Disclosed is a process for making para-xylene from toluene and/or benzene comprising (i) converting toluene and/or benzene to a first product mixture comprising mixed xylenes, (ii) obtaining a xylene mixture from the first product mixture, (iii) separating para-xylene from the xylene mixture, and (iv) transalkylating meta-xylene and/or ortho-xylene with toluene and/or benzene.

Disclosed is a process for making para-xylene from toluene and/or benzene comprising (i) converting toluene and/or benzene to a first product mixture comprising mixed xylenes, (ii) obtaining a xylene mixture from the first product mixture, (iii) separating para-xylene from the xylene mixture, and (iv) transalkylating meta-xylene and/or ortho-xylene with toluene and/or benzene.

In a process for producing para-xylene, a feed stream comprising C.sub.6+ aromatic hydrocarbons is separated into a toluene-containing stream, a C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream and a C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream. The toluene-containing stream is contacted with a methylating agent to convert toluene to xylenes and produce a methylated effluent stream. Para-xylene is recovered from the C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream and the methylated effluent stream in a para-xylene recovery section to produce a para-xylene depleted stream, which is then contacted with a xylene isomerization catalyst under liquid phase conditions effective to isomerize xylenes in the para-xylene depleted stream and produce an isomerized stream. The C.sub.9+-containing stream with a transalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to convert C.sub.9+-aromatics to C.sub.8−-aromatics and produce a transalkylated stream, which is recycled together with the isomerized stream to the para-xylene recovery section.

In a process for producing para-xylene, a feed stream comprising C.sub.6+ aromatic hydrocarbons is separated into a toluene-containing stream, a C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream and a C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream. The toluene-containing stream is contacted with a methylating agent to convert toluene to xylenes and produce a methylated effluent stream. Para-xylene is recovered from the C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream and the methylated effluent stream in a para-xylene recovery section to produce a para-xylene depleted stream, which is then contacted with a xylene isomerization catalyst under liquid phase conditions effective to isomerize xylenes in the para-xylene depleted stream and produce an isomerized stream. The C.sub.9+-containing stream with a transalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to convert C.sub.9+-aromatics to C.sub.8−-aromatics and produce a transalkylated stream, which is recycled together with the isomerized stream to the para-xylene recovery section.

A process for producing alkylaromatic compounds is described. The process involves utilizing at least a portion of the aromatic compound used to regenerate the alkylation catalyst in a spent alkylation reaction zone as a reactant in the active alkylation reaction zone.

A process for producing alkylaromatic compounds is described. The process involves utilizing at least a portion of the aromatic compound used to regenerate the alkylation catalyst in a spent alkylation reaction zone as a reactant in the active alkylation reaction zone.

Disclosed are processes for conversion of a feedstock comprising C.sub.8+ aromatic hydrocarbons to lighter aromatic products in which the feedstock and optionally hydrogen are contacted in the presence of the catalyst composition under conversion conditions effective to dealkylate and transalkylate said C.sub.8+ aromatic hydrocarbons to produce said lighter aromatic products comprising benzene, toluene and xylene. The catalyst composition comprises a zeolite, a first metal, and a second metal, and is treated with a source of sulfur and/or a source of steam.

Methods and apparatus for processing hydrocarbons are provided. In one example, a method for processing hydrocarbons includes the step of providing feed stream including toluene, ethylbenzene, mixed xylenes, and C.sub.9 hydrocarbons. Ethylbenzene is present in the feed stream in an amount of at least about 20% by weight of total C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbons present in the feed stream. The method further includes the step of subjecting the feed stream to ethylbenzene conversion to form a benzene-containing product stream that includes benzene.

Methods and apparatus for processing hydrocarbons are provided. In one example, a method for processing hydrocarbons includes the step of providing feed stream including toluene, ethylbenzene, mixed xylenes, and C.sub.9 hydrocarbons. Ethylbenzene is present in the feed stream in an amount of at least about 20% by weight of total C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbons present in the feed stream. The method further includes the step of subjecting the feed stream to ethylbenzene conversion to form a benzene-containing product stream that includes benzene.

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.