A process for the efficient transfer of molecules between phases employing mesoporous poly (aryl ether ketone) hollow fiber membranes is provided. The method addresses the controlled transfer of reactants into and removal of reaction products from a reaction media and the removal and separation of target molecules from process streams by membrane-assisted liquid-liquid extraction. A number of possible modes of liquid-liquid extraction are possible according to the invention by utilizing porous poly (aryl ether ketone) hollow fiber membranes of Janus-like structure that exhibit a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface characteristics. The method of the present invention can address the continuous manufacture of chemicals in membrane reactors and is useful for a broad range of separation applications, including separation and recovery of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

A process and system for separating paraxylene from a mixture of paraxylene, metaxylene, orthoxylene, and ethylbenzene in a simulated moving bed apparatus using a membrane to separate non-aromatics from a desorbent stream. The lower nonaromatics content in the desorbent improves paraxylene product purity, increases paraxylene production at the same desorbent rate, reduces the desorbent rate, and/or reduces energy consumption in the product tower.

A process and system for separating paraxylene from a mixture of paraxylene, metaxylene, orthoxylene, and ethylbenzene in a simulated moving bed apparatus using a membrane to separate non-aromatics from a desorbent stream. The lower nonaromatics content in the desorbent improves paraxylene product purity, increases paraxylene production at the same desorbent rate, reduces the desorbent rate, and/or reduces energy consumption in the product tower.

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.

Disclosed is a method for converting cymene generated from renewable low value terpene streams into renewable benzene, toluene, xylenes, and cymene isomers (ortho and meta) under flow disproportionation reaction conditions, which compounds are basic building blocks for fragrance materials. This technology has potential to replace high volume petrochemical-based feedstocks with plant-based building blocks that can fill the renewability gap for key fragrance ingredients.