Patent ID: 6512155
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for the isomerization of a non-equilibrium alkylaromatic feed of xylenes and ethylbenzene which consists essentially of contacting the feed with a catalyst comprising from about 0.1 to about 2 mass-% of at least one platinum-group component, an inorganic-oxide binder, and a third component of about 5 to about 90 mass-% selected from the group consisting of at least one non-zeolitic molecular sieve, at least one pentasil zeolitic aluminosilicate selected from the group consisting of MFI, MEL, MMW, MTT and FER, and mixtures thereof, with the addition of a trace water source selected from the group consisting of water, a water forming precursor, and mixtures thereof, in an amount corresponding to about 75 to about 750 mass ppm of equivalent water calculated on the alkylaromatic feed basis, in a reaction zone operated at isomerization conditions in order to produce a near-equilibrium product of xylenes.