Patent ID: 8242321
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: B01J,C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for transalkylating aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, the process comprising: introducing a feed stream comprising the aromatic hydrocarbon compounds to a transalkylation zone; introducing a water source to the transalkylation zone, the water source being in an amount to provide more than 100 ppm-wt. of water based upon the mass of the feed stream; contacting the feed stream with a sulfided catalyst comprising an aluminosilicate zeolite component having an MOR framework type selected from the group consisting of UZM-14 and mordenite; an MFI molecular sieve component; an inorganic oxide binder comprising a material selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, zirconia, titania, thoria, boria, magnesia, chromia, stannic oxide, and combinations thereof; and between about 3% and about 5% molybdenum in the transalkylation zone under transalkylation conditions including the presence of water; producing a reaction product stream comprising benzene and xylene; wherein the process has a process cycle and the water source is introduced during the initial one-tenth of the process cycle as determined by the mass of the feed introduced per mass of the catalyst; separating the reaction product stream to produce a benzene product stream; and wherein the water source is introduced intermittently and a purity of the benzene product stream is higher during a period of water source introduction relative to a period without water source introduction.