Patent ID: 6342649
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A method for producing at least one xylene isomer product from a feed stream comprising at least ortho-xylene, meta-xylene, ethylbenzene and para-xylene, the method comprising the steps of:starting with a feed stream comprising at least para-xylene, meta-xylene, ortho-xylene and ethylbenzene; feeding the feed stream into a pretreatment unit having an isomerization/cracking catalyst therein in an amount sufficient to cause an approximately 90% conversion of ethylbenzene to benzene and removing the converted benzene from the stream; passing the resulting stream to a xylene isomer specific separator; removing a desired xylene isomer from the resulting stream; passing the stream through an isomerization unit having an isomerization/cracking catalyst therein; creating a stream having an equilibrium amount of xylene isomers exiting the isomerization unit; and passing the stream back into the xylene isomer specific separator for processing.