Patent ID: 7067052

Claim:
A process for producing a reformate having reduced ethylbenzene content, said process comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a hydrocarbon feed containing precursors of ethylbenzene into a catalytic reforming unit comprised of a plurality of operatively connected reactors containing at least one lead reactor and a tail reactor; (b) reforming said feed in said at least one lead reactor under reforming conditions and in the presence of: (i) a first reforming catalyst; and, (ii) a catalyst effective for converting ethylbenzene to convert the precursors of ethylbenzene to ethylbenzene and to convert the ethylbenzene to xylene(s) and/or benzene; and, (c) further reforming at least a portion of the product of step (b) in said tail reactor under conversion conditions and in the presence of second reforming catalyst.