Hydrocarbon-containing fluids are provided for use during solvent-assisted hydroprocessing of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar. The hydrocarbon-containing fluids can be used at any convenient time, such as during start-up of a pyrolysis process when recycled liquid pyrolysis product is not available; when the amount of liquid pyrolysis product available for recycle is not sufficient to maintain desired hydroprocessing conditions; and/or when the changes to the quality of the liquid pyrolysis product reduce the suitability of the recycle stream for use as a utility fluid.

Hydrocarbon-containing fluids are provided for use during solvent-assisted hydroprocessing of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar. The hydrocarbon-containing fluids can be used at any convenient time, such as during start-up of a pyrolysis process when recycled liquid pyrolysis product is not available; when the amount of liquid pyrolysis product available for recycle is not sufficient to maintain desired hydroprocessing conditions; and/or when the changes to the quality of the liquid pyrolysis product reduce the suitability of the recycle stream for use as a utility fluid.

A system of reforming reactors comprises a plurality of reactors coupled by flow lines, a feed header coupled to the plurality of reactors by a plurality of feed lines, an effluent header coupled to the plurality of reactors by a plurality of effluent lines, and a plurality of valves disposed in the flow lines, the feed lines, and the effluent lines. Each reactor comprises a reforming catalyst, and the plurality of valves is configured to dynamically connect the plurality of reactors to create a first serial flow path and reconnect the plurality of reactors to create a second serial flow path through the plurality of reactors. A first reactor of the plurality of reactors is adjacent to a second reactor of the plurality of reactors in the first serial flow path, and the first reactor is not adjacent to the second reactor in the second serial flow path.

A system of reforming reactors comprises a plurality of reactors coupled by flow lines, a feed header coupled to the plurality of reactors by a plurality of feed lines, an effluent header coupled to the plurality of reactors by a plurality of effluent lines, and a plurality of valves disposed in the flow lines, the feed lines, and the effluent lines. Each reactor comprises a reforming catalyst, and the plurality of valves is configured to dynamically connect the plurality of reactors to create a first serial flow path and reconnect the plurality of reactors to create a second serial flow path through the plurality of reactors. A first reactor of the plurality of reactors is adjacent to a second reactor of the plurality of reactors in the first serial flow path, and the first reactor is not adjacent to the second reactor in the second serial flow path.

A process that catalytically converts olefinic (Alkenes, typically liquid at standard temperature and pressure) material in thermally cracked streams to meet olefin content specifications for crude oil transport pipelines. A thermally cracked stream or portion of a thermally cracked stream is selectively reacted to reduce the olefin content within a reactor operating at specific, controlled conditions in the presence of a catalyst and the absence of supplemental hydrogen. The process catalyst is comprised of a blend of select catalyzing metals supported on an alumina, silica or shape selective zeolite substrate together with appropriate pore acidic components.

Aromatic compounds are prepared from a feed stream comprising biomass or a mixture of biomass and synthetic polymer in a process, comprising: a) subjecting the feed stream to a pyrolysis treatment in the presence of a cracking catalyst to yield a vaporous fraction comprising hydrocarbons with olefinic unsaturation and oxygen containing organic compounds and coke-laden cracking catalyst; b) separating the vaporous fraction from the coke-laden cracking catalyst; c) contacting the vaporous fraction with a second, aromatization catalyst in a conversion treatment to yield a conversion product comprising aromatic compounds; and d) recovering aromatic compounds from the conversion product, wherein the cracking catalyst is a naturally occurring material, selected from the group consisting of inorganic salts, refractory oxides, minerals, industrial rock and mixtures thereof.

A process for the isomerization of a feed of hydrocarbon compounds containing C.sub.5 and/or C hydrocarbon compounds, comprising: a) supplying an isomerization unit with at least one liquid fraction of the feed of hydrocarbon compounds and isomerizing the feed in the presence of a chlorinated catalyst; b) supplying a stabilization unit containing at least one stabilization column with the effluent obtained from the isomerization unit and separating the effluent; c) providing an absorption unit having one absorption column; d) extracting a liquid flow enriched in chlorinated compounds from the absorption unit which is recycled to the isomerization unit; and e) extracting the liquid flow containing at least one isomerate from the stabilization unit.

A process for the isomerization of a feed of hydrocarbon compounds containing C.sub.5 and/or C hydrocarbon compounds, comprising: a) supplying an isomerization unit with at least one liquid fraction of the feed of hydrocarbon compounds and isomerizing the feed in the presence of a chlorinated catalyst; b) supplying a stabilization unit containing at least one stabilization column with the effluent obtained from the isomerization unit and separating the effluent; c) providing an absorption unit having one absorption column; d) extracting a liquid flow enriched in chlorinated compounds from the absorption unit which is recycled to the isomerization unit; and e) extracting the liquid flow containing at least one isomerate from the stabilization unit.

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.