Patent ID: 11377399

Abstract:
A process and related system for producing para-xylene (PX). In an embodiment, the process includes (a) separating a feed stream comprising C6+ aromatic hydrocarbons into a toluene containing stream and a C8+ hydrocarbon containing stream and (b) contacting at least part of the toluene containing stream with a methylating agent in a methylation unit to convert toluene to xylenes and produce a methylated effluent stream. In addition, the process includes (c) recovering PX from the methylated effluent stream in (b) to produce a PX depleted stream and (d) transalkylating the PX depleted stream to produce a transalkylation effluent stream. The transalkylation effluent stream includes a higher concentration of toluene than the PX depleted stream. Further, the process includes (e) converting at least some ethylbenzene (EB) within the C8+ hydrocarbon containing stream into toluene and (f) flowing the toluene converted in (e) to the contacting in (b).