Apparatus and process for converting aromatic compounds, comprising/using: a fractionating train (4-7) suitable for extracting at least one benzene-comprising fraction (22), one toluene-comprising fraction (23) and one fraction (24) comprising xylenes and ethylbenzene from the feedstock (2); a xylene separating unit (10) suitable for treating the fraction comprising xylenes and ethylbenzene and producing a para-xylene-comprising extract (39) and a raffinate (40) comprising ortho-xylene, meta-xylene and ethylbenzene; an isomerizing unit (11) for treating the raffinate and producing a para-xylene-enriched isomerizate (42), which is sent to the fractionating train; and an alkylating reaction section (13) for treating at least part of the benzene-comprising fraction with an ethylene source (30) and producing an alkylation effluent (31) comprising ethylbenzene, which is sent to the isomerizing unit.

Apparatus and process for converting aromatic compounds, comprising/using: a fractionating train (4-7) suitable for extracting at least one benzene-comprising fraction (22), one toluene-comprising fraction (23) and one fraction (24) comprising xylenes and ethylbenzene from the feedstock (2); a xylene separating unit (10) suitable for treating the fraction comprising xylenes and ethylbenzene and producing a para-xylene-comprising extract (39) and a raffinate (40) comprising ortho-xylene, meta-xylene and ethylbenzene; an isomerizing unit (11) for treating the raffinate and producing a para-xylene-enriched isomerizate (42), which is sent to the fractionating train; and an alkylating reaction section (13) for treating at least part of the benzene-comprising fraction with an ethylene source (30) and producing an alkylation effluent (31) comprising ethylbenzene, which is sent to the isomerizing unit.

Novel MEL framework type zeolites can be made to have small crystallite sizes and desirable silica/SiO.sub.2 molar ratios. Catalyst compositions comprising such MEL framework type zeolites can be particularly advantageous in isomerization C8 aromatic mixtures. An isomerization process for converting C8 aromatic hydrocarbons can advantageously utilize a catalyst composition comprising a MEL framework type zeolite.

Novel MEL framework type zeolites can be made to have small crystallite sizes and desirable silica/SiO.sub.2 molar ratios. Catalyst compositions comprising such MEL framework type zeolites can be particularly advantageous in isomerization C8 aromatic mixtures. An isomerization process for converting C8 aromatic hydrocarbons can advantageously utilize a catalyst composition comprising a MEL framework type zeolite.

A skeletal isomerization process for isomerizing olefins is described. The process includes the steps of feeding an olefin-containing feed to a reactor at a space velocity of 1-100 hr.sup.−1 for a first period of time at a first temperature, followed by discontinuing, or stopping, the olefin-containing feed for a second period of time while maintaining the reactor at a second temperature, before resuming the flow of the olefin-containing feed for a third period of time. The methods of this disclosure increase the yield of the skeletal isomers product while reducing the production of C5+ heavy olefins. Additionally, the methods of this disclosure can be applied to feeds containing iso-olefins (for the production of linear olefins) or linear olefins (for the production of iso-olefins).

A skeletal isomerization process for isomerizing olefins is described. The process includes the steps of feeding an olefin-containing feed to a reactor at a space velocity of 1-100 hr.sup.−1 for a first period of time at a first temperature, followed by discontinuing, or stopping, the olefin-containing feed for a second period of time while maintaining the reactor at a second temperature, before resuming the flow of the olefin-containing feed for a third period of time. The methods of this disclosure increase the yield of the skeletal isomers product while reducing the production of C5+ heavy olefins. Additionally, the methods of this disclosure can be applied to feeds containing iso-olefins (for the production of linear olefins) or linear olefins (for the production of iso-olefins).

A skeletal isomerization process for isomerizing olefins is described. The process includes the steps of feeding an olefin-containing feed to a reactor having an isomerization catalyst with a small crystalline size that is less than 1 μm in all directions. The small crystalline size increases the life of the catalyst and the yield of skeletal isomer products, as well as reducing the formation of heavy C5+ olefin byproducts, as compared to processes using conventional catalyst with crystalline sizes of 1 μm or more.

A skeletal isomerization process for isomerizing olefins is described. The process includes the steps of feeding an olefin-containing feed to a reactor having an isomerization catalyst with a small crystalline size that is less than 1 μm in all directions. The small crystalline size increases the life of the catalyst and the yield of skeletal isomer products, as well as reducing the formation of heavy C5+ olefin byproducts, as compared to processes using conventional catalyst with crystalline sizes of 1 μm or more.

Hydrocarbon composition plays vital role in fuel quality. For gasoline/motor spirit applications the hydrocarbon should have more octane-possessing molecules from the groups of aromatics, naphthenics and isoparaffins, while n-paraffins are not preferred due to their poor octane. Among the high-octane groups, again aromatics occupy the top but not more than 35 vol % aromatics can be mixed in gasoline for engine applications to avoid harmful emission, But there is no single process that addresses so far the issue of co-producing all the desired hydrocarbon components in a single process. Thus, it is interesting to have a single once-through process working on single catalyst system to produce mixture of all three high-octane molecules namely, aromatics, naphthenics and isoparaffins directly from low-value, low-octane n-paraffin feed. Herein, we report a novel single-step catalytic process for the simultaneous production of aromatics, naphthenics and isoparaffins for gasoline and petrochemical applications.

Device and process for converting a feedstock of aromatic compounds, in which the feedstock is notably treated using a fractionation train (4-7), a xylenes separating unit (10) and an isomerization unit (11), and in which a pyrolysis unit (13) treats a second hydrocarbon-based feedstock, produces a pyrolysis effluent feeding the feedstock, and produces a pyrolysis gas comprising CO, CO2 and H2; an RWGS reverse water gas shift reaction section (51) treats the pyrolysis gas and produces an RWGS gas enriched in CO and in water; a fermentation reaction section (52) treats the RWGS gas enriched in CO and in water and produces ethanol; and an aromatization reaction section (14) converts the ethanol into a mixture of aromatic and paraffinic compounds feeding the feedstock.