Processes and apparatuses for producing para-xylenes are provided. The processes comprises providing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter to provide a reformate bottoms stream and a reformate overhead stream. A portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to a para-xylene separation unit for separating para-xylene, wherein the portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to the para-xylene separation unit without an intermediate step for removal of olefins.

Processes and apparatuses for producing para-xylenes are provided. The processes comprises providing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter to provide a reformate bottoms stream and a reformate overhead stream. A portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to a para-xylene separation unit for separating para-xylene, wherein the portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to the para-xylene separation unit without an intermediate step for removal of olefins.

Processes and apparatuses for producing para-xylenes are provided. The processes comprises providing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter to provide a reformate bottoms stream and a reformate overhead stream. A portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to a para-xylene separation unit for separating para-xylene, wherein the portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to the para-xyelene separation unit without an intermediate step for removal of olefins.

Processes and apparatuses for producing para-xylenes are provided. The processes comprises providing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter to provide a reformate bottoms stream and a reformate overhead stream. A portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to a para-xylene separation unit for separating para-xylene, wherein the portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to the para-xyelene separation unit without an intermediate step for removal of olefins.

Disclosed herein is a process for preparing a hydrocracking catalyst, comprising (i) combining a zeolite, a binder, water and a hydrogenating metal compound which is a complex or a salt of a hydrogenating metal to obtain a mixture, wherein the zeolite has not been treated with a phosphorus-containing compound and the zeolite has a silica to alumina molar ratio of 5-200; (ii) forming the mixture into a shaped body; and (iii) calcining the shaped body to form the catalyst.

Disclosed herein is a process for preparing a hydrocracking catalyst, comprising (i) combining a zeolite, a binder, water and a hydrogenating metal compound which is a complex or a salt of a hydrogenating metal to obtain a mixture, wherein the zeolite has not been treated with a phosphorus-containing compound and the zeolite has a silica to alumina molar ratio of 5-200; (ii) forming the mixture into a shaped body; and (iii) calcining the shaped body to form the catalyst.

Disclosed is a process for the conversion of acyclic C.sub.5 feedstock to a product comprising cyclic C.sub.5 compounds, including cyclopentadiene, and formulated catalyst compositions for use in such process. The process comprises contacting the feedstock and, optionally, hydrogen under acyclic C.sub.5 conversion conditions in the presence of a catalyst composition to form the product. The catalyst composition comprises a microporous crystalline metallosilicate, a Group 10 metal or compound thereof, a binder, optionally, a metal selected from the group consisting of rare earth metals, metals of Groups 8, 9, or 11, mixtures or combinations thereof, or a compound thereof, in combination with a Group 1 alkali metal or a compound thereof and/or a Group 2 alkaline earth metal or a compound thereof.

Disclosed is a process for the conversion of acyclic C.sub.5 feedstock to a product comprising cyclic C.sub.5 compounds, including cyclopentadiene, and formulated catalyst compositions for use in such process. The process comprises contacting the feedstock and, optionally, hydrogen under acyclic C.sub.5 conversion conditions in the presence of a catalyst composition to form the product. The catalyst composition comprises a microporous crystalline metallosilicate, a Group 10 metal or compound thereof, a binder, optionally, a metal selected from the group consisting of rare earth metals, metals of Groups 8, 9, or 11, mixtures or combinations thereof, or a compound thereof, in combination with a Group 1 alkali metal or a compound thereof and/or a Group 2 alkaline earth metal or a compound thereof.

Disclosed are processes for regenerating catalysts comprising at least one Group 10 metal and a microporous crystalline aluminosilicate having a having a molar ratio of Group 10 metal to Al of greater than or equal to about 0.007:1, and hydrocarbon conversion processes including such regeneration processes. In an aspect, the regeneration processes comprise an oxychlorination step comprising contacting the catalyst with a first gaseous stream comprising a chlorine source and an oxygen source under conditions effective for dispersing at least a portion of the at least one Group 10 metal on the surface of the catalyst and for producing a first Group 10 metal chlorohydrate. The processes further comprise a chlorine stripping step comprising contacting the catalyst with a second gaseous stream comprising an oxygen source, and optionally a chlorine source, under conditions effective for increasing the O/Cl ratio of the first Group 10 metal chlorohydrate to produce a second Group 10 metal chlorohydrate.

Disclosed are processes for regenerating catalysts comprising at least one Group 10 metal and a microporous crystalline aluminosilicate having a having a molar ratio of Group 10 metal to Al of greater than or equal to about 0.007:1, and hydrocarbon conversion processes including such regeneration processes. In an aspect, the regeneration processes comprise an oxychlorination step comprising contacting the catalyst with a first gaseous stream comprising a chlorine source and an oxygen source under conditions effective for dispersing at least a portion of the at least one Group 10 metal on the surface of the catalyst and for producing a first Group 10 metal chlorohydrate. The processes further comprise a chlorine stripping step comprising contacting the catalyst with a second gaseous stream comprising an oxygen source, and optionally a chlorine source, under conditions effective for increasing the O/Cl ratio of the first Group 10 metal chlorohydrate to produce a second Group 10 metal chlorohydrate.