Catalyst compositions to perform selective alkyl-demethylation of C2+-hydrocarbyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon may exhibit a hydrogen chemisorption of at least 15% and comprise an oxide support material selected from the group consisting of an alkaline earth metal oxide, silica, a composite of an alkaline earth metal oxide and Al.sub.2O.sub.3, a composite of ZnO and Al.sub.2O.sub.3, a lanthanide oxide, a composite of a lanthanide oxide and Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and combinations and mixtures of two or more thereof; and a transition metal element dispersed upon the oxide support material. Alkyl-demethylation processes of a C6+ aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream comprising C2+-hydrocarbyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons may comprise contacting the catalyst compositions in an alkyl-demethylation zone under alkyl-demethylation conditions to form an alkyl-demethylated aromatic hydrocarbon as an effluent exiting the alkyl-demethylation zone.

Catalyst compositions to perform selective alkyl-demethylation of C2+-hydrocarbyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon may exhibit a hydrogen chemisorption of at least 15% and comprise an oxide support material selected from the group consisting of an alkaline earth metal oxide, silica, a composite of an alkaline earth metal oxide and Al.sub.2O.sub.3, a composite of ZnO and Al.sub.2O.sub.3, a lanthanide oxide, a composite of a lanthanide oxide and Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and combinations and mixtures of two or more thereof; and a transition metal element dispersed upon the oxide support material. Alkyl-demethylation processes of a C6+ aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream comprising C2+-hydrocarbyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons may comprise contacting the catalyst compositions in an alkyl-demethylation zone under alkyl-demethylation conditions to form an alkyl-demethylated aromatic hydrocarbon as an effluent exiting the alkyl-demethylation zone.

Processes for converting C8 aromatic hydrocarbons. In some embodiments, the process can include feeding a gaseous hydrocarbon feed that can include meta-xylene, ortho-xylene, or both into a conversion zone. The process can also include contacting the gaseous hydrocarbon feed with a catalyst that can include a ZSM-11 zeolite in the conversion zone under conversion conditions to effect isomerization of at least a portion of any meta-xylene, or at least a portion of any ortho-xylene, or both to produce a conversion product rich in para-xylene. In some embodiments, the ZSM-11 zeolite can have an alpha value of 1 to 3,000 and a molar ratio of silica to alumina of from 15 to 200.

Processes for converting C8 aromatic hydrocarbons. In some embodiments, the process can include feeding a gaseous hydrocarbon feed that can include meta-xylene, ortho-xylene, or both into a conversion zone. The process can also include contacting the gaseous hydrocarbon feed with a catalyst that can include a ZSM-11 zeolite in the conversion zone under conversion conditions to effect isomerization of at least a portion of any meta-xylene, or at least a portion of any ortho-xylene, or both to produce a conversion product rich in para-xylene. In some embodiments, the ZSM-11 zeolite can have an alpha value of 1 to 3,000 and a molar ratio of silica to alumina of from 15 to 200.

Processes for converting C8 aromatic hydrocarbons. In some embodiments, the process can include feeding a gaseous hydrocarbon feed that can include meta-xylene, ortho-xylene, or both into a conversion zone. The process can also include contacting the gaseous hydrocarbon feed with a catalyst that can include a ZSM-11 zeolite in the conversion zone under conversion conditions to effect isomerization of at least a portion of any meta-xylene, or at least a portion of any ortho-xylene, or both to produce a conversion product rich in para-xylene. In some embodiments, the ZSM-11 zeolite can have an alpha value of 1 to 3,000 and a molar ratio of silica to alumina of from 15 to 200.

An ethylbenzene dealkylation catalyst composition comprising a ZSM-5 type zeolite as a carrier component, wherein said zeolite has been synthesized from an aqueous reaction mixture comprising one or more alumina sources, one or more silica sources, one or more alkali sources, and one or more primary and/or secondary amines and wherein the ZSM-5 type zeolite has a number average crystallite size in the range of from 1 to 10 μm and a molar silica-to-alumina ratio (SAR) in the range of from 30 to 70; a method for reducing xylene losses in an ethylbenzene dealkylation process, said method comprising conducting the ethylbenzene dealklylation process in the presence of the afore-mentioned catalyst composition; and a process for the dealkylation of ethylbenzene, which process comprises contacting, in the presence of hydrogen, a feedstock which comprises ethylbenzene with said catalyst composition.

An ethylbenzene dealkylation catalyst composition comprising a ZSM-5 type zeolite as a carrier component, wherein said zeolite has been synthesized from an aqueous reaction mixture comprising one or more alumina sources, one or more silica sources, one or more alkali sources, and one or more primary and/or secondary amines and wherein the ZSM-5 type zeolite has a number average crystallite size in the range of from 1 to 10 μm and a molar silica-to-alumina ratio (SAR) in the range of from 30 to 70; a method for reducing xylene losses in an ethylbenzene dealkylation process, said method comprising conducting the ethylbenzene dealklylation process in the presence of the afore-mentioned catalyst composition; and a process for the dealkylation of ethylbenzene, which process comprises contacting, in the presence of hydrogen, a feedstock which comprises ethylbenzene with said catalyst composition.

An ethylbenzene dealkylation catalyst composition comprising a ZSM-5 type zeolite as a carrier component, wherein said zeolite has been synthesized from an aqueous reaction mixture comprising one or more alumina sources, one or more silica sources, one or more alkali sources, and one or more primary and/or secondary amines and wherein the ZSM-5 type zeolite has a number average crystallite size in the range of from 1 to 10 μm and a molar silica-to-alumina ratio (SAR) in the range of from 30 to 70; a method for reducing xylene losses in an ethylbenzene dealkylation process, said method comprising conducting the ethylbenzene dealklylation process in the presence of the afore-mentioned catalyst composition; and a process for the dealkylation of ethylbenzene, which process comprises contacting, in the presence of hydrogen, a feedstock which comprises ethylbenzene with said catalyst composition.

An alkylaromatic conversion catalyst system having (a) a first catalyst composition having (i) a carrier which includes a binder composition prepared from a mixture having one or more oligomerized alkoxy silicates and one or more hydrolyzing agents; and a ZSM-5 zeolite; (ii) one or more metals chosen from the group consisting of Groups 6, 9, 10 and 11; and optionally, (iii) a Group 14 metal; and (b) a second catalyst composition having (i) a carrier which includes a refractory oxide binder and a zeolite selected from one or more of ZSM-5, ferrierite, ZSM-11, ZSM-12 and EU-1; (ii) one or more metals chosen from the group consisting of Groups 6, 9, 10 and 11; and optionally, (iii) a Group 14 metal.

An alkylaromatic conversion catalyst system having (a) a first catalyst composition having (i) a carrier which includes a binder composition prepared from a mixture having one or more oligomerized alkoxy silicates and one or more hydrolyzing agents; and a ZSM-5 zeolite; (ii) one or more metals chosen from the group consisting of Groups 6, 9, 10 and 11; and optionally, (iii) a Group 14 metal; and (b) a second catalyst composition having (i) a carrier which includes a refractory oxide binder and a zeolite selected from one or more of ZSM-5, ferrierite, ZSM-11, ZSM-12 and EU-1; (ii) one or more metals chosen from the group consisting of Groups 6, 9, 10 and 11; and optionally, (iii) a Group 14 metal.