Increased paraxylene production through the use of a split feed reforming process, wherein hydrotreated naphtha is split into light, middle and heavy fractions. Each fraction is reformed separately to generate streams containing aromatic compounds. These streams can further be processed and can undergo dealkylation, transalkylation, disproportionation, isomerization, and separation steps to maximize paraxylene production. In addition, some streams are recycled or recombined in order to maximize paraxylene production.

Increased paraxylene production through the use of a split feed reforming process, wherein hydrotreated naphtha is split into light, middle and heavy fractions. Each fraction is reformed separately to generate streams containing aromatic compounds. These streams can further be processed and can undergo dealkylation, transalkylation, disproportionation, isomerization, and separation steps to maximize paraxylene production. In addition, some streams are recycled or recombined in order to maximize paraxylene production.

Processes for increasing an octane value of a gasoline component by dehydrogenating a stream comprising C.sub.7 hydrocarbons and methylcyclohexane in a first dehydrogenation zone to form an intermediate dehydrogenation effluent, and then dehydrogenating the intermediate dehydrogenation effluent in a second dehydrogenation zone to form a C.sub.7 dehydrogenation effluent. The C.sub.7 dehydrogenation effluent has an increased olefins content compared to an olefins content of the intermediate dehydrogenation effluent. The first dehydrogenation zone is operated under conditions to convert methylcyclohexane to toluene and minimize cracking reactions. The intermediate dehydrogenation effluent may be heated before being passed to the second dehydrogenation zone.

Processes and apparatuses for producing a C.sub.8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The process comprises introducing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter column to provide a plurality of streams. One or more streams comprising at least one stream from the plurality of streams is passed to a reformate upgrading unit to obtain an upgraded reformate stream. The upgraded reformate stream is passed to an aromatics stripper column to provide an aromatics stripper sidedraw stream comprising C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbons. The aromatics stripper sidedraw stream is passed to a xylene separation unit to provide the C.sub.8 aromatic isomer product and a raffinate product stream. At least a portion of the raffinate product stream is processed in a liquid phase isomerization unit to obtain an isomerized stream.

Processes and apparatuses for producing a C.sub.8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The process comprises introducing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter column to provide a plurality of streams. One or more streams comprising at least one stream from the plurality of streams is passed to a reformate upgrading unit to obtain an upgraded reformate stream. The upgraded reformate stream is passed to an aromatics stripper column to provide an aromatics stripper sidedraw stream comprising C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbons. The aromatics stripper sidedraw stream is passed to a xylene separation unit to provide the C.sub.8 aromatic isomer product and a raffinate product stream. At least a portion of the raffinate product stream is processed in a liquid phase isomerization unit to obtain an isomerized stream.

This application relates to methods and systems for the conversion of hydrocarbon feedstocks, in particular, naphtha feedstocks, into a hydrocarbon product stream containing a high yield of high-octane gasoline and chemicals products. In particular, the conversion takes place over a series of functionally distinctive catalyst beds, at least one of which includes a modified zeolitic catalyst comprising a zeolite, a transition metal, and optionally a binder. Systems provided include a hydrocarbon feed stream, which may be full-range naphtha, a hydrocarbon product stream, and a plurality of functionally distinctive catalyst beds arranged in series, wherein at least one of the catalyst beds comprises a modified zeolitic catalyst. A hydrocarbon feed stream may be conveyed through the plurality of functionally distinctive catalyst beds, producing an intermediate hydrocarbon stream between each, under conditions effective to convert the hydrocarbon feed stream to a hydrocarbon product stream comprising high-octane gasoline, xylenes, benzene, and/or toluene

This application relates to methods and systems for the conversion of hydrocarbon feedstocks, in particular, naphtha feedstocks, into a hydrocarbon product stream containing a high yield of high-octane gasoline and chemicals products. In particular, the conversion takes place over a series of functionally distinctive catalyst beds, at least one of which includes a modified zeolitic catalyst comprising a zeolite, a transition metal, and optionally a binder. Systems provided include a hydrocarbon feed stream, which may be full-range naphtha, a hydrocarbon product stream, and a plurality of functionally distinctive catalyst beds arranged in series, wherein at least one of the catalyst beds comprises a modified zeolitic catalyst. A hydrocarbon feed stream may be conveyed through the plurality of functionally distinctive catalyst beds, producing an intermediate hydrocarbon stream between each, under conditions effective to convert the hydrocarbon feed stream to a hydrocarbon product stream comprising high-octane gasoline, xylenes, benzene, and/or toluene

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.

Spent aromatization catalysts containing a transition metal and a catalyst support are selectively poisoned in the disclosed reforming methods, resulting in improvements in overall aromatics yield and selectivity.