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.

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.

Catalysts and method of preparing the catalysts are disclosed. One of the catalysts includes a zeolite support, a Group VIII metal on the zeolite support, and at least two halides bound to the zeolite support, to the Group VIII metal, or to both, and can have an average crush strength greater than 11.25 lb based on at least two samples of pellets of the catalyst measured in accordance with ASTM D4179.

A process for aromatizing hydrocarbons comprises: converting at least a portion of highly branched hydrocarbons in a feed stream into selectively convertible components, and aromatizing the selectively convertible components to produce an aromatization reactor effluent. The aromatization reactor effluent comprises an aromatic product. Converting at least the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons into the selectively convertible components may include contacting the feed stream with an isomerization catalyst in an isomerization reaction system under isomerization reaction conditions; and isomerizing the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons in the feed stream into the selectively convertible components.

A process for aromatizing hydrocarbons comprises: converting at least a portion of highly branched hydrocarbons in a feed stream into selectively convertible components, and aromatizing the selectively convertible components to produce an aromatization reactor effluent. The aromatization reactor effluent comprises an aromatic product. Converting at least the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons into the selectively convertible components may include contacting the feed stream with an isomerization catalyst in an isomerization reaction system under isomerization reaction conditions; and isomerizing the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons in the feed stream into the selectively convertible components.

A process for aromatizing hydrocarbons comprises: converting at least a portion of highly branched hydrocarbons in a feed stream into selectively convertible components, and aromatizing the selectively convertible components to produce an aromatization reactor effluent. The aromatization reactor effluent comprises an aromatic product. Converting at least the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons into the selectively convertible components may include contacting the feed stream with an isomerization catalyst in an isomerization reaction system under isomerization reaction conditions; and isomerizing the portion of the highly branched hydrocarbons in the feed stream into the selectively convertible components.

In one embodiment, a formed catalyst can comprise: a Ge-ZSM-5 zeolite; a binder comprising silica with 1 to less than 5 wt % non-silica oxides; less than or equal to 0.1 wt % residual carbon; 0.4 to 1.5 wt % platinum; and 4.0 to 4.8 wt % Cs; wherein the weight percentages are based upon a total weight of the catalyst. In one embodiment, a method of making a formed catalyst can comprise: mixing an uncalcined Ge-ZSM-5 zeolite and a binder to form a mixture; forming the mixture into a formed zeolite; calcining the formed zeolite to result in the formed zeolite having less than or equal to 0.1 wt % of residual carbon; ion-exchanging the formed zeolite with cesium; depositing platinum on the formed zeolite; and heating the formed zeolite to result in a final catalyst; wherein the final catalyst comprises 4.0 to 4.8 wt % cesium and 0.4 to 1.5 wt % platinum.

In one embodiment, a formed catalyst can comprise: a Ge-ZSM-5 zeolite; a binder comprising silica with 1 to less than 5 wt % non-silica oxides; less than or equal to 0.1 wt % residual carbon; 0.4 to 1.5 wt % platinum; and 4.0 to 4.8 wt % Cs; wherein the weight percentages are based upon a total weight of the catalyst. In one embodiment, a method of making a formed catalyst can comprise: mixing an uncalcined Ge-ZSM-5 zeolite and a binder to form a mixture; forming the mixture into a formed zeolite; calcining the formed zeolite to result in the formed zeolite having less than or equal to 0.1 wt % of residual carbon; ion-exchanging the formed zeolite with cesium; depositing platinum on the formed zeolite; and heating the formed zeolite to result in a final catalyst; wherein the final catalyst comprises 4.0 to 4.8 wt % cesium and 0.4 to 1.5 wt % platinum.

In one embodiment, a formed catalyst can comprise: a Ge-ZSM-5 zeolite; a binder comprising silica with 1 to less than 5 wt % non-silica oxides; less than or equal to 0.1 wt % residual carbon; 0.4 to 1.5 wt % platinum; and 4.0 to 4.8 wt % Cs; wherein the weight percentages are based upon a total weight of the catalyst. In one embodiment, a method of making a formed catalyst can comprise: mixing an uncalcined Ge-ZSM-5 zeolite and a binder to form a mixture; forming the mixture into a formed zeolite; calcining the formed zeolite to result in the formed zeolite having less than or equal to 0.1 wt % of residual carbon; ion-exchanging the formed zeolite with cesium; depositing platinum on the formed zeolite; and heating the formed zeolite to result in a final catalyst; wherein the final catalyst comprises 4.0 to 4.8 wt % cesium and 0.4 to 1.5 wt % platinum.

A method for producing p-xylene, comprising: a dimerization step of bringing a first raw material comprising isobutene into contact with a dimerization catalyst to generate C8 components comprising diisobutylene; a cyclization step of bringing a second raw material comprising the C8 components into contact with a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising Pt in the presence of water to obtain a reaction product comprising p-xylene; and a collection step of collecting p-xylene from the reaction product.