The present disclosure relates generally to processes and systems for producing liquid transportation fuels by converting a feed stream that comprises both isopentane and n-pentane, and optionally, some C6+ hydrocarbons. Isopentane and smaller hydrocarbons are separated to form a first fraction while n-pentane and larger components of the feed stock form a second fraction. Each fraction is then catalytically-activated in a separate reaction zone with a separate catalyst, where the conditions maintained in each zone maximize the conversion of each fraction to olefins and aromatics, while minimizing the production of C1-C4 light paraffins. In certain embodiments, the first fraction is activated at a lower temperature than the second fraction. Certain embodiments additionally comprise mixing at least a portion of the two effluents and contacting with an alkylation catalyst to provide enhanced yields of mono-alkylated aromatics that are suitable for use as a blend component of liquid transportation fuels or other value-added chemical products.

Disclosed herein is a process for producing para-xylene comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a feedstock comprising toluene with a first catalyst under effective vapor phase toluene disproportionation conditions to disproportionate said toluene and produce a first product comprising benzene, unreacted toluene and greater than equilibrium amounts of para-xylene; and (b) contacting a feedstock comprising C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbons and benzene with a second catalyst in the presence of 0 wt. % or more of hydrogen having a 0 to 10 hydrogen/hydrocarbon molar ratio under effective C.sub.9+ transalkylation conditions to transalkylate said C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbons and produce a second product comprising xylenes.

Disclosed herein is a process for producing para-xylene comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a feedstock comprising toluene with a first catalyst under effective vapor phase toluene disproportionation conditions to disproportionate said toluene and produce a first product comprising benzene, unreacted toluene and greater than equilibrium amounts of para-xylene; and (b) contacting a feedstock comprising C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbons and benzene with a second catalyst in the presence of 0 wt. % or more of hydrogen having a 0 to 10 hydrogen/hydrocarbon molar ratio under effective C.sub.9+ transalkylation conditions to transalkylate said C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbons and produce a second product comprising xylenes.

A process for producing benzene comprising the steps of: (a) separating a source feedstream comprising C5-C12 hydrocarbons including benzene and alkylbenzenes into a first feedstream comprising a higher proportion of benzene than the source feedstream and a second feedstream comprising a lower proportion of benzene than the source feedstream and subsequently,
(b) contacting the first feedstream in the presence of hydrogen with a first hydrocracking catalyst, and
(c) contacting the second feedstream with hydrogen under second process conditions to produce a second product stream comprising benzene, wherein
i) the second process conditions are suitable for hydrocracking and step (c) involves contacting the second feedstream in the presence of hydrogen with a second hydrocracking catalyst,
ii) the second process conditions are suitable for toluene disproportionation and involve contacting the second feedstream with a toluene disproportionation catalyst or
iii) the second process conditions are suitable for hydrodealkylation.

A process for producing benzene comprising the steps of: (a) separating a source feedstream comprising C5-C12 hydrocarbons including benzene and alkylbenzenes into a first feedstream comprising a higher proportion of benzene than the source feedstream and a second feedstream comprising a lower proportion of benzene than the source feedstream and subsequently,
(b) contacting the first feedstream in the presence of hydrogen with a first hydrocracking catalyst, and
(c) contacting the second feedstream with hydrogen under second process conditions to produce a second product stream comprising benzene, wherein
i) the second process conditions are suitable for hydrocracking and step (c) involves contacting the second feedstream in the presence of hydrogen with a second hydrocracking catalyst,
ii) the second process conditions are suitable for toluene disproportionation and involve contacting the second feedstream with a toluene disproportionation catalyst or
iii) the second process conditions are suitable for hydrodealkylation.

The present disclosure relates generally to processes and systems for producing liquid transportation fuels by converting a feed stream that comprises both isopentane and n-pentane, and optionally, some C6+ hydrocarbons. Isopentane and smaller hydrocarbons are separated to form a first fraction while n-pentane and larger components of the feed stock form a second fraction. Each fraction is then catalytically-activated in a separate reaction zone with a separate catalyst, where the conditions maintained in each zone maximize the conversion of each fraction to olefins and aromatics, while minimizing the production of C1-C4 light paraffins. In certain embodiments, the first fraction is activated at a lower temperature than the second fraction. The process provides increased yields of upgraded hydrocarbon products that possess the characteristics of a liquid transportation fuel or a blend component thereof.

The present disclosure relates generally to processes and systems for producing liquid transportation fuels by converting a feed stream that comprises both isopentane and n-pentane, and optionally, some C6+ hydrocarbons. Isopentane and smaller hydrocarbons are separated to form a first fraction while n-pentane and larger components of the feed stock form a second fraction. Each fraction is then catalytically-activated in a separate reaction zone with a separate catalyst, where the conditions maintained in each zone maximize the conversion of each fraction to olefins and aromatics, while minimizing the production of C1-C4 light paraffins. In certain embodiments, the first fraction is activated at a lower temperature than the second fraction. Certain embodiments additionally comprise mixing at least a portion of the two effluents and contacting with an oligomerization catalyst to provide enhanced yields of aliphatic hydrocarbons that possess the characteristics of a blend component of a liquid transportation fuel or other value-added chemical products.

The present invention relates to a process and to a device for the separation of a feedstock comprising benzene, toluene and C8+ compounds, in which: a toluene column (C10) is fed directly with a C7+ cut resulting from the bottom of a stabilization column (C11) positioned downstream of a transalkylation unit (P4); a C7 cut is withdrawn at the top of the toluene column (C10) and a C8+ cut is withdrawn at the bottom; a benzene column (C9) is fed with the C7 cut resulting from the toluene column (C10); an essentially aromatic cut resulting from an aromatics extraction unit (P1) is injected into the toluene column (C10) separately above the feeding of the C7+ cut or into the benzene column (C9).

The invention relates to treating a molecular sieve prepared by at least one in situ selectivation sequence wherein graphitic coke is adhered to said molecular sieve, which is useful in a toluene disproportionation process.

The invention relates to treating a molecular sieve prepared by at least one in situ selectivation sequence wherein graphitic coke is adhered to said molecular sieve, which is useful in a toluene disproportionation process.