Patent ID: 8692044

Claim:
A process for producing a PX-rich product, the process comprising: (a) separating a feedstock containing C 8 hydrocarbons to produce a C 8 hydrocarbons rich stream; (b) separating at least a portion of the C 8 hydrocarbons rich stream to produce a first PX-rich stream and a first raffinate stream; (c) isomerizing at least a portion of the first raffinate stream to produce a first isomerized stream having a higher PX concentration than the first raffinate stream; (d) separating the first isomerized stream to produce a second C 8 hydrocarbons rich stream; (e) separating the second C 8 hydrocarbons rich stream to produce a second PX-rich stream and a second raffinate stream; (f) isomerizing, at least partially in the liquid phase, at least a portion of the second raffinate stream to produce a second isomerized stream having a higher PX concentration than the second raffinate stream; and (g) providing at least a portion of the second isomerized stream to the separating (a).