Device and process for the conversion of a feedstock of aromatic compounds, in which the feedstock is treated notably by means of a fractionation train (4-7), a xylene separation unit (10) and an isomerization unit (11), and in which a pyrolysis unit (13) treats a second hydrocarbon feedstock, produces a pyrolysis effluent feeding the feedstock, and produces a pyrolysis gas comprising CO, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2; a reverse water gas shift RWGS reaction section (50) 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, to produce ethanol and recycle the ethanol to the inlet of the pyrolysis unit.

A method of making a xylene isomerization catalyst comprises the steps of (i) contacting a ZSM-5 zeolite starting material having a silica to alumina molar ratio of 20 to 50 and having a mesopore surface area in the range of 50 m.sup.2/gram to 200 m.sup.2/gram in a reactor with a base to provide an intermediate zeolite material; (ii) recovering the intermediate ZSM-5 zeolite material of step (i); (iii) contacting the intermediate zeolite material with an acid to provide an acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite product; (iv) recovering the acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite material; and (v) calcining the acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite material to provide a desilicated ZSM-5 zeolite product having a silica to alumina molar ratio of 20 to 150 and having a mesopore surface area in the range of 100 m.sup.2/gram to 400 m.sup.2/gram.

A method of making a xylene isomerization catalyst comprises the steps of (i) contacting a ZSM-5 zeolite starting material having a silica to alumina molar ratio of 20 to 50 and having a mesopore surface area in the range of 50 m.sup.2/gram to 200 m.sup.2/gram in a reactor with a base to provide an intermediate zeolite material; (ii) recovering the intermediate ZSM-5 zeolite material of step (i); (iii) contacting the intermediate zeolite material with an acid to provide an acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite product; (iv) recovering the acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite material; and (v) calcining the acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite material to provide a desilicated ZSM-5 zeolite product having a silica to alumina molar ratio of 20 to 150 and having a mesopore surface area in the range of 100 m.sup.2/gram to 400 m.sup.2/gram.

Zeolitic and molecular organic framework materials as catalysts suitable for generating branched olefins from linear olefins, thereby increasing the octane of a composition comprising the linear olefins. In particular, catalyst may exhibit selectivity for methyl-shift isomerization over cracking, alkylation, and oligomerization.

Zeolitic and molecular organic framework materials as catalysts suitable for generating branched olefins from linear olefins, thereby increasing the octane of a composition comprising the linear olefins. In particular, catalyst may exhibit selectivity for methyl-shift isomerization over cracking, alkylation, and oligomerization.

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.

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 fractionated train; and an alkylating reaction section (13) for treating at least part of the benzene-comprising fraction with an ethanol 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 fractionated train; and an alkylating reaction section (13) for treating at least part of the benzene-comprising fraction with an ethanol source (30) and producing an alkylation effluent (31) comprising ethylbenzene, which is sent to the isomerizing unit.

Systems and methods of producing olefins via catalytic cracking are disclosed. Hydrocarbons of a naphtha stream are isomerized by converting straight chain Cn hydrocarbons to branched Cn hydrocarbons, thereby forming an isomerized naphtha stream. The isomerized naphtha stream is subsequently fed to a catalytic cracking unit such that the hydrocarbons of the isomerized naphtha stream form olefins. In the catalytic cracking process, the reaction temperature can be kept lower than 680° C., thereby increasing the reactivity and minimizing catalyst deactivation in the catalytic cracking process.