A process for ethylbenzene conversion and xylene isomerization of an alkylaromatic feed mixture is described. A C.sub.8 alkylaromatic feed mixture can be contacted with two catalyst beds successively in the liquid phase in a C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon isomerization zone. The first catalyst comprises a passivated zeolite containing a ten-membered ring channel framework for the conversion of ethylbenzene. The second catalyst comprises UZM-54 zeolite for selective isomerization of the xylenes.

A process and related system for producing para-xylene (PX). In an embodiment, the process includes (a) separating a feed stream comprising C.sub.6+ aromatic hydrocarbons into a toluene containing stream and a C.sub.8+ hydrocarbon containing stream and (b) contacting at least part of the toluene containing stream with a methylating agent in a methylation unit to convert toluene to xylenes and produce a methylated effluent stream. In addition, the process includes (c) recovering PX from the methylated effluent stream in (b) to produce a PX depleted stream and (d) transalkylating the PX depleted stream to produce a transalkylation effluent stream. The transalkylation effluent stream includes a higher concentration of toluene than the PX depleted stream. Further, the process includes (e) converting at least some ethylbenzene (EB) within the C.sub.8+ hydrocarbon containing stream into toluene and (f) flowing the toluene converted in (e) to the contacting in (b).

A process and related system for producing para-xylene (PX). In an embodiment, the process includes (a) separating a feed stream comprising C.sub.6+ aromatic hydrocarbons into a toluene containing stream and a C.sub.8+ hydrocarbon containing stream and (b) contacting at least part of the toluene containing stream with a methylating agent in a methylation unit to convert toluene to xylenes and produce a methylated effluent stream. In addition, the process includes (c) recovering PX from the methylated effluent stream in (b) to produce a PX depleted stream and (d) transalkylating the PX depleted stream to produce a transalkylation effluent stream. The transalkylation effluent stream includes a higher concentration of toluene than the PX depleted stream. Further, the process includes (e) converting at least some ethylbenzene (EB) within the C.sub.8+ hydrocarbon containing stream into toluene and (f) flowing the toluene converted in (e) to the contacting in (b).

Alkyl-demethylation of C2+-hydrocarbyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbons can be utilized to treat one or more of a heavy naphtha reformate stream, a hydrotreated SCN stream, a C8 aromatic hydrocarbon isomerization feed stream, a C9+ aromatic hydrocarbon transalkylation feed stream, and similar hydrocarbon streams to produce additional quantity of xylene products.

A method of producing p-xylene comprising the steps of separating the reformate feed in the reformate splitter to produce a benzene stream, a combined heavy stream, a xylene stream, and a toluene stream, converting the C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of a dealkylation catalyst in the dealkylation reactor to produce a dealkylation effluent, separating the dealkylation effluent in the dealkylation splitter to produce a C9 stream and a C10+ stream, reacting the C9 stream, the toluene stream, the benzene stream, and the hydrogen stream in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst in the transalkylation reactor to produce a transalkylation effluent, separating the p-xylenes from the xylene stream in the p-xylene separation unit to produce a p-xylene product and a p-xylene depleted stream, converting the m-xylene and o-xylene in the p-xylene depleted stream in the isomerization unit to produce an isomerization effluent.

A method of producing p-xylene comprising the steps of separating the reformate feed in the reformate splitter to produce a benzene stream, a combined heavy stream, a xylene stream, and a toluene stream, converting the C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of a dealkylation catalyst in the dealkylation reactor to produce a dealkylation effluent, separating the dealkylation effluent in the dealkylation splitter to produce a C9 stream and a C10+ stream, reacting the C9 stream, the toluene stream, the benzene stream, and the hydrogen stream in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst in the transalkylation reactor to produce a transalkylation effluent, separating the p-xylenes from the xylene stream in the p-xylene separation unit to produce a p-xylene product and a p-xylene depleted stream, converting the m-xylene and o-xylene in the p-xylene depleted stream in the isomerization unit to produce an isomerization effluent.

Increased paraxylene production through the use of a split feed reforming process, wherein hydrotreated naphtha is split into light, middle and heavy fractions. Each fraction is reformed separately to generate streams containing aromatic compounds. These streams can further be processed and can undergo dealkylation, transalkylation, disproportionation, isomerization, and separation steps to maximize paraxylene production. In addition, some streams are recycled or recombined in order to maximize paraxylene production.

Increased paraxylene production through the use of a split feed reforming process, wherein hydrotreated naphtha is split into light, middle and heavy fractions. Each fraction is reformed separately to generate streams containing aromatic compounds. These streams can further be processed and can undergo dealkylation, transalkylation, disproportionation, isomerization, and separation steps to maximize paraxylene production. In addition, some streams are recycled or recombined in order to maximize paraxylene production.

A process for the production of high purity toluene and para-xylene is described. More specifically, the process involves the production of high purity toluene produced via a light-desorbent selective adsorption process for para-xylene production, such as light desorbent para-xylene extraction, without the need for dedicated solvent extraction or olefin removal from the toluene stream.

A process for the production of high purity toluene and para-xylene is described. More specifically, the process involves the production of high purity toluene produced via a light-desorbent selective adsorption process for para-xylene production, such as light desorbent para-xylene extraction, without the need for dedicated solvent extraction or olefin removal from the toluene stream.