a method for producing olefins includes hydrogenating the coker naphtha stream in the presence of a first catalyst to remove diolefins and sulfur, if any, to obtain a hydrogenated stream and subjecting the hydrogenated stream to catalytic cracking in the presence of a second catalyst to produce an olefin-rich stream that includes ethylene, propylene and aromatics.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides methods for producing olefins and/or aromatics from coker naphtha. In a non-limiting embodiment, a method for producing aromatics includes hydrogenating the coker naphtha stream in the presence of a first catalyst to remove diolefins and sulfur, if any, to obtain a hydrogenated stream and subjecting the hydrogenated stream to aromatization in the presence of a second catalyst to produce an aromatic-rich stream that includes benzene, toluene and xylene. In certain embodiments, a method for producing olefins includes hydrogenating the coker naphtha stream in the presence of a first catalyst to remove diolefins and sulfur, if any, to obtain a hydrogenated stream and subjecting the hydrogenated stream to catalytic cracking in the presence of a second catalyst to produce an olefin-rich stream that includes ethylene, propylene and aromatics.

Embodiments in the present disclosure describe a process for recovery of lighter mono-aromatic compounds from a stream containing alkyl bridged non-condensed alkyl multi-aromatic compounds by conversion to non-condensed alkyl mono-aromatic compounds. The process includes supplying, to a reactor, a hydrocarbon feedstock containing alkyl bridged non-condensed alkyl aromatic compounds and a hydrogen stream. The process further includes allowing the alkyl-bridged non-condensed alkyl multi-aromatic compounds to react with hydrogen in the presence of a suitable catalyst to produce alkyl mono-aromatic compounds. The process may include processing the alkyl mono-aromatic compounds to produce valuable products, such as para-xylene. Various other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

The invention relates to a process for producing benzene comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hydrocracking feed stream comprising C.sub.5-C.sub.12 hydrocarbons, (b) contacting the hydrocracking feed stream in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrocracking catalyst under process conditions including a temperature of 425-580 C., a pressure of 300-5000 kPa gauge and a Weight Hourly Space Velocity of 3-30 h.sup.1 to produce a hydrocracking product stream comprising BTX and (c) separating the BTX from the hydrocracking product stream, wherein the hydrocracking catalyst comprises a shaped body comprising a zeolite and a binder and a hydrogenation metal deposited on the shaped body, wherein the amount of the hydrogenation metal is 0.010-0.30 wt-% with respect to the total catalyst and wherein the zeolite is ZSM-5 having a silica (SiO.sub.2) to alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) molar ratio of 25-75.

Disclosed herein is a system and method capable of producing benzene from a product stream.

Disclosed herein is a system and method capable of producing benzene from a product stream.

Disclosed herein is a system and method capable of producing benzene from a product stream.