Patent ID: 7776283
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for producing a xylene isomer from a feedstock comprising olefins and an aromatic compound having at least six carbon atoms; said apparatus comprising: a) a feedstock conduit transporting said feedstock; b) a reaction zone comprising at least a first reactor containing catalyst adapted for transalkylation and olefin conversion comprising an acidic molecular sieve and at least one metal component having hydrogenation functionality, said reaction zone having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, wherein the inlet is in direct fluid communication with said feedstock conduit; c) a reaction zone product distillation assembly comprising at least one distillation column, said reaction zone product distillation assembly having at least one inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of said reaction zone and an outlet, said reaction zone product distillation assembly being adapted to discharge a stream comprising C d) a xylene distillation column having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of said reaction zone product distillation assembly and a first outlet, said xylene distillation column being adapted to discharge a stream comprising at least two xylene isomers from the first outlet; e) a selective xylene isomer separation assembly having an inlet in fluid communication with the first outlet of said xylene distillation column, a first outlet, and a second outlet, said selective xylene isomer separation assembly being adapted to discharge a xylene isomer from the first outlet and discharge a non-equilibrium xylene isomer stream depleted in said xylene isomer from the second outlet; and f) a xylene isomerization zone containing a xylene isomerization catalyst, the xylene isomerization zone having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the second outlet of said selective xylene isomer separation assembly and the outlet is in fluid communication with the inlet of said xylene distillation column.