Patent ID: 6355853
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for the isomerization of a non-equilibrium feed mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene comprising contacting the feed mixture in the presence of hydrogen with a catalyst having a 4.6 torr water capacity between 3 to 5 mass-%, consisting essentially of from about 10 to 99 mass-% of a MFI zeolitic aluminosilicate having a pore diameter of from 5 to 8 Ã¥, from about 200 to 800 mass-ppm on an elemental basis of a platinum-group metal component, and the balance of a silica binder in an isomerization zone at isomerization conditions comprising a temperature of from about 370Â° C. to 500Â° C., a pressure of from 100 kPa to 5 Mpa, a mass hourly space velocity of from about 10 to 50 hrâˆ’1 and a hydrogen-to-hydrocarbon mole ratio of from about 0.5:1 to 10:1 to obtain an isomerized product comprising a higher proportion of para-xylene than in the feed mixture.