Patent ID: 6846964

Claim:
A method of converting a feed of heavy aromatics composed primarily of C 8+ alkylaromatic compounds to produce products of benzene, toluene and xylene, the balance of the feed composed primarily of toluene, the method comprising: providing a reaction zone containing a mordenite catalyst; introducing a first feed comprising substantially pure toluene feedstock into the reaction zone so that the first feed contacts the mordenite catalyst under initial reaction zone conditions selected for the disproportionation of pure toluene necessary to obtain a target toluene conversion between 30% and 55% during disproportionation of the substantially pure toluene feedstock using the mordenite catalyst; introducing a second feed comprising heavy aromatics composed primarily of C 8+ alkylaromatic compounds allowing conversion of the second feed while the reaction zone is at the initial reaction zone conditions selected for the disproportionation of the pure toluene; adjusting reactor conditions to maintain a generally constant reaction severity; and removing conversion products from the reaction zone; wherein the toluene conversion generally decreases with an increased percentage of feed composed of heavy aromatics.