A method of removing oxygenates from a hydrocarbon stream comprises passing a hydrocarbon stream to a caustic tower having a plurality of loops, contacting the hydrocarbon stream with a sulfided catalyst between a first loop of the plurality of loops and a second loop of the plurality of loops to produce a reaction product, passing the reaction product to the second loop, removing at least a portion of the hydrogen sulfide in the second loop of the caustic tower to produce a product stream, and separating the product stream into a plurality of hydrocarbon streams in a separation zone located downstream of the caustic tower. The hydrocarbon stream comprises hydrocarbons, oxygen containing components, and sulfur containing compounds. At least a portion of the sulfur compounds react in the presence of the sulfided catalyst to produce hydrogen sulfide in the reaction product.

A method and apparatus for processing a hydrocarbon stream are described. The method includes heating a feed stream in a convective bank. The heated feed stream is reacted in a first reaction zone to form a first effluent, which is heated in a first radiant cell. The first radiant cell combusts fuel to heat the first effluent and forms a first exhaust gas. The first exhaust gas is contacted with the convective bank to heat the feed stream. The outlet temperature the heated feed stream from the convective bank is controlled by introducing an additional gas stream into the convective bank. There can be additional reaction zones and radiant heaters.

The invention relates to a process and system arrangement to generate benzene, toluene and xylenes in a refinery. The process relies on recycling a C.sub.9+ aromatic bottoms stream from an aromatic recovery complex back to rejoining a hydrotreated naphtha stream as it enters a catalytic reformer. The aromatic bottoms can be further reacted through both the reformer and the subsequent aromatic recovery complex to transform to higher value compounds, thereby reducing waste or reducing bottoms' presence in gasoline pools.

The invention relates to a process and system arrangement to generate benzene, toluene and xylenes in a refinery. The process relies on recycling a C.sub.9+ aromatic bottoms stream from an aromatic recovery complex back to rejoining a hydrotreated naphtha stream as it enters a catalytic reformer. The aromatic bottoms can be further reacted through both the reformer and the subsequent aromatic recovery complex to transform to higher value compounds, thereby reducing waste or reducing bottoms' presence in gasoline pools.

The present invention provides apparatuses and processes for producing high octane fuel from synthesis gas. The process combines transalkylation and zeolite-forming/aromatization in conjunction with a single recycle loop configuration in order to effectively promote the fuel quality, particularly octane rating. The process involves adding a step for enriching octane of the fuel coming from the single recycle loop process. Preferably, the enrichment step takes place in an octane enrichment reactor containing two different catalysts, a zeolite-forming/aromatization catalyst followed by a transalkylation catalyst. The final fuel product preferably has an octane of about 92 to about 112.

In a process for reducing the level of benzene in a refinery gasoline feed containing benzene and at least one C.sub.4+ olefin, the feed is contacted with a first alkylation catalyst under conditions effective to react at least part of the C.sub.4+ olefin and benzene in the refinery gasoline feed and produce a first effluent containing C.sub.10+ hydrocarbons. At least part of the C.sub.10+ hydrocarbons is removed from the first effluent to produce a second effluent, which is then contacted with an alkylating agent selected from one or more C.sub.2 to C.sub.5 olefins in the presence of a second alkylation catalyst to produce a third effluent which has reduced benzene content as compared with the second effluent.

A naphtha reforming reactor system comprising a first reactor comprising a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first reactor is configured to operate as an adiabatic reactor, and wherein the first reactor comprises a first naphtha reforming catalyst; and a second reactor comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet is in fluid communication with the first outlet of the first reactor, wherein the second reactor is configured to operate as an isothermal reactor, and wherein the second reactor comprises a plurality of tubes disposed within a reactor furnace, a heat source configured to heat the interior of the reactor furnace; and a second naphtha reforming catalyst disposed within the plurality of tubes, wherein the first naphtha reforming catalyst and the second naphtha reforming catalyst are the same or different.

A naphtha reforming reactor system comprising a first reactor comprising a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first reactor is configured to operate as an adiabatic reactor, and wherein the first reactor comprises a first naphtha reforming catalyst; and a second reactor comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet is in fluid communication with the first outlet of the first reactor, wherein the second reactor is configured to operate as an isothermal reactor, and wherein the second reactor comprises a plurality of tubes disposed within a reactor furnace, a heat source configured to heat the interior of the reactor furnace; and a second naphtha reforming catalyst disposed within the plurality of tubes, wherein the first naphtha reforming catalyst and the second naphtha reforming catalyst are the same or different.

The invention relates to a process and system arrangement to generate benzene, toluene and xylenes in a refinery. The process relies on recycling a C.sub.9+ aromatic bottoms stream from an aromatic recovery complex back to rejoining a hydrotreated naphtha stream as it enters a catalytic reformer. The aromatic bottoms can be further reacted through both the reformer and the subsequent aromatic recovery complex to transform to higher value compounds, thereby reducing waste or reducing bottoms' presence in gasoline pools.

The invention relates to a process and system arrangement to generate benzene, toluene and xylenes in a refinery. The process relies on recycling a C.sub.9+ aromatic bottoms stream from an aromatic recovery complex back to rejoining a hydrotreated naphtha stream as it enters a catalytic reformer. The aromatic bottoms can be further reacted through both the reformer and the subsequent aromatic recovery complex to transform to higher value compounds, thereby reducing waste or reducing bottoms' presence in gasoline pools.