Selective pseudocumene production by xylene methylation

摘要

There is provided a process for shape selective xylene methylation that involves contacting a feedstream which includes xylene and methanol under alkylation conditions, with a low activity catalyst. Xylene conversions of at least 15% at methanol utilization levels of 25% or greater are achieved by sequential injection of methanol The xylene methylation process has a selectivity for pseudocumene of over 85% and up to 99%, with a pseudocumene:durene ratio of up to 20 or more.