A catalyst that includes heterogeneous metal carbide nanomaterials and a novel preparation method to synthesize the metal carbide nanomaterials under relatively mild conditions to form an encapsulated transition metal and/or transition metal carbide nanoclusters in a support and/or binder. The catalyst may include confined platinum carbide nanoclusters. The preparation may include the treatment of encapsulated platinum nanoclusters with ethane at elevated temperatures. The catalysts may be used for catalytic hydrocarbon conversions, which include but are not limited to, ethane aromatization, and for selective hydrogenation, with negligible green oil production.

Provided are: novel zeolite having an extremely small amount of specific Bronsted acid sites on the surface thereof, which is expected to be useful as a catalyst for the aromatization of a non-aromatic hydrocarbon typified by an aliphatic hydrocarbon; and a catalyst for use in the production of an aromatic hydrocarbon, which comprises the zeolite. Zeolite characterized by satisfying the following requirements (i) to (iii). (i) The zeolite has an average particle diameter of 100 nm or less. (ii) The zeolite is 10-membered ring microporous zeolite. (iii) The amount of the Bronsted acid sites on the outer surface of the zeolite is 0.1 to 10.0 μmol/g.

Provided are: novel zeolite having an extremely small amount of specific Bronsted acid sites on the surface thereof, which is expected to be useful as a catalyst for the aromatization of a non-aromatic hydrocarbon typified by an aliphatic hydrocarbon; and a catalyst for use in the production of an aromatic hydrocarbon, which comprises the zeolite. Zeolite characterized by satisfying the following requirements (i) to (iii). (i) The zeolite has an average particle diameter of 100 nm or less. (ii) The zeolite is 10-membered ring microporous zeolite. (iii) The amount of the Bronsted acid sites on the outer surface of the zeolite is 0.1 to 10.0 μmol/g.

A method for aromatization of light alkanes, comprising: subjecting the light alkanes to dehydroaromatization reaction in the presence of aromatization catalysts including carriers and metal active components supported on the carriers, the metal active components include platinum, the carriers include zeolites and binders, and at least 80 wt. % of the metal active components are distributed on the zeolites. The method of the present disclosure may increase yield of the target product—aromatic hydrocarbons, and the regenerated catalyst can still maintain high catalytic performance. In addition, the method of the present disclosure can meet the requirements of industrial applications.

A method for aromatization of light alkanes, comprising: subjecting the light alkanes to dehydroaromatization reaction in the presence of aromatization catalysts including carriers and metal active components supported on the carriers, the metal active components include platinum, the carriers include zeolites and binders, and at least 80 wt. % of the metal active components are distributed on the zeolites. The method of the present disclosure may increase yield of the target product—aromatic hydrocarbons, and the regenerated catalyst can still maintain high catalytic performance. In addition, the method of the present disclosure can meet the requirements of industrial applications.

A system and a method are provided for producing aromatics. Such a system includes a cracker unit configured to convert a light alkane into an olefin-containing hydrocarbon comprising at least one alkene, and an aromatization unit. The light alkane is selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, propane, butane, and a combination thereof. The cracker unit is configured to at least partially feed the olefin-containing hydrocarbon into the aromatization unit. Such an olefin-containing hydrocarbon comprises at least 40 wt. % of the at least one alkene. The aromatization unit is used to convert the olefin-containing hydrocarbon therein into a product stream, which includes an aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, xylenes, and a combination thereof.

A system and a method are provided for producing aromatics. Such a system includes a cracker unit configured to convert a light alkane into an olefin-containing hydrocarbon comprising at least one alkene, and an aromatization unit. The light alkane is selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, propane, butane, and a combination thereof. The cracker unit is configured to at least partially feed the olefin-containing hydrocarbon into the aromatization unit. Such an olefin-containing hydrocarbon comprises at least 40 wt. % of the at least one alkene. The aromatization unit is used to convert the olefin-containing hydrocarbon therein into a product stream, which includes an aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, xylenes, and a combination thereof.

Method of making BTX compounds including benzene, toluene, and xylene, including feeding heavy reformate to a reactor containing a composite zeolite catalyst. The composite zeolite catalyst includes a mixture of layered mordenite (MOR-L) comprising a layered or rod-type morphology with a layer thickness less than 30 nm and ZSM-5. The MOR-L, the ZSM-5, or both include one or more impregnated metals. The method further includes producing the BTX compounds by simultaneously performing transalkylation and dealkylation of the heavy reformate in the reactor. The composite zeolite catalyst is able to simultaneously catalyze both the transalkylation and dealkylation reactions.

Method of making BTX compounds including benzene, toluene, and xylene, including feeding heavy reformate to a reactor containing a composite zeolite catalyst. The composite zeolite catalyst includes a mixture of layered mordenite (MOR-L) comprising a layered or rod-type morphology with a layer thickness less than 30 nm and ZSM-5. The MOR-L, the ZSM-5, or both include one or more impregnated metals. The method further includes producing the BTX compounds by simultaneously performing transalkylation and dealkylation of the heavy reformate in the reactor. The composite zeolite catalyst is able to simultaneously catalyze both the transalkylation and dealkylation reactions.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for producing aromatic compounds in high yield from a mixed aromatic feed stream. Also disclosed are systems and methods for producing aromatic compounds in high yield from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like.