Processes for producing cresol from an alkylphenol stream involve transalkylating the longer-chain alkylphenols (i.e., having an alkyl chain with 2 or more carbon atoms) with an aromatic solvent such as benzene and/or toluene in a first transalky lation reaction zone to obtain phenol, cresol, xylenol, trimethylphenol, and alkylbenzenes. The xylenols and trimethylphenols are reacted with phenol in a second transalkylation reactor to obtain the desired cresols. Xylenes can also be produced.

Processes for producing cresol from an alkylphenol stream involve transalkylating the longer-chain alkylphenols (i.e., having an alkyl chain with 2 or more carbon atoms) with an aromatic solvent such as benzene and/or toluene in a first transalky lation reaction zone to obtain phenol, cresol, xylenol, trimethylphenol, and alkylbenzenes. The xylenols and trimethylphenols are reacted with phenol in a second transalkylation reactor to obtain the desired cresols. Xylenes can also be produced.

The present invention relates to a process for producing chemical grade BTX from a mixed feedstream comprising C5-C12 hydrocarbons by contacting said feedstream in the presence of hydrogen with a catalyst having hydrocracking/hydrodesulphurization activity. Particularly, a process for producing BTX from a feedstream comprising C5-C12 hydrocarbons is provided comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said feedstream in the presence of hydrogen with a combined hydrocracking/hydrodesulphurization catalyst to produce a hydrocracking product stream comprising BTX; and (b) separating the BTX from the hydrocracking product stream. The hydrocracking/hydrodesulphurization catalyst comprises 0.1-1 wt-% hydrogenation metal in relation to the total catalyst weight. The hydrocracking/hydrodesulphurization catalyst further comprises a zeolite having a pore size of 5-8 and a silica (SiO.sub.2) to alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) molar ratio of 5-200. The hydrocracking/hydrodesulphurization conditions include a temperature of 450-580 C., a pressure of 300-5000 kPa gauge and a Weight Hourly Space Velocity of 0.1-10 h.sup.1.

The present invention relates to a process for producing chemical grade BTX from a mixed feedstream comprising C5-C12 hydrocarbons by contacting said feedstream in the presence of hydrogen with a catalyst having hydrocracking/hydrodesulphurization activity. Particularly, a process for producing BTX from a feedstream comprising C5-C12 hydrocarbons is provided comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said feedstream in the presence of hydrogen with a combined hydrocracking/hydrodesulphurization catalyst to produce a hydrocracking product stream comprising BTX; and (b) separating the BTX from the hydrocracking product stream. The hydrocracking/hydrodesulphurization catalyst comprises 0.1-1 wt-% hydrogenation metal in relation to the total catalyst weight. The hydrocracking/hydrodesulphurization catalyst further comprises a zeolite having a pore size of 5-8 and a silica (SiO.sub.2) to alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) molar ratio of 5-200. The hydrocracking/hydrodesulphurization conditions include a temperature of 450-580 C., a pressure of 300-5000 kPa gauge and a Weight Hourly Space Velocity of 0.1-10 h.sup.1.

A system and method including providing a feed having alkyl-bridged multi-aromatic compounds to a tubular reactor, heating the tubular reactor, and cleaving an alkyl bridge of the alkyl-bridged multi-aromatic compounds.

A system and method including providing a feed having alkyl-bridged multi-aromatic compounds to a tubular reactor, heating the tubular reactor, and cleaving an alkyl bridge of the alkyl-bridged multi-aromatic compounds.

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.

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.