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 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.

A process and system for the conversion of a feedstock comprising C3-C5 light alkanes to a C5+ hydrocarbon product, for example, a BTX-rich hydrocarbon product, by performing the alkane activation (first-stage) and the oligomerization/aromatization (second-stage) in separate stages, which allows each conversion process to occur at optimal reaction conditions thus increasing the overall hydrocarbon product yield. The alkane activation or first-stage is operated at a higher temperature than the second-stage since light alkanes are much less reactive than light olefins. Since aromatization of olefins is more efficient at higher pressure, the second-stage is maintained at a higher pressure than the first-stage. Further, fixed-bed catalysts are used in each of the first-stage and the second-stage.

A process and system for the conversion of a feedstock comprising C3-C5 light alkanes to a C5+ hydrocarbon product, for example, a BTX-rich hydrocarbon product, by performing the alkane activation (first-stage) and the oligomerization/aromatization (second-stage) in separate stages, which allows each conversion process to occur at optimal reaction conditions thus increasing the overall hydrocarbon product yield. The alkane activation or first-stage is operated at a higher temperature than the second-stage since light alkanes are much less reactive than light olefins. Since aromatization of olefins is more efficient at higher pressure, the second-stage is maintained at a higher pressure than the first-stage. Further, fixed-bed catalysts are used in each of the first-stage and the second-stage.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to processes for aromatizing hydrocarbons includes contacting the hydrocarbons with a catalyst including at least two different metal modifiers dispersed on surfaces of a hydrogen-form medium-pore zeolite support. Each of the at least two different metal modifiers comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of IUPAC Groups 3-12, and lanthanide metals, and the catalyst is substantially free of gallium. Contacting the hydrocarbons with the catalyst causes a least a portion of the hydrocarbons to undergo a chemical reaction to form aromatic hydrocarbons.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to processes for aromatizing hydrocarbons includes contacting the hydrocarbons with a catalyst including at least two different metal modifiers dispersed on surfaces of a hydrogen-form medium-pore zeolite support. Each of the at least two different metal modifiers comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of IUPAC Groups 3-12, and lanthanide metals, and the catalyst is substantially free of gallium. Contacting the hydrocarbons with the catalyst causes a least a portion of the hydrocarbons to undergo a chemical reaction to form aromatic hydrocarbons.

A catalyst and corresponding methods of using a catalyst are provided that can be beneficial for conversion of paraffins into a product stream enriched in aromatics and/or methane while reducing or minimizing the content of ethane in the product stream. Such catalysts and methods can be useful, for example, for processing a raw gas, associated gas, tail gas, natural gas, or other type of methane-containing feed stream to convert C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons in the stream to heavier hydrocarbons and methane while reducing or minimizing content of ethane in the products from the conversion reaction. Such conversion can be useful for upgrading a methane-containing feed stream to have an energy content that is suitable for pipeline transport under one or more specifications for transport of natural gas. The catalyst and corresponding method can also be beneficial when used as a second stage catalyst in a configuration involving multiple conversion stages.

A catalyst and corresponding methods of using a catalyst are provided that can be beneficial for conversion of paraffins into a product stream enriched in aromatics and/or methane while reducing or minimizing the content of ethane in the product stream. Such catalysts and methods can be useful, for example, for processing a raw gas, associated gas, tail gas, natural gas, or other type of methane-containing feed stream to convert C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons in the stream to heavier hydrocarbons and methane while reducing or minimizing content of ethane in the products from the conversion reaction. Such conversion can be useful for upgrading a methane-containing feed stream to have an energy content that is suitable for pipeline transport under one or more specifications for transport of natural gas. The catalyst and corresponding method can also be beneficial when used as a second stage catalyst in a configuration involving multiple conversion stages.