METHOD OF CONVERTING C9 AROMATICS - COMPRISING MIXTURES TO XYLENE ISOMERS

摘要

Disclosed herein is a method of making xylene isomers. More specifically, the method includes contacting a C₉ aromatics-comprising feed with a catalyst under conditions suitable for converting the feed to an intermediate product stream comprising xylene isomers, separating at least a portion of the xylene isomers from the intermediate product stream, and recycling to the feed the xylene isomers-lean intermediate product stream. Alternatively, the method of making xylene isomers includes contacting a feed comprising C₉ aromatics and less than about 30 wt. % benzene, based on the total weight of the feed, with a non-sulfided, large-pore zeolite impregnated with a Group VIB metal oxide, under conditions suitable for converting the feed to a product stream comprising xylene isomers. The disclosed method is characterized by unexpectedly high ratios of xylene isomers to ethylbenzene, xylene isomers to C₉ aromatics (e.g., methylethylbenzene), xylene isomers to C₁₀ aromatics, trimethylbenzene to methylethylbenzene, benzene to ethylbenzene, in the product of the conversion, and the high conversion of C₉ aromatics and methylethylbenzene.