Patent ID: 8221707

Claim:
An aromatic production facility, comprising: a C8 aromatic isomerization zone receiving a non-equilibrium alkylaromatic feed mixture and receiving a stream rich in at least one naphthene, the C8 aromatic isomerization zone comprising: a) a first isomerization stage wherein at least a portion of the non-equilibrium alkylaromatic feed mixture is contacted at a first isomerization condition in a liquid phase in the substantial absence of hydrogen to obtain an intermediate stream; and b) a second isomerization stage wherein at least a portion of the intermediate stream and at least a portion of the stream rich in at least one naphthene are contacted at a second isomerization condition to obtain a second isomerization stage effluent with a concentration of at least one alkylaromatic isomer that is higher than a concentration of that at least one alkylaromatic isomer in the non-equilibrium alkylaromatic feed mixture; c) a napthene rich stream providing separation zone providing at least part of the stream rich in at least one napthene; and d) a xylene isomer separation zone providing a non-equilibrium alkylaromatic stream wherein the napthene rich stream providing separation zone receives at least a portion of the non-equilibrium alkylaromatic stream to provide at least part of the stream rich in at least one naphthene and at least part of the non-equilibrium alkylaromatic feed mixture.