Phenol removal in paraxylene recovery process

摘要

The invention is directed to purification of an aromatic hydrocarbon stream including selective removal of phenol from a process stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures, especially aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures that contain higher-than-equilibrium paraxylene, by contact with suitable adsorbents, to provide a product stream having lower concentration of phenol than said process stream.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising an alkylation reactor for the reaction of toluene and/or benzene with an alkylating agent selected from methanol, dimethylether (DME), and mixtures thereof, in the presence of a suitable catalyst under appropriate conditions to produce an aromatic hydrocarbon stream comprising paraxylene and phenolic impurities fluidly connected with at least one phenol removal apparatus adapted for the removal of phenolic impurities by contacting said aromatic hydrocarbon stream with an adsorbent selective for the removal of phenolic impurities from said aromatic hydrocarbon stream, wherein the amount of phenolic impurities removed from said aromatic hydrocarbon stream is greater than the amount of benzene produced or paraxylene isomerized by said contact, and wherein said adsorbent is selected from alumina, silica, molecular sieves, basic organic resins, and mixtures thereof.