Provided is a method of alkylating an aromatic compound comprising contacting an aromatic compound and an alkylating agent in the presence of UCB-3 as a catalyst under reaction conditions suitable for aromatic alkylation. The aromatic compound preferably comprises benzene or toluene and the alkylation agent preferably comprises an olefin or alcohol. Lower temperature ranges can be used for the reaction, for example in the range of from 100 to 300° C.

Embodiments of the invention provide processes for catalytically converting oxygenates to hydrocarbon products having an increased C.sub.6-C.sub.8 aromatics content therein. Particular processes include (a) providing a first mixture comprising ≧10.0 wt. % of at least one oxygenate, based on the weight of the first mixture; (b) contacting the first mixture with a catalyst to convert the first mixture to a product stream including water, one or more hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and one or more oxygenates, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one molecular sieve and at least one element selected from Groups 2-14 of the Periodic Table and the hydrocarbons comprise ≧30.0 wt. % of aromatics, based on the weight of the hydrocarbons in the product stream; and (c) separating from the product stream at least one water-rich stream, at least one aromatic-rich hydrocarbon stream, and at least one aromatic-depleted hydrocarbon stream.

Embodiments of the invention provide processes for catalytically converting oxygenates to hydrocarbon products having an increased C.sub.6-C.sub.8 aromatics content therein. Particular processes include (a) providing a first mixture comprising ≧10.0 wt. % of at least one oxygenate, based on the weight of the first mixture; (b) contacting the first mixture with a catalyst to convert the first mixture to a product stream including water, one or more hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and one or more oxygenates, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one molecular sieve and at least one element selected from Groups 2-14 of the Periodic Table and the hydrocarbons comprise ≧30.0 wt. % of aromatics, based on the weight of the hydrocarbons in the product stream; and (c) separating from the product stream at least one water-rich stream, at least one aromatic-rich hydrocarbon stream, and at least one aromatic-depleted hydrocarbon stream.

A method is provided for predicting conjunct polymer concentration in spent ionic liquid during a continuous hydrocarbon conversion process.

A process for producing a para-xylene product from a hydrocarbon feed includes: hydrocracking the hydrocarbon feed in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a hydrocracking product; separating the hydrocracking product to obtain a gas stream and a liquid stream, the liquid stream comprising benzene, toluene, xylene, C.sub.9+ hydrocarbon, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; separating the liquid stream to obtain a toluene stream, wherein toluene is present in the toluene stream in an amount equal to or greater than 70 wt %, preferably equal to or greater than 80 wt %, more preferably equal to or greater than 95 wt %, based on the total weight of the toluene stream; and reacting the toluene stream with methanol to obtain the para-xylene product.

A process for producing a para-xylene product from a hydrocarbon feed includes: hydrocracking the hydrocarbon feed in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a hydrocracking product; separating the hydrocracking product to obtain a gas stream and a liquid stream, the liquid stream comprising benzene, toluene, xylene, C.sub.9+ hydrocarbon, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; separating the liquid stream to obtain a toluene stream, wherein toluene is present in the toluene stream in an amount equal to or greater than 70 wt %, preferably equal to or greater than 80 wt %, more preferably equal to or greater than 95 wt %, based on the total weight of the toluene stream; and reacting the toluene stream with methanol to obtain the para-xylene product.

This present disclosure relates to processes and apparatuses for toluene and benzene methylation in an aromatics complex for producing paraxylene. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to processes and apparatuses for toluene and benzene methylation within an aromatics complex for producing paraxylene wherein an embodiment uses a reactor having a refractory comprising a low iron content refractory.

This present disclosure relates to processes and apparatuses for toluene and benzene methylation in an aromatics complex for producing paraxylene. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to processes and apparatuses for toluene and benzene methylation within an aromatics complex for producing paraxylene wherein an embodiment uses a reactor having a refractory comprising a low iron content refractory.

A C3 hydrocarbon fractionation system includes: a) a unit for providing a feed containing mainly propane and propylene, b) a C3 fractionation column for separating the feed to provide a top product richer in propylene than the feed and a bottom product leaner in propylene than the feed, wherein the bottom product comprises at least 50 wt % of propylene and c) a cumene production unit comprising an alkylation reactor for producing cumene from a propylene feed and a benzene feed, wherein the propylene feed comprises the bottom product of the C3 fractionation column.

A C3 hydrocarbon fractionation system includes: a) a unit for providing a feed containing mainly propane and propylene, b) a C3 fractionation column for separating the feed to provide a top product richer in propylene than the feed and a bottom product leaner in propylene than the feed, wherein the bottom product comprises at least 50 wt % of propylene and c) a cumene production unit comprising an alkylation reactor for producing cumene from a propylene feed and a benzene feed, wherein the propylene feed comprises the bottom product of the C3 fractionation column.